Driver Vehicle Standards Agency
You need to follow special rules to transport perishable food to or from 50 countries in a UN international agreement known as the ATP agreement.
There are different rules if youre only transporting perishable food within the UK.
The ATP agreement sets out:
- which foods and foodstuffs are covered by the rules
- the temperatures different foods must be transported at
- how vehicles, trailers and equipment can be approved
- what documents you need to prove your vehicles, trailers and equipment meet the standards
- what signs need to be on vehicles and trailers
Its illegal to transport perishable food in or out of the countries in the agreement without the right approval. You can be fined by the authorities in those countries. The amounts vary by country.
Which types of food it applies to
The rules apply to transporting:
- butter
- concentrated fruit juice
- deep-frozen and frozen food
- fish products (including untreated fish, molluscs and crustaceans)
- fresh dairy products (including yoghurt, cream and fresh cheese)
- meat products
- milk
- poultry
- ready-cooked food (meat, fish and vegetables)
- ready-to-eat prepared raw vegetables and vegetable products
The rules do not apply to transporting non-processed food, such as fresh fruit and vegetables.
Where it applies
The rules apply if you want to transport food to or from these countries:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, USA and Uzbekistan.
Rules for the vehicle, trailer and equipment
The vehicle or trailer and equipment must meet the rules set out in the ATP agreement.
You get a certificate of compliance when your vehicle is approved. When you make international journeys you must either:
- carry the certificate in the vehicle
- permanently fix a certification plate of compliance to the equipment in a clearly visible place - the ATP agreement sets out how it must look
Your vehicle or trailer can be checked for the certificate or plate:
- at international borders
- inside countries in the ATP agreement
External signs (markings)
You must display the following information on the outside of the vehicle or trailer:
- a 2 or 3 letter code showing how the equipment has been classified - check annex 1, appendix 4 of the ATP agreement for the list of codes
- the date the equipments approval expires
You must display this at the top-front corner of the vehicle or trailer, and on both sides of it.
You can buy decals (stickers or transfers) showing this information when you get the equipment approved.
Buy a vehicle or trailer
Generally, vehicles and trailers that have been designed to transport perishable food will already have been approved.
You should be given the ATP certificate when you buy the vehicle or trailer.
Contact Cambridge Refrigeration Technology if:
- you do not think the certificate matches what youre buying
- the vehicle or trailer has not been approved
Cambridge Refrigeration Technology
crt@crtech.co.uk
Telephone: 01223 365 101
Find out about call charges
The initial certificate lasts for 6 years. You then need to get the vehicle or trailer retested every 3 years to keep it approved.
Vehicles or trailers that have not been approved
You need to have the vehicle or trailer tested if it does not have an ATP certificate and is not covered by a type approval.
Older vehicles and trailers are unlikely to pass the test.
Contact Cambridge Refrigeration Technology for advice.
Cambridge Refrigeration Technology
crt@crtech.co.uk
Telephone: 01223 365 101
Find out about call charges
Renew an approval for a vehicle or trailer
You can get your vehicle or trailer retested so its approved for another 3 years. The test can be done at either:
- Cambridge Refrigeration Technology (the site can take one 13.6 metre semi-trailer at a time, so you must book ahead)
- Conway Bailey Transport in Redruth, Cornwall - contact them directly to book the test
- Sandy Baird Ltd in Kinross, Perth and Kinross - contact them directly to book the test
- your own site
Download and fill in the application form to apply to have the test done at Cambridge Refrigeration Technology or your own site.
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