What Counts as a Cold Chain Shipment?
Any goods that require temperature control throughout transport qualify as cold chain freight. The most common categories in international trade to Spain are fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled or frozen meat and fish, dairy products, cut flowers, pharmaceutical products (vaccines, biologics, certain medicines) and some chemicals or industrial products with narrow temperature tolerances.
The required temperature range depends on the product. For most fresh food it is 0°C to +5°C; for frozen goods, −18°C or below is the EU legal minimum. Pharmaceutical products often require a tighter range of +2°C to +8°C, managed under pharmaceutical-grade logistics protocols.
The cold chain is only as strong as its weakest point. A reefer container that works perfectly but sits unplugged on a quay for four hours, or a transfer between modes with no temperature bridge, can compromise the entire shipment. Continuous data logger records are the evidence that the chain was maintained — and they are checked at the Spanish border.
Reefer Containers for Sea Freight
For sea freight, perishable goods travel in reefer containers — standard 20ft or 40ft containers fitted with a refrigeration unit that maintains a set temperature throughout the voyage. The container is plugged into the vessel's power grid at sea and into quayside power at port. Most carriers offer reefer containers capable of operating between −25°C and +25°C.
When booking reefer freight, the shipper must specify the required temperature set point, the ventilation settings (important for fruit and vegetables that respire) and any controlled-atmosphere requirements. The carrier monitors the reefer throughout the voyage, and temperature logs are downloaded on arrival.
EU Border Inspection: BIP/BCP
All commercial imports of animal products — meat, fish, dairy, eggs and derived products — and many plant products must be presented at an EU Border Inspection Post (BIP), also called a Border Control Post (BCP), on arrival in Spain. The main BIPs with cold store capacity in Spain are at Valencia, Barcelona, Algeciras, Bilbao and Madrid Barajas airport.
Before the goods arrive, the importer or their customs agent must submit a pre-notification via TRACES NT — the EU's online system for tracking animal and food movements. Inspectors then carry out documentary, identity and physical checks. If the goods pass, a Common Health Entry Document (CHED) is issued and the shipment can proceed to customs clearance and delivery.
AJ Logistics · Madrid
Importing perishable goods to Spain?
We coordinate reefer containers, temperature-controlled air freight, TRACES NT pre-notification and BIP clearance for cold chain imports to Spain.
Required Documents for Perishable Imports
Beyond the standard import paperwork, cold chain shipments to Spain require:
- Health or phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of origin — mandatory for animal products and most plant products
- TRACES NT pre-notification submitted before the goods arrive at the Spanish border
- Temperature logs / data logger records demonstrating continuous temperature control throughout the journey
- CHED (Common Health Entry Document) — issued by Spanish border inspectors after a successful BIP check; required for the DUA de importación
Missing or incorrect documents are the most common cause of delays at the Spanish border for cold chain shipments. Coordinate with your supplier and freight forwarder to ensure everything is in order before the goods depart.
