Perishable Goods

Perishable Goods refer to commodities that are prone to spoilage, deterioration, rotting, or loss of use value at room temperature, commonly seen in fresh foods, flowers, pharmaceuticals, and chemical raw materials. In international trade, perishable goods have extremely high requirements for transportation and storage conditions, typically requiring cold chain logistics (such as refrigerated containers, reefer ships, air freight), temperature-controlled warehouses, and rapid customs clearance. Usage scenarios include: letters of credit requiring submission of temperature records, bills of lading marked 'keep refrigerated', and insurance clauses adding 'spoilage and deterioration risk'. Precautions: 1) Transportation time must be short, prioritizing air freight or direct routes; 2) Responsibility division must be clear, such as whether the carrier guarantees temperature control; 3) Inspection and quarantine are strict, requiring advance processing of animal and plant quarantine and health certificates; 4) Insurance must cover inherent defects and temperature variation risks. Differences from other terms: Perishable goods emphasize physical spoilage, while 'dangerous goods' emphasize safety risks, and 'sensitive cargo' focuses on political or customs risks. Foreign trade contracts should clearly define 'perishable goods', temperature and humidity ranges, delay handling, and claim mechanisms.