{"id":11217,"date":"2021-12-20T12:22:32","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T10:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elainnovation.com\/how-to-avoid-a-break-in-the-cold-chain-during-transport-of-products\/"},"modified":"2024-10-25T14:30:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T12:30:34","slug":"how-to-avoid-a-break-in-the-cold-chain-during-transport-of-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elainnovation.com\/en\/how-to-avoid-a-break-in-the-cold-chain-during-transport-of-products\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding breaks in the cold chain when transporting goods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Compliance with the cold chain when transporting<\/strong> goods is essential. If the cold chain for heat-sensitive products is broken, the carrier is liable. Monitoring and controlling temperatures<\/strong> is therefore a major health and economic issue. <\/p>\n\n

So how do you get accurate data on how to maintain the ambient temperature inside a refrigerated vehicle for example? <\/p>\n\n

Temperature sensors provide reliable data to address these traceability issues<\/strong>, from transport to storage and delivery to the customer. How can you ensure that the cold chain is not broken? That’s what we’re going to explain in this article. <\/p>\n\n

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What is a break in the cold chain?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

A break in the cold chain <\/strong>can be defined as the consequence of a rise in temperature beyond that prescribed. To avoid this, the aim is to put in place a set of operations designed to maintain a constant, and usually negative, temperature during the storage and transport of a heat-sensitive product. <\/p>\n\n

A heat-sensitive product<\/strong> is one that is sensitive to temperature variations. In other words, its properties change depending on whether it is cold or hot. Respecting the cold chain<\/strong> means ensuring the consistency of the product or merchandise, in accordance with its labelling or the regulations in force. <\/p>\n\n

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Why is it essential to respect the cold chain?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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Compliance with the cold chain<\/strong> is therefore essential when transporting heat-sensitive goods. The safety of these specific products must be guaranteed by the transport company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they are delivered at a temperature higher than the contractually agreed one for example, the carrier can be held liable for it. The customer may then refuse delivery, even in the absence of alteration of the goods or its bacteriological conformity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What are the consequences of breaking the cold chain in the transport sector?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Temperature-controlled transport, whether by air, land or sea, is naturally a source of disputes because of the risks involved. Different health or financial issues are then to be considered.<\/p>\n\n

Health risk<\/h3>\n\n

When you think of the health risks associated with breaking the cold chain<\/strong>, you naturally think of the risks of food poisoning (staphylococcus, salmonella or listeriosis). In fact, the cold stops the proliferation of micro-organisms to keep food safe. <\/p>\n\n

This is also the case for many pharmaceutical products, such as drugs or vaccines, that need to be preserved cold. Some heat-sensitive health products can also be to damage caused by freezing. The crystallization of a water-soluble drug, for example, is irreversible.<\/p>\n\n

Economic risk<\/h3>\n\n

The financial risk is therefore very real. Because, as we have seen, a customer can refuse delivery of a batch of goods on the grounds that the cold chain has been broken during transport<\/strong>. Case law considers that temperature non-conformity can constitute damage. <\/p>\n\n

In case of doubt about the continuity of the cold chain, the consequence is the outright destruction of the goods. The principal may sue the transport company and claim compensation for damages. All of this is possible even in the absence of physical alteration of the product.<\/p>\n\n

A regulatory framework governs market participant. You can therefore better prevent by taking certain precautions.<\/p>\n\n

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What should be checked in the cold chain?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Bringing your company into compliance with the regulation in force is an important issue for many players in cold logistics. The use of a capture solution, especially wireless, may be essential.<\/p>\n\n

Cold chain regulation in transport and EN12830 and EN13486 standards<\/h3>\n\n

The use of temperature sensors is thus required by European regulations to obtain the EN12830 standard as well as the EN13486 standard.<\/p>\n\n