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Vehicles, Transport & Storage

It is a mandatory requirement all entrants to the Food Production Unit understand and abide by all of FERA LTD Policies & Procedures.

DOCUMENT NAME
1.12 Vehicle Management, Storage and Distribution

Document Reference Number

1.12

Document Sub-Sections

  • 1.12.1a Vehicle Management, Storage & Distribution Control

  • 1.12.1b Goods Out Procedure Including Managing The Security Of The Vehicle And Load During Transit

  • 1.12.2a Staff Training: Goods Out Procedure And Load Security

  • 1.12.3 Transportation Checks, Third Party Haulier Agreements

  • 1.12.4a Packaging For Distribution, Postal And Courier Services

  • 1.12.4b Mitigation Of Food Adulteration

  • 1.12.4c Specific Conditions Required For Transport

Issue Number

1.0

Issue Date:

05/01/2024

Last Reviewed Date

05/01/2024

Reviewed by

Board of Directors

Next Review Date

Annualised

 

05/01/2025 (Earlier if any significant changes made or required).

Responsible Officer(s)

Board of Directors

Distribution

  • Accessible and distributed to all staff

  • Accessible via FERA intranet or available upon request.

Storage

Stored on the intranet.

Document Control

Uncontrolled Copy Unless Printed on Yellow Signed Paper or accessed on intranet.

Amendments with date of amendment.

Nil

Document Notes

Nil

Intranet Link

1.12 Map (Vehicles, S&D) | INTRANET I Fera

Authorised by

Adeel Iqbal

 
 

1.12.1a VEHICLE MANAGEMENT, STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION CONTROL

Control over distribution is important to maintain the safety and integrity of our products. Poorly transported products can lead to customer complaints and even customer illness.


FERA ensures the safety and integrity of the food chain from seed to plate. We ensure, that were third party distribution is involved, there shall be an agreement in place to ensure the integrity and safety of the product is not compromised during storage and / or distribution to the customer or interim stations. This is to mitigate risks and to protect our products from physical, chemical, allergen and or microbiological damage whether in own, or third party storage or transit.


We ensure our products are transported in safe, secure and authorised vehicles which are fit for purpose. The transportation of our products takes place in transport that maintains the integrity and safety of the product. Our dedicated transportation vehicles are inspected regularly, before loading throughout and at the end of transit. A goods out transport log is completed which addresses several aspects of transport.

We also ensure third parties use clean and well-maintained vehicles which are free from strong odours to prevent tainting of the products. We also ensure our contractor has in place vehicle breakdown procedures and that they will inform us promptly in the event of a breakdown / accident or any other unexpected circumstance during transport.


 
1.12.1b GOODS OUT PROCEDURE INCLUDING MANAGING THE SECURITY OF THE VEHICLE AND LOAD DURING TRANSIT

A detailed goods out procedure records information relating to the egress of goods and items from  the FERA production facility. This helps with product traceability and contributes to the integrity and safety of the food chain.

 

Items such as date, time and responsible officer are recorded. The name of the product, brand (own or white label), batch codes, product description, best before date, packaging details are recorded. Recipient information including name and company details, invoice reference as well as several quality checks are documented.

 

Items relating to the vehicle, including courier information, inspection of the vehicle(s), securing of items, correct orientation of items, temperature control if required, vehicle maintenance information are also documented.


 
1.12.2a STAFF TRAINING: GOODS OUT PROCEDURE AND LOAD SECURITY

Staff are trained to ensure the Goods Out procedure is understood and implemented. Records are kept in staff portfolios.

 

1.12.3 TRANSPORTATION CHECKS, THIRD PARTY HAULIER AGREEMENTS

Transport used for the distribution of products to the clients is checked to ensure it is fit for purpose and capable of maintaining the integrity and safety of the product. All transport is inspected before loading, and records kept for each dispatch.


Where third party hauliers/distributors and storage facilities are contracted, there shall be a documented agreement in place to ensure the integrity and safety of product is not compromised during storage and/or distribution to the customer.


Approved Couriers and Distributors are recorded in our Approved Supplier Lists. We aim to work with accredited transport companies, ideally BRC Certified.

Transport & Distribution Agreement



 
1.12.4a PACKAGING FOR DISTRIBUTION, POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES

Where products are distributed via couriers or the postal service, we ensure products are adequately and appropriately packaged to ensure their integrity and safety is not compromised during distribution to the customer.


  • Ensure outer carton has the appropriate size and strength, too large may cause the products to shake and break,

  • A weak carton may tear and rip, allow the ingress of pests and possibly be rejected by the recipient.

  • Cartons should have ‘This Way Up’ stickers, be tamper evident and clearly labelled.



 
1.12.4b MITIGATION OF FOOD ADULTERATION

Prior to our product reaching third party – we have pre-requisites in place with our suppliers to ensure our raw products are packaged in a robust outer box, with tamper-evident packaging, food-safe wrapping to prevent food coming into contact with the external environment.


 

1.12.4c SPECIFIC CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR TRANSPORT

FERA produces ambient storage products and does not require chilled or frozen transport vehicles.



 

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