Cold Chain Logistics: Monitoring and Treatment

In-transit 
Refers to products loaded into a seafreight container equipped with temperature probes. These probes are checked on arrival to confirm the temperature stayed below the allowed maximum, ensuring the product remained properly treated during the ocean journey.

The in-transit process begins with the shipping line preparing the container. The testing of the temperature probes and the cold treatment is carried out under the supervision of an approved officer, which Mainfreight can assist with.

Benefits
The benefit is that there are no delays, as the treatment is completed during transit. The treatment period is the same whether it occurs in transit or onshore. 

Disadvantages 
Issues can arise if any probes fail or the temperature rises above the maximum during the voyage. In that case, the treatment must restart for the full onshore duration once the container reaches its destination. While the conditions can now be monitored during transit, no corrective action can be taken until the container arrives at port.

On-shore
This method is used for both airfreight and seafreight shipments, with treatment times ranging from 3 to 23 days depending on the product and the destination country’s requirements.
Some countries are considered protocol markets, meaning they have formal government-to-government agreements that set specific import conditions, such as approved treatments, temperature requirements and inspection procedures.
These markets may allow fumigation followed by cold treatment, but both treatments must be completed at the same facility and this shortens the overall process. An example would be plums exported to China from Australia. 

Two types of On-shore treatments 

• Combination treatment – Fumigation (3 hours) and Cold Treatment (4 days). 

• Only Cold Treatment – Ranges from 16 – 21 days

How Cold Treatment is set up? 
Both onshore and in-transit treatments follow the same process: the product is cooled to the required temperature and then placed in a Cold Treatment room. 

1. Once in the Cold-Treatment room, the probes are calibrated twice to ensure readings are correct. 

2. Probes are placed through the centre of the product ensuring the probes are completely covered. 

3. The doors are sealed and treatment begins. 

Below is a flow chart for the Cold Treatment of citrus. It should be noted that a “fail” at any stage restarts the Cold Treatment process.