FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
packhouse circumstances, the final
correct packaging and cooling, the
correct overall cooling, the correct
transport, the capacity to store the
cooled goods at the point of shipping,
delays in the process and correct
temperature controls in the containers
are all critical points where attention to
detail needs to be exercised.
“You can grow the best possible
product, which most of our farmers do,
but that is only 95% of the job done. The
other 5% generate 99% of your income,”
he says.
In South Africa, the PPECB audits
facilities of all exporters of perishable
products to ensure compliance. Similarly,
the National Regulator for Compulsory
Specifications (NRCS) and the
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (DAFF) audits exporters of fish
and meat products respectively.
Perishable products for both imports
and exports are transported by
refrigerated modes of transportation.
There have been vast improvements on
the technical capabilities of refrigerated
containers. Remote Control Monitoring
(RCM) has been introduced by some of
the shipping lines thus enabling clients to
have real time temperature monitoring
therefore assisting to mitigate risk. Most
importers and exporters continue to
use temperature data loggers. These
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Most of the packaging and labelling requirements are contained in legislation.
temperature data loggers are retrieved the temperatures of their products. good management practices. They must
and downloaded once the product Refrigerated trucks are also capable also be in sound working condition to
arrives at its destination. This type of of transmitting the information on ensure maintenance of the condition
data loggers is rather reactive than temperatures to their clients. of the perishable product. Disruptions in
proactive monitoring. Technological Products must be placed under advancements in data loggers now cooling as soon as possible with no be used on refrigerated containers to
make it possible to have near real time interruptions in cooling. All equipment, mitigate temperature fluctuations. Within
information. This is extremely beneficial handling and storage facilities and the airfreight industry thermal blankets
to clients that proactively monitor modes of transport must comply with and refrigerated containers can also
cooling must be mitigated. Gensets can
COLD LINK AFRICA •
OCTOBER 2019