Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has published updated cold chain handling requirements that will affect food logistics operators from July 2025.
Major Changes
Continuous Temperature Monitoring
- Mandatory data loggers for all refrigerated transport over 100km
- Real-time alerts required for temperature excursions
- 30-day data retention minimum for all temperature records
Documentation Requirements
- Chain of custody documentation at each handover point
- Digital records acceptable (replacing paper where systems comply)
- Audit trail capability required for regulatory inspection
Transport Standards
- Pre-cool verification before loading required
- Door seal integrity checks at load and unload
- Loading time limits specified by product category
Compliance Timeline
- July 1, 2025: Requirements take effect
- October 2025: Full enforcement begins
- January 2026: All existing equipment must meet new standards
Affected Operators
The changes apply to:
- Refrigerated transport operators
- Cold storage warehouses
- Food distribution centres
- Retail logistics providers
Industry bodies are hosting compliance workshops through Q2 2025.