# Customs Clearance of Refrigerated Cargo

*Last updated: 2026-06-24*

> Customs officers and border veterinary inspectors are the central actors in the clearance of refrigerated cargo: they verify that all required documents – commercial invoice, certificate of origin, temperature records, and any veterinary or phytosanitary certificates – are complete before releasing the shipment.

Customs officers and border veterinary inspectors are the central actors in the clearance of refrigerated cargo: they verify that all required documents – commercial invoice, certificate of origin, temperature records, and any veterinary or phytosanitary certificates – are complete before releasing the shipment. Unlike standard freight, time pressure here is acute: since the cold chain must remain unbroken, pre-lodgement of declarations well before vessel arrival is essential. Missing temperature logs or monitoring gaps can trigger a physical examination, adding delays that risk spoilage. Freight forwarders handling perishables routinely coordinate pre-arrival notification with shipping lines and the relevant Border Inspection Post (BIP). Every hour of dwell time carries a direct cost that simply does not apply to non-perishable cargo.

**Source:** [https://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/our-divisions/global-forwarding/refrigerated-freight.html](https://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/our-divisions/global-forwarding/refrigerated-freight.html)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Customs Clearance of Refrigerated Cargo |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 118 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-24 |
| Source | https://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/our-divisions/global-forwarding/refrigerated-freight.html |

---

*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-clearance-of-refrigerated-cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-clearance-of-refrigerated-cargo)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/customs-clearance-of-refrigerated-cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/customs-clearance-of-refrigerated-cargo)*

*JSON summary: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/customs-clearance-of-refrigerated-cargo/llm-summary?lang=en](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/customs-clearance-of-refrigerated-cargo/llm-summary?lang=en)*