Deep Freeze by Air Freight to Canada

Frozen Goods by Air Freight: Maintaining Quality Over Long Distances

At first glance, frozen products might not seem like a logical choice for air freight—after all, sea freight in refrigerated containers is much cheaper. But for certain frozen products, air freight is the better option due to quality, freshness, or urgency reasons.

When Ship Frozen Goods by Air?

• High-End Seafood: deep-frozen lobster, scallops, tuna, and other premium seafood for the restaurant industry—where quality deteriorates too much during long sea transport
• Pharmaceutical Frozen Products: vaccines, biologicals, and certain blood products that require -20°C or lower and cannot be shipped by sea
• Seasonal Urgency: when a specific frozen product must be available urgently—for example, for a major buyer or a retail chain that has missed stock
• Small, High-Value Batches: where the value per kilogram justifies the higher air freight rates

Aircargo.nl is fully equipped for frozen transport: from dry ice calculation to veterinary notifications and NVWA customs clearance.

Exporting to Canada

Canada is one of the Netherlands’ main trading partners outside the EU — under the CETA trade agreement, virtually all Dutch goods benefit from preferential or zero-tariff import rates. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Toronto (YYZ) via Air Canada Cargo and KLM Cargo, and frequent connections to Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR). Cargo-to-cargo transit usually takes 8–12 hours.

Customs & Regulations

The Canadian customs agency (CBSA) operates with the CARM system (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management). Importers need a Business Number and a CARM Client Portal account. For most shipments, a commercial invoice, packing list, and—when applying CETA rates—a statement of origin or preparer’s declaration are sufficient. Health Canada and CFIA registration requirements apply for food products, medical devices, and cosmetics.

Practical Tips

• Always include “CETA Statement of Origin” on your invoice for preferential import — this can reduce tariffs by 100%
• Account for provincial sales tax differences (GST/HST/PST) when pricing
• Both English and French labeling may be required for consumer products in Quebec

Aircargo.nl works with dedicated agents in Toronto and Montreal and manages the entire documentation chain—including CETA certification—for optimal transit.

Key Considerations for Frozen Air Freight

Uninterrupted Cold Chain

Frozen products must be kept at a minimum of -18°C for the entire duration of transport. This requires dry ice (carbon dioxide, UN1845 — classified as DGR), certified freezer containers (unit load devices), or a combination of both. Aircargo.nl arranges the correct cooling based on flight time and product.

Dry Ice — DGR Considerations

Dry ice is classified as dangerous goods (UN1845, class 9) and must be documented on the AWB and Shipper’s Declaration. The amount of dry ice per shipment is limited by airline regulations. Aircargo.nl always calculates the required amount of dry ice based on flight time plus buffer hours and properly records this in the documentation.

Health Certificates

Frozen products of animal origin (meat, fish, shellfish) require a veterinary health certificate when imported into the EU and are inspected at designated border inspection posts (BIP). Aircargo.nl pre-notifies the shipment to the NVWA for smooth customs clearance.