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Incoterms Temperature Responsibility | Freight-Academy™

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 13, 2026

Incoterms Temperature Responsibility

An Incoterm specifies at which point responsibility for maintaining temperature and bearing the associated risk transfers from seller to buyer.

Quick Answer

An Incoterm specifies at which point responsibility for maintaining temperature and bearing the associated risk transfers from seller to buyer.

For chilled or frozen goods, the chosen trade term determines whether the exporter remains responsible only until the port of shipment or throughout to the destination, and thus who pays for…

The precise handover point (e.g., "on board the vessel" under FOB, or "delivered paid to destination" under CIP) defines who assumes the temperature risk from that moment onward.

Last updated: 13 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://iccwbo.org/resources-for-business/incoterms-2020/

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Incoterms Temperature Responsibility

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Definition & Explanation

An Incoterm specifies at which point responsibility for maintaining temperature and bearing the associated risk transfers from seller to buyer. For chilled or frozen goods, the chosen trade term determines whether the exporter remains responsible only until the port of shipment or throughout to the destination, and thus who pays for temperature failures or spoilage. The precise handover point (e.g., "on board the vessel" under FOB, or "delivered paid to destination" under CIP) defines who assumes the temperature risk from that moment onward. Temperature records (time-temperature indicators, data loggers) become essential proof of compliance or grounds for liability claims.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Incoterms Temperature Responsibility (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/incoterms-temperature-responsibility), accessed 2026-09-27
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2026). Incoterms Temperature Responsibility. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/incoterms-temperature-responsibility
BibTeX: @misc{incotermstemperatureresponsibility2026, title = {Incoterms Temperature Responsibility}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/incoterms-temperature-responsibility}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-27} }

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