TL;DR
SFDA cold chain compliance requires temperature logging at 5-minute intervals, calibrated sensors, real-time alerts, and exportable reports. IPTech's solution combines wireless BLE sensors, GPS trackers, and platform dashboards with one-click SFDA report export.
SFDA Cold Chain Requirements
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority mandates temperature monitoring for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products during transport and storage. Violations mean product seizure, fines, and import license suspension.
Technical requirements:
- Temperature logging at intervals of 5 minutes or less
- Sensors calibrated annually with traceable certificates
- Real-time alerts when temperature exceeds product-specific thresholds
- Full transport history: temperature + GPS coordinates + timestamps
- Reports exportable in PDF format for SFDA audit submission
Sensor Options
Wireless BLE sensors — battery-powered, placed inside cargo. Range: 10-30 meters to the gateway device. Battery life: 1-2 years. Ideal for multi-zone monitoring (front vs rear of truck, each pallet).
Wired probes — direct connection to the GPS tracker. Higher accuracy (±0.3°C). Permanent mounting inside the refrigeration unit. Immediate data transmission.
Combined temperature + humidity — required for pharmaceutical transport where moisture also matters. IPTech carries dual-measurement BLE sensors.
Architecture
The system has four layers: sensors measure temperature, the GPS tracker collects and transmits data, the platform processes and stores it, and the alert engine notifies operators.
- Layer 1: BLE sensor or wired probe → reads temperature every 60 seconds
- Layer 2: GPS tracker with BLE gateway → relays data via 4G every 5 minutes
- Layer 3: IPTrack platform → stores time-series data, applies threshold rules
- Layer 4: Alerts → SMS to driver, email to dispatcher, dashboard notification to manager
Handling a Threshold Breach
When temperature exceeds the threshold: immediate SMS to the driver with instructions (check door seal, check refrigeration unit). If not corrected within 15 minutes, the dispatcher gets an escalation alert. If the breach lasts 30+ minutes, management receives a notification with GPS location and duration. All events logged with timestamp and coordinates for the compliance report.
Sensor calibration certificates expire annually. IPTech provides calibration reminders 30 days before expiry and handles recalibration logistics.
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IPTech Editorial
Editorial Team
The IPTech editorial team covers GPS tracking, fleet management, industrial IoT, and intelligent transportation from our headquarters in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
