In response to growing demands for quality and energy efficiency in refrigerated transport, AFFI, in collaboration with the GCCA, has developed a new temperature monitoring protocol. Published in May 2025, the international document has already been adopted and promoted by several industry bodies, including the German Frozen Food Institute (dti) and the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF).
The new guidelines cover the entire cold chain — from production and transport to final distribution — and aim to standardise temperature logging and eliminate inefficient energy management practices.
“The uniform temperature monitoring protocol is an important step towards greater transparency, energy efficiency, and quality assurance,” said Sabine Eichner, Managing Director of the dti.
In case you missed it: Need EV chargers at your depot? Don’t miss this £1 million EV charging grant
Standards to support quality and sustainability
The document includes, among other elements:
- Methods for recording temperature at every stage of the supply chain
- Identification of so-called critical control points
- Recommendations for data analysis and management
- Establishment of benchmark values as a basis for future optimisation
All of this is designed to support better operational decision-making for logistics providers, food producers, and distributors. The protocol also serves as a tool to cut energy losses and reduce CO₂ emissions.
“Companies throughout the cold chain have enormous potential to identify and eliminate inefficient energy use,” emphasised Shane Brennan of the GCCA.
A data-driven approach
Unlike previous methods — often localised or inconsistent — the new protocol places strong emphasis on systematic data use. Its aim is not only to improve accuracy in temperature tracking but also to enable early detection of risks to product quality and to establish robust, unified standards across the cold chain.
“By creating a common monitoring framework, we’re enhancing consistency and laying the foundation for a more sustainable future,” said Dr Sanjay Gummalla of AFFI.
Implementation-ready document
The new protocol marks a move towards greater resilience and transparency in the frozen food logistics sector — one that continues to expand in line with global demand for safe, long-lasting food products.
The full document is available online in English: Cold Chain Temperature Monitoring Protocol
In case you missed it: Haulier with 158 years of history destroyed by cyberattack
