Q: What temperature needs to be maintained for different product types?

Temperature requirements vary by product type. Indicative ranges for different industries are
summarized below.
Vertical

Frozen

Chilled

QSR

--

-4 oC to 6 oC*

Pharmaceutical

-22 oC (vaccines)

2 oC to 8 oC

Meat & Poultry

-20 oC

--

Processed Food

-18 oC

--

Ice cream

-25 oC

--

Dairy

--

2 oC to 4 oC

Chocolates

--

16 oC to 18 oC

Retail

-18 oC to -22 oC

2 oC to 8 oC

import containers with cooling systems made by industry leaders guaranteeing temperatures as
low as -25 oC even when the ambient temperature is at +45 oC. These containers utilize 120mm
thick PUF panels with PUF density of 38 42 Kg per sqm.
Q: What happens in case of a vehicle break-down?
The first priority in case of a vehicle break-down is to ensure the safety of the cargo. Modern
vehicles have different units for the truck and refrigeration and even if the truck breaks down, the
refrigeration unit will continue to function independently.
It is imperative to move the cargo quickly to a back-up truck (refer best practices in transportation)
so that the cargo can reach its destination.
Cold Chains trucks are constantly monitored by the local branches (utilizing advanced GPS
tracking coupled with remote temperature monitoring) and a back-up truck is normally dispatched
within industry accepted time limits of a break-down.
Q: Why is a network important?
Although Myanmars highway infrastructure has improved significantly in the last decade, there are
still occasions where a vehicle can meet with an accident or a break-down. A network enables the
company to respond to any such eventuality promptly and deploy resources such as backup
trucks, personnel etc. to resolve the problem.
Q: Why is cold chain important?
Different industries require their raw materials and finished goods to be transported under
temperature controlled conditions. This is necessary to preserve the integrity and quality of the
overall product. Consider the illustrative example of a frozen or chilled food item as it moves from
the field to the fork. The implementation of an effective cold chain solution minimizes loss of
texture and flavour to produce and delivers fresh products to the end user both in and out of
season. Other industries that rely on cold chain solutions for their products include
Pharmaceutical, Meat & Poultry, QSR, Retail, FMCG & Dairy, and Paints.

Q: How do you choose a service provider?

Myanmar has relatively under developed cold chain infrastructure and the service providers are
primarily local or regional players. Companies offering these services need to have
Proven track record
Domain and technical expertise
Risk mitigation strategies
Trained staff
Modern & young fleet of reefer vehicles

The logistics function must avoid:

shipment of vaccines by way of airports that lack cold rooms;

consignments to the wrong party;
shipment of the wrong vial sizes;
shipment of the wrong quantity of vaccines and diluents;
shipment of vaccines that are due to expire soon;
arrival of vaccines on weekends or holidays;
shipment of vaccines without:
advance notification
sufficient icepacks
cold chain monitors
documentation needed for customs clearance