Puerto Rico Air Cargo Community Achieves CEIV Certification
Seven members of the Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community have achieved the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification, following a program to boost the quality of cold chain operations at the life sciences hub.
The Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (DEDC), which has supported the Community since its launch, secured an 80 per cent subsidy for organizations wishing to participate in the CEIV certification process, facilitated by research centre, Industry University Research Centre Inc. (INDUNIV).
The accredited members are American Airlines, Prime Air Corp, ETH Cargo, Expeditors, César Castillo, Isla Frio Refrigeration, and Ground Motive Dependable Airline Services (GMD).
“These accreditations are a monumental step forward in the development of Puerto Rico’s life sciences sector,” said Manuel Cidre, Secretary of the DEDC.
“By investing in these certifications and subsidizing participation, we are not only elevating the quality of our cold chain operations, but also empowering smaller organizations through education and collaboration across the Community.”
CEIV-accredited companies are encouraged to participate in training initiatives hosted by the Community to educate smaller organisations in Puerto Rico on how to correctly and safely operate within the cool chain.
“The CEIV Pharma Certification process has enabled us to improve our quality and compliance systems, and with other Community members doing the same, pharma handling across the island is continuously improving,” said Tom Vincent, Vice President of Prime Air Corp.
“This initiative has had a direct impact on our competitive position; we have strengthened our operational capabilities and have contributed to cementing Puerto Rico’s place as a leading bioscience hub,” said Rodney Colon, President of GMD.
The Community, consisting of over 40 members from across the air cargo supply chain in Puerto Rico, includes pharmaceutical and medical manufacturers, forwarders, airports, airlines, and representatives of the DEDC, and aims to improve the quality of airfreight and pharma operations on the island.
“This milestone demonstrates a steadfast commitment to maintaining the highest standards of pharmaceutical logistics in Puerto Rico, ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of critical medical products to patients worldwide,” said Ivan Lugo, Executive Director, INDUNIV.
The CEIV Pharma certification was established by IATA to serve as the industry standard for transporting temperature-controlled, time-sensitive products.
The first member of the Community to achieve the IATA CEIV Pharma accreditation was logistics provider, ETH Cargo, in March of this year.
