Failure to comply with specific environmental and/or hygienic conditions during the transport of perishable goods often implies irreparable damage to the quality of the transported product.

To ensure safe and hygienic transport, the ATP (Accord Transport Perissable[1]) was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1970.

This agreement establishes the minimum requirements to comply with for the international transport of perishable goods and for their conservation, in order to safeguard their salubrity paying particular attention to respect for the chain of cold.

In particular, they define the following  points:

• construction requirements for isothermal equipment for cold-storage refrigerated transport;
• certain conditions of use for the users;
• the types of perishable foods that can be transported in refrigeration conditions, and their transport temperature in line with the provisions of the Italian Ministry of Health.

Likewise, it obliges all vehicles used for such transport to be regularly inspected and certified by authorized specialized centres.

The ATP Certification has a total duration of 12 years from the date of issue but provides for periodic tests and inspections that are carried out by professionals at specialized and authorized centres.

At the end of the 12 years, the ATP certification expires, and the specialized centres are no longer competent for the renewal. However, the users have the possibility to subject their vehicle to a further test, and this time the test can be carried out only by an authorized state test centre, and it extends the certification validity for further 6 years.

Thanks to the certified and qualified staff of the Italian Railway Network laboratories, we are able to support and manage this certification all-around, with professionalism, efficiency and courtesy. Moreover, the possibility of affixing the certification plate after the test has taken place without having to modify the body of the loading area of the truck make us the sole and exclusive Lab.