The export of meats such as beef, pork and poultry is very significant in the economies of many countries, making up an important source of revenue and boosting international trade.
To guarantee that the products of animal origin arrive at their destination in good condition and within the required standards, the storage and shipping process must be planned carefully.
Here we will look at the principal steps for the export of meats to be done with efficiency, guaranteeing the quality of the product and compliance with regulations.
Check it out!
How does meat export work?
The export of meats, whether of beef, pork or poultry, involves various logistical processes which begin with production through to the delivery in international markets.
The process includes the slaughter of the animal, the processing of the meat, its shipping to the distribution centers and finally the delivery at its destination.
Throughout this trajectory, the meat needs to be stored and transported under specific conditions of temperature and hygiene.
The importance of maintaining an efficient cold chain
The cold chain is the system of continuous refrigeration, which goes from when the meat is still in the meat processing plant until its arrival at the consumer market.
Control of the temperature of the meat is essential for food safety, as this impedes the proliferation of bacteria and micro-organisms which can compromise the quality of the food and, consequently, the health of consumers.
In the export of products of animal origin, this control is even more critical, as the product travels extremely long distances (which increases the variations in temperature).
If the meat is not kept at a constant and suitable temperature, this may result in financial losses and compromise the image of the exporting company.
What care should be taken in the export of meat? Find out more
For the export of meat to be successful and for the product to arrive in good condition at the international markets, it is essential to adopt specific care at each stage of the process, as follows:
Proper storage
The meat must be stored in refrigerated rooms with the suitable temperature control.
Furthermore, it must be kept in places that are clean, with good circulation of air at the recommended temperature, and avoiding contact with products that can cause cross-contamination, such as foods at different temperatures or improper raw materials.
Temperature control
For the meat to be kept at the proper temperatures, cold rooms to chill the meat, properly cleaned vehicles with controlled temperature and constant monitoring systems have to be used.
The temperature must be checked regularly and adjusted as necessary, to guarantee that the product doesn’t undergo variations that can compromise its safety and quality.
Modern technologies such as temperature sensors and data trackers facilitate the control and monitoring of conditions of the product during transport.
Efficient transport
The transport of the meat is one of the most challenging stages of exporting the product. Depending on the distance and destination, this may involve different modes of transport, such as trucks, ships and airplanes, always with the provision of service at the controlled temperature.
In all cases, the shipping must be done in an efficient manner, guaranteeing that the meat is delivered within the stipulated time and under the ideal conditions.
The logistics has to be carefully planned, considering the transit times, the weather conditions and the most suitable kind of transport.
Compliance with sector regulations
The export of meat is also subject to various regulations and sanitary requirements, both in the country of origin and those of the destination.
It is absolutely essential that exporters comply rigorously with the standards, which may include obtaining quality certificates, veterinary inspection, phytosanitary controls and the like.
Every country has their own rules on meat quality, the use of supplements and the packaging of products.
Thus, it is fundamental that exporters are well informed about the requirements of the international market and seek to adjust their processes to ensure that the meat exported is compliant with the rules in effect.
Trends in logistics for meat exports
In recent years, the logistics for meat exports has become ever more sophisticated, with the use of leading edge technologies to improve the temperature control and the traceability of the products.
The use of temperature sensors, monitoring systems in real time and automation of the processes has helped to guarantee the quality and the safety of the products during transport.
It’s also worth mentioning that companies have invested increasingly in sustainable solutions, seeking to optimize energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of the logistics operations.
Digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence are also becoming important trends in stock management and in the planning of routes for shipping the meat.
Find out about our storage and transport solutions at controlled temperature
At Emergent Cold LatAm, we understand the importance of guaranteeing that the exported meat gets to its destination with high quality and complete safety.
Thus, we offer storage and transport solutions at controlled temperature, with leading edge technology and a specialized team to attend to the needs of our clients.
We have modern infrastructure and refrigerated vehicles that maintain the cold chain, guaranteeing that your load arrives in perfect condition.
It’s also worth highlighting that our logistics solutions are adaptable to the different requirements of the markets, providing safety, agility and reliability to the meat export process.
