GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 17, 2026

Packaging Standards for Perishable Goods

Freight forwarders and shippers handling perishable goods rely on sector-specific packaging standards that bring together temperature control, material requirements, hygiene, and traceability within a single regulatory framework.

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Last updated: 17 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/live-animals-perishables/perishables/

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Definition & Explanation

Freight forwarders and shippers handling perishable goods rely on sector-specific packaging standards that bring together temperature control, material requirements, hygiene, and traceability within a single regulatory framework. The standards specify insulation and sealing performance, permitted cooling or freezing media, and documentation requirements for temperature logs throughout the cold chain. For pharmaceutical products, GDP (Good Distribution Practice) guidelines typically apply; for food, national food safety legislation and, where applicable, HACCP principles govern requirements. Air freight is addressed specifically by the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulations. Inadequate packaging for perishables is not merely a quality issue: it can result in goods being seized, destroyed, or returned at border controls.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Packaging Standards for Perishable Goods (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/packaging-standards-for-perishable-goods), accessed 2026-10-23
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Packaging Standards for Perishable Goods. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/packaging-standards-for-perishable-goods
BibTeX: @misc{packagingstandardsfor2025, title = {Packaging Standards for Perishable Goods}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/packaging-standards-for-perishable-goods}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-10-23} }

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