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What Is Perishable
Perishable Goods are items liable to perish, decay or spoil rapidly. such as fresh meat, seafood, ripe fruits and certain temperature sensitive medical products (i.e. blood , diagnostics etc.), while non-perishable are items that do not spoil or decay.
Chilled and Frozen Goods are predominantly foodstuffs which have their origin in the animal or plant kingdom. Foodstuffs may rapidly lose quality at ambient temperatures, such as over ripeness, shriveling, mould, rot, loss of aroma and vitamins, rancidity and the formation of toxic substances constituting typical changes which within a short time impair the enjoyment of foodstuffs or render them inedible. Also PHARMACEUTICAL products (vaccines, blood derivates), flowers, plants and some chemicals belong to the category of PERISHABLES.
All of them have to be carried in precisely defined temperature ranges.
 Food
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Perishable food includes fruits and vegetables, fresh meat, foods purchased from chill cabinets, freshly cooked food stored to be used later etc. and is usually stored in the refrigerator. Some fresh fruits and vegetables, however, will store quite well out of the refrigerator as long as they are stored in a cool place. |
| Refrigeration can substantially reduce the rate at which food will deteriorate. Low temperatures slow down the growth of microorganisms and the rate of chemical (including enzymic) changes in food. These are two of the main causes of food spoilage. Different parts of your refrigerator will operate at different temperatures. In older style refrigerators the upper shelves will often be slightly colder than the lower shelves. In more modern appliances the temperature will be relatively uniform throughout. Check your instruction booklet to find the warmest and coldest areas inside your model. |
Wine
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Many consumers are unaware that wine is a perishable product, a ‘living thing’ that undergoes a delicate, continuous transformation of chemistry and integration of organisms. Even those who are acquainted with wine often disregard these facts, believing that it is resilient in its youth and that the glass bottle it lives in provides sufficient robust protection. In actuality, wine is almost as fragile and spoilable as any other fresh produce and it requires specialised handling in every step from production to the point of consumption |
At the core of this problem is an accommodating collusion
between wineries, wine exporters, importers, merchants, retailers and restaurants, and their apathy towards correct shipping and storage logistics requirements, in order to make satisfactory profits and meet the burgeoning demand for wine in the Asian market. Less expensive wine intended for early consumption, coerced by sensitive price points, are the most mistreated. Yet the reality is, all wine is extremely fragile and highly susceptible to temperature fluctuations, light and oxygen.
The transportation and storage of wine in the relentless tropical heat of South East Asia and variable temperatures and extremes of sub-tropical East-Asia, is problematic. This requires both shipping and storage facilities that are temperature-controlled. However, this is far from standard practice with many inexperienced or unqualified
small-scale wine importers, and is not confined to less-developed countries either, with the relatively liberal customs and liquor licensing laws in countries such as Hong Kong.
Wine can be stored satisfactorily between 7-18 °C (45-65 °F) as long as any variations are gradual. A temperature of 13 °C (55 °F), ( much like what is found in the caves used to store wine in France ) is ideal for both short-term storage and long-term aging of wine. Note that wine generally matures differently and more slowly at a lower temperature than it does at a higher temperature. Between 10-14 °C (50-57 °F), wines will age normally. |
Flowers & Plants
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Flowers are grown on a global scale. The biggest flower-growing nations are the Netherlands, Colombia, Kenya and Israel, but many other countries like South Africa, Ecuador and Malaysia are now investing in the industry. Most countries grow the "top ten" best selling flowers, but many are starting to export indigenous crops.
Some flowers are sent packed flat in boxes. This enables large amounts of flowers to be packed in small spaces like aircraft holds. Other flowers cannot survive for long periods out of water. These are either sent with their own little water holders on each stem end - for more expensive or tropical flowers - or |
are transported in buckets of water. The latter method extends the life of flowers and reduces labour time as flowers are ready for sale, but obviously also reduces the amount of flowers that can be transported as they are much heavier than dry-packed flowers and hence air transportation charges are higher.
Flowers take a number of routes to the consumer, depending on where they are grown and how they are to be sold. Some growers cut and pack flowers at their nurseries, sending them directly out to the consumer by mail order. Some flowers are sent to packing companies, who grade the flowers and arrange them in bunches for sale on to the supermarkets or to deliver by mail order. Some flowers are graded and sleeved by the growers and sold to wholesale markets; the wholesalers then sell them on to florists who condition and arrange the flowers for the consumer. |
Pharmaceuticals
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They are some of the most precious, fragile and time-sensitive commodities the world has ever seen. They can cost thousands of dollars a gram and more--a price far greater than gold or quality diamonds. Yet their true worth is in what they accomplish.
Pharmaceuticals also represent a tremendous challenge for the transportation industry. With pharmaceuticals, "safeguard" can have many different meanings. Some products are so fragile they have a lifetime of only days or weeks. Others can last far longer, |
but are so valuable that extraordinary security measures are absolutely essential. Either way, the products have a high price tag so the shippers virtually demand special treatment.
Often the most valuable products are the most difficult ones to deal with. For some anti-viral agents and drugs such as Interferon, near-absolute control of conditions is a must. Control includes tight monitoring and strict terms for handling.
Adding to the complexities of the situation is the fact that virtually all significant pharmaceuticals are surrounded by an incredibly complex web of national and international regulation that can leave all those in the manufacturing and supply chain vulnerable to tremendous fines in case of infraction.
Like any other business, pharmaceutical manufacturers determine the transportation modes they will use based on many factors, including cost, speed, security and ability to maintain appropriate conditions. Drug companies will thus use whatever mode they can, based on the products that are being shipped.
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Blood
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The logistics of moving Blood and Vaccines is a demanding job that requires reliable and trustworthy Logistics Players. The continuous investment by both the government and leading research and pharmaceuticals companies will mean an increase in
the specialized
logistics requirements for transporting pharmaceutical products and blood or other biological specimens, at a strictly controlled temperature.
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Handling logistics and supply chain management for this industry can be a highly regulated and complex matter, due to the demanding needs of the client. Frequently, they will have to deal with complications, such as meeting the stringent yet constantly changing regulatory requirements of different countries in handling temperature-sensitive biomaterials and understanding the hazardous or perishable requirements.
Due to these issues, logistics players need to be reliable, trustworthy and have a strong track record.
Stringent regulatory requirements are the major challenge in the Biopharm sector as well as a lack of market awareness on using the appropriate packaging and knowledge of how to handle a shipment correctly. |
Diagnostics
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Diagnostics are items of medical equipment designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions. These devices are usually designed with rigorous safety standards. Transporting this equipment requires specialist capabilities and knowledge. Generally this equipment is very sensitive and subsequently expensive. Only specialist Logistics Company’s can undertake the cargo handling of such equipment. |
There are several basic types:
- Diagnostic equipment includes medical imaging machines, used to aid in diagnosis. Examples are ultrasound and MRI machines, PET and CT scanners, and x-ray machines.
- Therapeutic equipment includes infusion pumps, medical lasers and LASIK surgical machines.
- Life support equipment is used to maintain a patient's bodily function. These include medical ventilators, heart-lung machines, ECMO, and dialysis machines.
- Medical monitors allow medical staff to measure a patient's medical state. Monitors may measure patient vital signs and other parameters including ECG, EEG, blood pressure, and dissolved gases in the blood.
- Medical laboratory equipment automates or helps analyze blood, urine and genes.
- Diagnostic Medical Equipment may also be used in the home for certain purposes, e.g. for the control of diabetes mellitus
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