Food is one of the biggest flows of trade from Australia to PNG, and also the most regulated. A refrigerated container is only as good as the planning around it. Get the permits, temperatures and timing right, and it's routine. Get one wrong, and a box of product can be lost or rejected.
This guide covers how reefer shipping works, the export and import permits you'll need, and practical steps to protect the cold chain. For the wider process, see our complete guide to shipping from Australia to PNG.
Key points
- Refrigerated (reefer) containers keep chilled and frozen cargo at a set temperature, with power on the vessel and at terminals.
- Many animal and plant products need a NAQIA import permit, and PNG has at times restricted permits for fresh produce.
- Some Australian food exports, such as meat and dairy, may need export permits and certification from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
- Product must be pre-cooled to the carrying temperature before loading; reefers maintain temperature rather than bring it down.
- Collect reefers promptly in PNG, because power and storage charges add up quickly.
How reefer shipping works
A reefer container has its own refrigeration unit, which runs on power from the ship, the terminal or a generator set during road transport. The shipper sets the carrying temperature at booking, and the container holds it for the whole journey.
- Frozen goods such as meat, seafood and ice cream are usually carried at around −18°C or colder.
- Chilled goods such as dairy, fresh meat and some produce are carried just above freezing, at the temperature the product requires.
- Controlled ambient goods, such as chocolate or some pharmaceuticals, can also travel in reefers to avoid tropical heat.
Reefers are booked as full container loads. For container options generally, see our guide to FCL or LCL shipping to PNG.
Export requirements in Australia
Australia controls the export of many food and agricultural products. Goods such as meat, dairy, eggs, fish, grain, plants and plant products may need to come from registered establishments and travel with export permits and certificates, depending on the product and on PNG's import conditions. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Micor database sets out the requirements for each product and destination, and its plant records for PNG show that an import permit is required on the PNG side.
An export declaration is also needed for goods that require an export permit, whatever their value. Our guide to export documents for shipping from Australia to PNG explains how that works.
Import permits and NAQIA
On the PNG side, NAQIA controls imports of animal and plant products. Many food items need a NAQIA import permit before they're shipped, and the importer in PNG is usually the one who applies. PNG has used its permit system to protect local growers as well as for biosecurity: in 2015, for example, it imposed a moratorium on import permits for fresh foods including fruit, vegetables and uncooked poultry, later easing it for a few products. Rules change, so check current conditions before every new product line. See our guide to NAQIA biosecurity rules.
Make sure labelling, health certificates and the permit all match the product exactly. A mismatch between a certificate and the cargo is a common reason for a reefer to be held.
Protecting the cold chain
- Pre-cool the product to the carrying temperature before loading. Reefers are designed to maintain temperature, not to pull warm product down.
- Check the container has passed its pre-trip inspection and is set to the right temperature and ventilation.
- Load for airflow. Don't block the floor channels or stack above the red load line.
- Load quickly, ideally from a cold dock, and close the doors as soon as you're done.
- Use temperature data loggers inside the cargo so you have a record if anything goes wrong.
- Plan the PNG end: the reefer needs power at the terminal and a cold store or prompt delivery once released.
Arrival and collection
Once discharged, reefers are plugged into power at the terminal, and electricity and monitoring are charged on top of normal storage. Every day a reefer waits for clearance adds cost and risk, so have the permits, documents and duty ready before the vessel arrives. Our guides to PNG destination charges and avoiding cargo delays cover how to keep release times short.
Insurance for perishables
Standard cargo insurance doesn't always cover temperature deviation or delay. If you ship perishables regularly, ask your insurer for a policy that covers reefer breakdown and spoilage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship frozen meat from Australia to PNG?
Yes, if it meets Australian export requirements and the PNG importer holds the necessary NAQIA import permit. Confirm both before you book.
Who arranges the NAQIA import permit?
Usually the importer in PNG. Australian exporters should check the permit is in place, and that its conditions match the product, before shipping.
What happens if the reefer unit fails?
The carrier's records and your data loggers show when the temperature changed. Whether you can recover the loss depends on the cause and your insurance cover.
Part of our complete guide
This article is one step in Shipping from Australia to PNG: The Complete Guide. Other guides in the "shipping by cargo type" stage:
This guide is general information, current at the date of last review. Rates, schedules, duty rates and procedures change, so confirm the details of your shipment with a licensed freight forwarder or customs broker before you act.