Transport & Delivery Conditions
Aligned with FSSC 22000 Requirements
Requirement Overview
FSSC 22000 requires organizations involved in the transport and delivery of food products to implement and maintain documented procedures that ensure food safety and product integrity are preserved throughout the distribution process. This includes suitable handling, temperature control where necessary, and preventive measures against contamination or damage.
Transport conditions must be appropriate for the type of product being moved (e.g., chilled, frozen, ambient) and must be monitored, verified, and documented. These requirements apply to both temperature-sensitive and ambient products where hygiene, legality, and quality must be protected.
Key Compliance Objectives
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✓ Ensure vehicles and containers are suitable and clean prior to use
✓ Maintain product-specific transport conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, hygiene)
✓ Monitor and record critical parameters during transport
✓ Protect against contamination, tampering, or physical damage
✓ Verify receiving conditions to ensure product safety is maintained
Step-by-Step Compliance Implementation
1. Define Product-Specific Transport Conditions
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Key Factors to Determine:
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• Required environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.)
• Protection from contamination, cross-contact, and spoilage
• Secure and hygienic loading methods
Evidence to Maintain:
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• Transport condition specifications
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each product category
• Equipment calibration and maintenance records
- • Required environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) • Protection from contamination, cross-contact, and spoilage • Secure and hygienic loading methods
- • Transport condition specifications • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each product category • Equipment calibration and maintenance records
2. Verify Vehicle and Container Suitability
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Checks Prior to Loading:
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• Cleanliness and sanitation of transport equipment
• Functionality of temperature control systems (if applicable)
• Absence of foreign materials, pests, or odors
• Compatibility with the product’s nature and quantity
Evidence to Maintain:
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• Pre-loading inspection logs
• Cleaning and sanitation records
• Suitability and maintenance checklists
- • Cleanliness and sanitation of transport equipment • Functionality of temperature control systems (if applicable) • Absence of foreign materials, pests, or odors • Compatibility with the product’s nature and quantity
- • Pre-loading inspection logs • Cleaning and sanitation records • Suitability and maintenance checklists
3. Maintain and Monitor Transport Conditions
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Control Measures Include:
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• Continuous or point-in-time monitoring systems
• Security measures (e.g., tamper-evident seals)
• Segregation of allergenic or hazardous materials
• Verification of container closure and load integrity
Evidence to Maintain:
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• Temperature or condition logs
• Seal tracking and security reports
• Non-conformance and deviation records
- • Continuous or point-in-time monitoring systems • Security measures (e.g., tamper-evident seals) • Segregation of allergenic or hazardous materials • Verification of container closure and load integrity
- • Temperature or condition logs • Seal tracking and security reports • Non-conformance and deviation records
4. Manage Delivery and Receiving Protocols
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Receiving Site Expectations:
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• Cross-check deliveries against order specifications
• Verify temperature and physical condition upon arrival
• Document any inconsistencies or non-conformances
Evidence to Maintain:
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• Delivery and receiving checklists
• Arrival temperature records
• Inspection and rejection reports
- • Cross-check deliveries against order specifications • Verify temperature and physical condition upon arrival • Document any inconsistencies or non-conformances
- • Delivery and receiving checklists • Arrival temperature records • Inspection and rejection reports
Common Audit Findings & Recommended Fixes
| Audit Finding | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| No defined temperature specs for transport | Create documented transport condition profiles per product |
| Incomplete or missing temperature logs | Implement validated monitoring tools and maintain backup logs |
| Dirty or unsuitable delivery vehicles | Establish and enforce vehicle inspection and sanitation SOPs |
| No seal integrity tracking | Introduce seal control and shipment ID verification logs |