ATP 2026: What Changes for Chilled and Frozen Food

The ATP is the international agreement that sets requirements for the equipment used to carry perishable foodstuffs. Its latest amendments, known as ATP 2026, have applied since 25 August 2026. In Spain, the Council of Ministers approved the agreement taking note of their entry into force on 23 September.
First, what the amendments do not require: operators do not have to replace vehicles or equipment already in service. However, they change three things for anyone carrying chilled and frozen food. They affect the testing of multi-compartment configurations, the treatment of refrigerant changes and the verification of temperature recorders.

Where the ATP applies

The ATP governs the international carriage of perishable foodstuffs. In Spain, however, Royal Decree 1202/2005 also applies its rules to food transport within the country. As a result, the 2026 amendments reach domestic chilled and frozen deliveries in Spain, not only cross-border ones.

Three ATP 2026 changes for chilled and frozen food

Multi-compartment vehicles: testing the configuration

A vehicle can carry frozen food in one compartment and chilled food in another. For these vehicles, the amendments now set more precise rules, according to specialist press coverage. They clarify how to define compartments and their fixed or movable partitions. They also specify which configuration to use during testing and how to verify the compartments at the same time. In practice, a vehicle certified for frozen and chilled compartments must show that it holds both temperatures simultaneously.

A refrigerant change is no longer routine maintenance

Replacing the refrigerant in a unit that keeps food chilled or frozen no longer counts as ordinary maintenance. Instead, the operator has to confirm with the manufacturer or the competent body that the ATP certification still covers the new configuration.
This links to a rule we covered in our article on three EU rules for the same refrigerated fleet. The EU F-Gas Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/573) is phasing down refrigerants with a high global warming potential, such as R-404A. So, if a food transport unit changes refrigerant because of that phase-down, the ATP check applies to that change too.

Temperature recorders: two measuring points and one year of records

For quick-frozen foodstuffs, temperature recorders must meet EN 12830:2018. Their periodic verification follows EN 13486:2023 and covers at least two measuring points. Accredited bodies, or bodies that the competent authority approves, carry out that verification. In addition, operators must keep the dated recordings for at least one year for each transport operation.

What ATP 2026 does not change

There is no general obligation to renew vehicles or equipment in service. Likewise, operators can keep using installed recorders that comply with EN 12830:1999. The new verification requirements also come with a transition period until 25 August 2027.

What to review under ATP 2026

For operations that carry chilled and frozen food, the amendments point to these checks:

• Recorders on units carrying quick-frozen food: check which standard they meet.
• Recorder verification: plan the two-point check by an accredited or approved body before 25 August 2027.
• Recorded data: keep dated recordings for at least one year per transport operation.
• Multi-compartment units: check that the ATP certificate covers the partition configuration you actually use, fixed or movable.
• Refrigerant: confirm with the manufacturer or the competent body that the certificate still covers any planned change.
• Temperature zones: check which equipment holds the ATP certificate, the vehicle installation or the container inside it.

Where the ATP certification sits

When chilled and frozen food share a vehicle, the ATP certification can sit in two places. One option is the vehicle installation. For example, fixed insulated chambers with two or three compartments can carry ATP certification on request. The other option is portable insulated containers that carry their own certification. We explain how this works for passive containers in our article on ATP-certified passive packaging for last-mile food delivery.

Finally, the published summaries of the 2026 amendments that we reviewed focus on vehicle compartments, refrigerants and temperature recorders. They do not describe changes specific to portable insulated containers.

Frequently asked questions about ATP 2026

• When did the ATP 2026 amendments come into force?

  They came into force on 25 August 2026. In Spain, the Council of Ministers approved the agreement taking note of their entry into force on 23 September 2026.

• Do the amendments require replacing refrigerated vehicles?

  No. They do not impose a general obligation to renew vehicles or equipment in service.

• Does changing the refrigerant affect ATP certification?

  It can. A refrigerant change no longer counts as routine maintenance. Therefore, the operator has to confirm with the manufacturer or the competent body that the certification still covers the new configuration.

• What do temperature recorders need for quick-frozen food?

  They must meet EN 12830:2018. Their periodic verification follows EN 13486:2023, at a minimum of two measuring points, by an accredited or approved body. Operators must also keep recordings for at least one year per transport operation. The transition period runs until 25 August 2027.

• Does the ATP apply to domestic food transport?

  The ATP governs international carriage. However, in Spain, Royal Decree 1202/2005 also applies it to transport within the country.