PRIMARY CONCEPT 9.1: Maintain Cold Chain Within Prescribed Tolerance
Critical Guidelines
9.1.1 The form of transport used must be able to maintain the cold chain.
- Use refrigerated transport if risk of temperature rises exists.
- Refrigerated trucks must be approved by PPECB.
- When using flatbed trucks, the load must be covered to prevent ambient airflow through or around pallets on the truck.
9.2.2 Provide adequate loading docks/facilities to maintain temperature and expedite loading process.
9.1.3 Pre-stage loads in holding rooms/airlocks that can maintain the temperature.
- FIFO principles to be applied.
- Tighten pallet straps to avoid pallet loads collapsing during the handling and transport chain.
9.1.1 Supporting Documents
- 9.1.1.A PPECB Blue Book – General requirements for Refrigerated Transport
Download - 9.1.3.B Time Temperature Tolerances (PPECB Blue Book)
Download - 9.1.1.D Ordinary Handling protocol – HP29 – Handling Procedures for Stone fruit
HP and optimum temp requirement for sea export of stone fruit - 9.1.1.E Ordinary Handling protocol – HP15 – Refrigerated Road Motor Transport
Refrigerated Road Transport
PRIMARY CONCEPT 9.2: Only fruit at the desired pulp temperature may be allowed to be loaded
Critical Guidelines
9.2.1 Apricots, peaches and nectarines may only be dispatched if the pulp temperature is not above 1.0°C, but preferably not above 0°C.
- Fruit which is more than 2°C above booked carrying temperature may not be loaded into containers.
- Special temperature guidelines for plums apply.
9.2.2 Ensure that CTO (Container Terminal Orders) instructions correspond with the load and the container settings.
9.2.3 Plug points must be available to power up the container refrigeration to check the settings.
9.2.4 Fit one pallet per container with a reliable temperature recorder.
9.2.5 Use void plugs at the door end of the container to contribute to better airflow and cooling.
- Essential for plums
- Recommended for apricots, peaches and nectarines
9.2 Supporting Documents
- PPECB Requirements for Equipment on-board Container Vessels (HP20)
Minimum Requirements for container vessels and Equipment for the Export of Perishable products - 9.2.1.B Ordinary Handling protocol – HP29 – Handling Procedures for Stone fruit
HP and optimum temp requirement for sea export of stone fruit - 9.2.1.C Loading of Reefer containers
- 9.2.4 Temperature Recorder Guidelines
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PRIMARY CONCEPT 9.3: When fruit is moved to another cold store or terminal, Transmission Files must be sent timely
Critical Guidelines
9.3.1 Pallet information recorded on the database at the cold store/pack house must be sent to the receiving depot.
Delays at receiving depots can be reduced significantly if the pallet database information is transferred before the vehicle arrives and rescanning of pallet specification avoided.
PRIMARY CONCEPT 9.4: Deliver full container to the stack/depot as quickly as possible
Critical Guidelines
9.4.1 Make sure of open stack times before loading containers.
9.4.2 Time Temperature Tolerances (TTT’s) must be adhered to.
- Where necessary, Gensets (power units) must be used when integral containers are loaded inland with cold fruit.
9.4.3 Arrange for plug –in points in event of stacks not being accessible.
- Containers may not be left without being connected to power.
9.4.4 Container to be connected to power within 1 hour after arrival at the stack/depot.
9.4.5 In the event of having to consider loading a container at more than one loading point, the special guidelines for dual loads have to be followed.
PRIMARY CONCEPT 9.5: Monitor container temperatures regularly
Critical Guidelines
9.5.1 Monitoring Frequency
- Container temperatures must be monitored every 4 hours, 24/7.
9.5.1 Supporting Documents
Minimum Standard for Reefer Container Procedure
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