How to Ship Perishable Goods by Air: When it comes to shipping perishable goods, air transport is a game-changer. Not only does it guarantee speedy delivery for items that spoil quickly, but it also offers a trustworthy mode of transportation. In response to the ever-expanding market and evolving consumer preferences, airlines and shippers have joined forces to develop efficient handling techniques and innovative packaging methods. This ensures that perishable goods always reach their destination in pristine condition, just like a first-class service.
Air shipping is a reliable method for transporting perishable goods, with over 80,000 flowers being shipped every day. In a year, air cargo ships more than 120,000 tonnes of Kenyan flowers. A survey conducted by IDC shows that by 2020, 35% of consumers will have spent a significant portion of their grocery budget online. Other perishable items transported by air include cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. So let’s begin with our article on how to ship perishable goods by air.
How To Ship Perishable Goods By Air?
When shipping perishable goods, it is important to consider the type of food being transported as packaging and shipping instructions can vary. While some perishable items degrade quickly, others are more durable during transit. To ensure a successful shipping process, it is essential to adhere to the standard packaging, labeling, and handling procedures outlined in the IATA guidelines.
To ensure the safe shipment of perishables, it is crucial to adhere to the guidelines provided in the Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR) Manual. Time and temperature management play a vital role in air transportation of perishable goods, and it is essential to complement these aspects with proper handling procedures and packaging methods. By doing so, we can guarantee food safety and meet all necessary requirements.
Perishable Cargo Regulations
To ensure the secure and undamaged delivery of perishable air freight, specific regulations are in place. These regulations apply to both the Shipper and the Carrier, as they both have responsibilities in the transportation and handling of perishable goods by air.
Responsibilities of Shipper
The Shipper or their authorized representative, such as the importer or freight forwarder, must adhere to the following criteria:
- Specify all shipment details
- Share booking specifics, special requirements, or necessary conditions
- Secure permits, such as CITES
- Labeling, marking, and preparing documentation
- Designate a main point of contact
- Educate employees on their duties
- Notify when ownership transfer occurs
Responsibilities of Carrier
Similar to the Shipper, the Carrier also has a set of guidelines that they must comply with in order to guarantee the safe delivery of perishable goods. The Carrier holds certain responsibilities that they need to take into account during the transportation process.
- Any rules or limitations that could cause a delay in transporting the perishable cargo.
- Reporting any discrepancies that could affect the cargo, crew safety, aircraft integrity, or employee well-being.
- Confirming the timely arrival of the goods.
- Verifying if there is enough space allocated on the flight.
- Checking for availability of special storage requirements.
- Determining if special handling is necessary.
- Assessing if segregation from other cargo is required.
- Confirming if the Shipper has arranged for the necessary permits.
- Ensuring that the Shipper has provided all essential information.
- Checking if all security protocols have been followed.
- Confirming the availability of alternative procedures in case of flight delays.
- Verifying if all required customs procedures have been completed.
Additional requirements may need to be fulfilled based on the specific circumstances, which can be located in the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulation (PCR) Manual.
Tracking and Traceability
The importance of traceability and tracking cannot be overstated in the transportation of perishable items. While different tracking methods have been employed, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) emerges as the cutting-edge system, offering substantial advantages.
It is crucial to have traceability for food shipments to ensure safety throughout the production and distribution process, especially in the event of safety concerns like an e. coli outbreak. Traceability establishes a clear connection between the origin, processing, distribution, and final location of the product post-delivery.
Perishable Cargo Claims
The transportation of perishable goods poses risks, even with meticulous handling, due to the complex nature of their decay process. Shippers and carriers must pinpoint weak spots and cooperate to develop strategies that will decrease the incidence of claims filed for spoiled perishable items during transit. Data from the PCR reveals that fish, fruits and seafood, and cut flowers represent around 40% of total claims.
There are multiple factors that can lead to claims, such as product appearance, decay, damaged packaging, and melted refrigerant. Regardless of the cause, dealing with claims is a costly and time-consuming process for everyone involved. For assistance with handling such claims, the IATA Cargo Claims & Loss Prevention Handbook is a valuable resource that provides guidance on efficiently processing air cargo claims for industry stakeholders.
CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as CITES, serves as a regulatory body for the global trade of wild animal and plant species, including their parts and products. In order to prevent any potential harm to these valuable creatures and plants during customs procedures, it is imperative to provide comprehensive information prior to shipment. Additionally, the transportation of live animals and plants entails adherence to specific rules and regulations to ensure their safe and secure transport.
Packing Perishable Goods for Air Shipping
In order to transport perishable goods by air, the packaging design must consider the variations in altitude and ensure the preservation of internal temperatures while adapting to external temperature changes. Furthermore, it should possess sufficient durability to allow for stacking and withstand the challenges of shipping and handling perishable cargo, both on the ground and in the air.
Standard packaging for perishable goods commonly utilized in air transportation includes:
- Packaging made of fiberboard
- Packages made of expanded polystyrene (EPS)
- Packaging made of rigid plastic
- Packaging made of flexible plastic
- Packages using vacuum and modified atmosphere
- Packaging made of wood
- Metal cans and canisters for packaging.
Ensuring the safe shipment of perishable goods necessitates the use of proper labels, notably the “THIS WAY UP” label, which must be firmly affixed or imprinted on the box’s side.
In order to prevent damage, an increasing number of perishable goods now require combination packaging, which includes both an inner package and an outer box. While some perishables can still be shipped with a single packaging, the trend is shifting towards the use of combination packages to ensure the safe transportation of these goods.
Perishable Goods Documentation
Proper documentation is vital for air shipments, especially when dealing with perishable goods. To facilitate a smooth customs process and avoid delays during import, export, transit, quarantine, or health requirement procedures, it is crucial to have all the necessary documents in order. These documents may consist of Shipper’s Declaration of Goods, Air Waybill, CITES, appropriate labeling, and other relevant paperwork.
Air Waybill
To ensure smooth operations, it is mandatory to complete the Air Waybill for every perishable air cargo shipment. This document contains crucial information, including the Shipper’s and Consignee’s names and addresses. It is also important to include the Carrier’s handling information, as well as details about the nature and quantity of the goods being transported.
The electronic Air Waybill (eAWB) is the preferred method for exchanging and archiving information among all participants in the air transport supply chain.
Labels
All perishable air cargo shipments are required to have a standard IATA “perishable” label. This label can either be stuck onto the packaging or printed directly on it, but it must comply with the guidelines set by IATA in the Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR).
It is essential to use all necessary labels in the appropriate manner. For example, the label “This Way Up” should be applied to indicate the correct handling position, while the label “Dangerous Goods” should be used when shipping items such as dry ice or batteries. In such cases, Shippers should also consult the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) for further instructions and compliance.
Marking
To guarantee efficient handling, it is crucial to have clear identification for all perishable air cargo shipments. This entails the Shipper taking the responsibility of labeling each package with the Consignee’s name, address, and phone number, as well as an emergency contact. Furthermore, any specific information pertaining to the contents should be appropriately marked on the package, if required.
It is necessary to have specific markings on the shipment if it includes dry ice in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).
What are Perishable Goods?
Perishable items are sensitive to time and/or temperature changes, necessitating quick and secure delivery to preserve their quality and efficacy. With a limited shelf life and specific storage needs, shipping perishable goods by air is the preferred method of transportation.
Each perishable product comes with its own set of shipping guidelines depending on its characteristics. The storage method is dictated by the type of product being transported. To preserve freshness and minimize spoilage, certain perishable items require colder temperatures to slow down respiration and delay ripening. For instance, it is essential to freeze meat and seafood to prevent contamination by harmful microorganisms.
Ensuring the preservation of perishable cargo and minimizing any potential loss during transportation is crucial. By implementing and adhering to suitable guidelines, the high quality of the cargo can be maintained effectively.
Types of Perishable Cargo/Goods
The global demand for fresh and healthy produce throughout the year, regardless of seasonal constraints, has led to a continuous increase in the air transportation of perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, dairy products, and flowers. Recognizing the limited shelf-life of these products, air cargo has become the preferred choice for transportation, offering unparalleled agility in adapting to dynamic conditions. This preference stems from its unique ability to swiftly respond to changing market demands.
The following items are examples of perishable goods that are transported by air:
| Number | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fruits |
| 2 | Vegetables |
| 3 | Flowers, Tropical Flowers, and Potted Plants |
| 4 | Spices and Dried Herbs (although most are sent by sea) |
| 5 | Meat and Meat Products |
| 6 | Cut Flowers and Florist Greens |
| 7 | Shellfish |
| 8 | Seafood |
| 9 | Eggs |
| 10 | Cheese and Dairy Products |
| 11 | Pharmaceutical Products |
| 12 | Baked Goods and Confectionary |
| 13 | Frozen Food |
| 14 | Cosmetics Products |
Cut Flowers Air Shipping
In 2019, the worldwide fresh cut flowers market hit a staggering US $34,347.23 million, with the United States and the United Kingdom leading in purchases. On the other hand, the Netherlands, Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya, and Ethiopia stand out as the biggest suppliers of cut flowers. Given the perishable nature of fresh-cut flowers, swift and carefully controlled air shipping is crucial for maintaining their quality.
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