ATO Certification of Reefer Containers

Organisation behind ATO certification

The ATO certification program for reefer containers is executed by the multidisciplinary research organisation Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, part of Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands). The site www.reefertransport.nl is merely dedicated to the ATO-certification program. Visit our website to get a general overview of our activities in the field of post-harvest technologies applied to food produces and of refrigerated transport.

Objective of ATO certification

The purpose of ATO certification of reefer containers by Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is to improve the quality preservation of flower bulbs during shipment by means of classifying the suitability of reefer containers for the transportation of flower bulbs. ATO certification primarily serves the interests of flower bulb shippers, as it supports them in serving their customers optimally. For this purpose ATO certification works in closed collaboration with Anthos organisation (Dutch Royal Trade association for Nursery stock and flower bulbs).
Insurance company requires the shipment of flower bulbs within ATO-certified reefer containers.
The ATO certification of reefer container assures to the container owners the extension of their cargo volume by transporting flower bulbs.

Minimum requirements for full ATO certification

An ATO-certified reefer container with the qualification 'Suitable for all destinations' has met the following minimum requirements:

1. Fresh air exchange of empty container (at 380V/50Hz) at least 2.6 m³/h per m³ internal container volume.
2. Air circulation inside empty container (at 380V/50Hz) at least 40 m³/h per m³ internal container volume.
3. Height T-bars in 40 ft. containers at least 60 mm, in 20 ft. containers at least 30 mm.
4. Four drain holes in the corners. What will happen if a container has less than 4 drain holes?

WFBR-recognized classification society

The ATO-certification program has upgraded recently its ATO-test work procedure in order to guarantee the qualtiy of the ATO-test and the accuracies of the ATO-certifcate.
From 1st July 2021 only trained surveyors of WFBR-recognized classification society are allowed to witness the ATO-test and report these data on the reefertransport.nl website. 
The following classification societies have been recognized by WFBR to witness the ATO-test: 
- ABS
- Bureau Veritas
- CCS
- DEKRA
- RINA