ISO/TS 22984:2021

Transport packaging - Cleaning and sanitation methods of reusable transport items for distribution purpose

This document provides guidelines for the cleaning and sanitation procedures for the sanitary operation of reusable transport packaging, which are used in the fields of handling, transport, storage and display of food and non-food products. It is applicable to all reusable transport items including reusable rigid plastic distribution boxes defined in ISO 18616-1.

Emballages de transport — Méthodes de nettoyage et d'assainissement des articles de transport réutilisables à des fins de distribution

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 15-Dec-2021
• ICS: 55.020 - Packaging and distribution of goods in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 122 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 122 - Packaging
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 13-Jun-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO/TS 22984:2021 - Transport packaging - Cleaning and sanitation methods of reusable transport items for distribution purpose - provides practical guidelines for cleaning, sanitizing, storing and verifying reusable transport packaging used in handling, transport, storage and display of food and non-food products. It applies to all reusable transport items, including reusable rigid plastic distribution boxes defined in ISO 18616-1, and is intended for stakeholders involved in reusable-container loops (suppliers, emptiers, packers, fillers, logistics providers and cleaning service operators).

Key Topics and Requirements

The technical specification focuses on establishing and managing safe, hygienic cleaning and sanitation systems for reusable transport items. Main topics include:

• Establishing procedures and governance

  • Appointing a team to implement and control cleaning/sanitation plans.
  • Performing hazard analysis and identifying Critical Control Points (CCPs) and critical limits.
  • Documenting procedures, monitoring and verification activities.

• Cleaning procedures

  • Removal of residues, label debris and visible contaminants.
  • Options for manual, semi‑automatic or automatic cleaning.
  • Control and recording of cleaning/rinse temperatures; stop-and-adjust procedures if temperatures fall.
  • Proper use, documentation and safety handling of detergents; machine rinse cycles and maintenance.
  • Post‑clean inspection and quality management records.

• Sanitation procedures

  • Requirements for materials, manufacturing and repair practices to avoid chemical or physical contamination.
  • Availability of equipment/facilities for adequate disinfection.
  • Documented sanitation, prevention/elimination measures and verification steps.

• Storage and distribution

  • Clean handling, protected storage from environmental hazards, separation from hazardous materials, and maintenance to avoid physical deterioration.

• Microbial safety testing

  • Use of ATP testing as a rapid microbial check (specimen points: four corners and bottom center).
  • Recommended ATP benchmarks in the document (e.g., suggested RLU thresholds after cleaning and before release).
  • Regular testing frequency and verification process.

• Annex A checklist

  • Practical checklist for on-site cleaning and sanitation management (facility, water, machines, personnel, ATP monitoring).

Applications - Who Should Use It

ISO/TS 22984:2021 is valuable for:

• Packaging manufacturers and reusable rigid plastic distribution box producers
• Food processors, retailers and suppliers using reusable packaging
• Logistics and pool operators managing reusable container loops
• Third‑party cleaning service providers and QA/food safety managers
• Regulatory bodies and auditors assessing sanitation practices

Use this standard to develop documented cleaning programs, define CCPs, validate cleaning effectiveness, and integrate reusable-packaging hygiene into food safety management systems.

Related Standards

• ISO 18616-1 - Reusable rigid plastic distribution boxes (general purpose)
• ISO 22000 - Food safety management system principles (referenced for management system alignment)
• Other national/regulatory hygiene and materials requirements applicable to food contact packaging

Keywords: ISO/TS 22984:2021, transport packaging, reusable transport items, cleaning and sanitation, ATP test, food safety, reusable rigid plastic distribution boxes, hygiene management.

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 22984
First edition
2021-12
Transport packaging — Cleaning
and sanitation methods of reusable
transport items for distribution
purpose
Emballages de transport — Méthodes de nettoyage et
d'assainissement des articles de transport réutilisables à des fins de
distribution
Reference number
© ISO 2021
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Establishing the cleaning and sanitation procedures . 2
5 Cleaning and sanitation procedures . 3
5.1 General . 3
5.2 Cleaning procedures . 3
5.3 Sanitation procedures. 3
6 Storage and distribution procedures .4
7 Microbial safety test . 4
Annex A (informative) Checklist for cleaning and sanitation management of reusable
transport items . 6
Bibliography . 7
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
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expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 122, Packaging.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
Reusable transport items are used from the point of manufacture in the handling, transportation,
storage and display of food and non-food products. Proper cleaning is essential to keep the reusable
shipping packaging material clean and hygienic during the time of intended use. The cleaning and
hygienic sanitation procedures for reusable transport items described in this document can be used
by all stakeholders (e.g. suppliers, emptiers, packers and fillers) involved in the reusable container loop
system.
v
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 22984:2021(E)
Transport packaging — Cleaning and sanitation methods
of reusable transport items for distribution purpose
1 Scope
This document provides guidelines for the cleaning and sanitation procedures for the sanitary operation
of reusable transport packaging, which are used in the fields of handling, transport, storage and display
of food and non-food products.
It is applicable to all reusable transport items including reusable rigid plastic distribution boxes defined
in ISO 18616-1.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 18616-1, Transport packaging — Reusable, rigid plastic distribution boxes — Part 1: General purpose
application
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 18616-1 and the following
apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
hazard analysis
process of collecting information on the potential causes of biological, chemical and physical hazards
which can occur in all stages of the food manufacturing process and assessing the significance and
degree of hazards
3.2
critical control point
CCP
step in the process at which control measure(s) is (are) applied to prevent or reduce a significant
food safety hazard to an acceptable level, and defined critical limit(s) and measurement enable the
application of corrections
[SOURCE: ISO 22000:2018, 3.11]
3.3
critical limit
criterion which separates acceptability from unacceptability
3.4
monitoring
conducting a planned sequence of observations or measurements to assess whether the critical limit
(3.3) for a critical control point (3.2) is under control and operating as intended
[SOURCE: SOURCE: ISO 22000:2018, 3.27, modified]
3.5
verification
confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that specified requirements have been
fulfilled
[SOURCE: ISO 22000:2018, 3.45]
3.6
cleaning
process of removing impurities, dried-on substances, dust from the surface of a product
3.7
sanitation
process of keeping places and/or product clean and disinfected
3.8
ATP
adenosine tri-phosphate, an active chemical present in living bacteria
[SOURCE: ISO 16784-2:2006, 3.1, modified — The Note has been deleted]
4 Establishing the cleaning and sanitation procedures
In order to demonstrate that reusable packaging is safe and clean, it is recommended to implement a
suitable safety management system for reusable packaging. Basic principles can be found for example
in ISO 22000 that describes a food safety management system applicable to all processes in the food
chain, including packaging.
The following p
...