The United Nations has released an updated ATP Handbook, which AFCCC says is the ultimate guide for the transport of perishable foods. The updated Handbook takes effect from July 2020.

The work of The United National Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the transport of perishable foodstuffs goes back to 1948 when, with the food shortages after the Second World War, it was decided to set up a working party to look into the nature and extent of international traffic in perishable foodstuffs, to ascertain operating difficulties and to study transport requirements for subsequent years.

The ATP Handbook covers the international carriage of perishable foodstuffs and the special equipment used for such carriage. Fifty European countries, including the UK are parties to the ATP and so is the United States, but Australia is not.

AFCCC director Peter Lawrence says the updated version will officialise some important changes that may impact on the transport industry sooner or later. Some of the updates cover:
*transitional measures for insulated bodies with non-rigid walls
*equipment fitted with liquefied gas systems
*the methodoogy to test mechanically refrigerated and heated equipment
*the procedure for testing mechanically refigeration units if there is a change of refrigerants
*the procedure to verify the effectiveness of the thermal appliance in service for multi-temperatures units

READ THE UPDATED ATP HANDBOOK