Definition of Perishable Products
Any product that degrades in quality over time is considered perishable. Perishable goods need to be handled in a careful but efficient manner; they need to get from producer to consumer while still in useable condition. Any business dealing in perishables needs a cost-effective method of transporting perishable products before they spoil.
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Perishable Products
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The term perishable products encompasses fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and eggs. These items need to be shipped under strictly-controlled temperature and storage conditions. Dried, canned or otherwise preserved foods are not considered perishable and therefore do not require such strict shipping and handling conditions. They can be stored for longer periods of time and at warmer temperatures since there is no risk of spoilage. Some shipping companies will handle live plants and animals as perishable goods as well.
Transporting Perishable Products
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The logistics of transporting perishable goods is complex, as every hour in transit represents lost shelf life and potential lost income for wholesalers and retailers. Airlines and shipping companies who handle perishables must operate according to the standards set for perishable imports by national governments, which address specific temperatures depending on the type of cargo, the type of container used for shipping and whether it is sealed and labeling instructions regarding packing time and location. All of this information is important to importers and retailers selling perishable products.
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Storing Perishable Products
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Storing perishable products at lower temperatures, with the exception of live plants and animals, will preserve their shelf life. The government of South Africa's Perishable Products Export Control Board recommends storing them at between -0.5 and -1.6 degrees Celsius. The United States Department of Agriculture requires all accepted imported fruits to be cooled for 72 hours before retailers receive them. Produce will keep for short periods at room temperature, and refrigerators will keep it, as well as meat and dairy products, fresh for longer periods before use.
Handling Live Perishables
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In 1994, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species laid out a series of recommendations for the handling of live perishable products in transport and storage. While CITES is not a legal body, it recommended that national policy-makers incorporate their recommendations into importing laws. The International Air Transport Association, made up of over 230 airlines worldwide and accounting for 93 percent of international air travel, follows CITES's recommendations in its shipping policies for member airlines handling live perishables. The IATA's Perishable Goods Regulations manual, available through the IATA website, lays out all of CITES's recommendations in detail.
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References
- DFDS Logistics; Logistics Solutions for Perishable Goods
- International Air Transport Association; Cargo: Perishable Cargo
- Perishable Products Export Control Board; Cold Treatment Protocols
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; Resolution Conf. 10.21 (Rev. CoP14): Transport of Live Specimens
Resources
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