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The transport of fish and fish products and the equipment used for the carriage of these products is governed by an agreement drawn by The Inland Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Committee for Europe in 1970-1971. The aim is to facilitate international traffic by setting common internationally recognized standards. The agreement is known as the ATP Agreement. It provides common standards for temperature-controlled transport vehicles – such as road vehicles, railway wagons and sea containers – and sets down the tests to be done on such equipment for certification purposes. The ATP is an agreement between States, and there is no overall enforcing authority. In practice, highway checks are carried out by Contracting Parties, and non-compliance may then result in legal action by national authorities against offenders in accordance with their domestic legislation. 

The Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products is a reference point for good transport practices that can become legal requirements. In terms of transport vehicles, the Code highlights that vehicles should be designed and constructed:

• such that walls, floors and ceilings, where appropriate, are made of a suitable corrosion-resistant material with smooth, non-absorbent surfaces. Floors should be adequately drained 
• where appropriate with chilling equipment to maintain chilled fish or shellfish during transportation to a temperature as close as possible to 0 °C or, for frozen fish, shellfish and their products, to maintain a temperature of –18 °C or colder (except for brine frozen fish intended for canning which may be transported at –9 °C or colder)
• so that live fish and shellfish are transported at temperatures tolerable for the species 
• to provide the fish or shellfish with protection against contamination, exposure to extreme temperatures and the drying effects of the sun or wind 
• to permit the free flow of chilled air around the load when fitted with mechanical refrigeration means