The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recently celebrated a decade of its Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) programme, focused on enhancing the performance of the air cargo supply chain in terms of quality, safety, and compliance.

Launched in 2014 with CEIV Pharma, this initiative assists in the specialized handling of cargo, offering certification across various sectors including pharmaceuticals, live animals, perishables, and dangerous goods. These certification programmes are founded on global standards and are subject to independent validation, promoting enhanced transparency and operational consistency.

Achievements Over the Decade

• Established a global network with 699 companies, inclusive of 85 airlines and spanning 250,000 trade lanes.
• Formed 25 airport communities that unite airlines, ground handlers, freight forwarders, and regulators under best practices.
• Provided training to 10,000 professionals, complemented with over 100,000 IATA manuals to ensure operational excellence and compliance.
• Maintained a 99% renewal rate, demonstrating the programme’s effectiveness.

Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, commented: “CEIV has transformed how special cargo shipments are handled. Over the last decade, it has created a foundation of trust, transparency, and technical excellence that has yielded important industry benefits, enhancing compliance, cultivating a quality-oriented culture, promoting collaboration, and boosting customer confidence. As it continues to expand, it remains crucial for meeting the industry’s evolving challenges.”

Future-focused
CEIV is adapting to the evolving landscape, integrating new technologies for remote training and virtual assessments to enhance accessibility without sacrificing quality standards. IATA is also collaborating with regulatory bodies to boost the recognition of CEIV certifications and extend its reach into new cargo segments.

Sullivan expressed, “As global supply chains grow increasingly intricate, the demand for reliable, standardized protocols is more pressing than ever. CEIV will keep driving innovation, bolstering compliance, and enhancing safety across the air cargo sector.”

Find CEIV-certified companies on IATA’s ONE Source platform, an authoritative reference for validated suppliers.