Spanish Customs Block Empty Pallets from Andorra Over Missing Certificates

Spanish customs rules have caused a two-month bottleneck for Andorran businesses, preventing the return of empty wooden pallets to Spain due to missing phytosanitary certificates that authorities there could not issue.

The issue arose from a new Spanish directive requiring empty pallets—essential for transporting goods—to carry certification proving they had undergone pest control treatments under international plant health standards. These pallets, often arriving from Spain loaded with products like milk cartons, accumulated in company warehouses when drivers could not take them back. Some were even abandoned near the Runer River customs post.

Andorran officials became aware of the problem in late October and mobilised several ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Environment and Agriculture, Finance, and Economy. Agriculture and Environment Minister Guillem Casal noted that the matter also involved the State Secretariat for European Affairs, given its basis in EU regulations.

The standoff stemmed from a lack of regulatory equivalence. Spanish customs do not issue the required certificates, which would need processing in Barcelona for potential material checks. This created a paradox, as the pallets originated in Spain and were simply returning empty.

A technical meeting between the two governments on 19 December unlocked a temporary solution. Since about a week ago, trucks have been crossing freely with empty pallets bearing the CEE mark, covering most of the volume. The administrations have scheduled talks for the second half of January to establish a permanent fix.

Casal highlighted that the EU-Andorra association agreement addresses this area, providing a two-year transitional period for adaptation once it enters force. He stressed that compliance with NIMF 15—the international standard for wooden packaging—requires not just heat treatment but recognised authority, protocols, and market acceptance.

The snag affected only the Spanish border, not the French one, and came at a peak import period before the holidays. Casal welcomed the swift resolution, crediting mutual goodwill. Businesses had improvised for weeks, but stocks were building up, complicating logistics.