Changi Airport Group (CAG) has announced that it will be the first airport in Asia to launch a community of cargo partners whom it will support to pursue the attainment of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators on Pharmaceutical Handling (CEIV Pharma) certification – strengthening Changi’s capabilities to handle pharmaceutical cargo.
The IATA CEIV Pharma is a standardised global certification programme that helps companies comply with existing global pharmaceutical guidelines. For instance, companies undergoing this certification process will have to maintain a cargo hold temperature setting of between 10-25 degrees Celsius and ensure appropriate handling from tarmac to loading and unloading. Under the programme, companies will have to undergo training, as well as an assessment of their facilities and processes by independent, IATA-certified auditors to satisfy the strict requirements on pharmaceutical handling before receiving the certification.
CAG will be supporting six companies from different parts of the air cargo supply chain to undergo this certification programme, through cost support measures and the coordination of training sessions. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will also co-fund the costs for these companies through the provision of assistance grants. The pioneer group of companies in the Changi CEIV Community consists of SIA Cargo (freighter carrier), dnata Singapore (airport ground handler), Global Airfreight International, Expeditors Singapore, CEVA Logistics Singapore, and Schenker Singapore (freight forwarders). SATS Coolport, a major cargo player at Changi Airport, was the first facility in the world to attain the IATA CEIV Pharma certification in 2014. CAG will progressively work with more cargo partners to attain this certification.