Qatar Cargo achieves pharma CEIV certification

Qatar Airways Cargo has been awarded IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification in pharmaceutical logistics.

The airline said the certification covers its operations, quality Management System and supplier management processes in Doha.

Qatar Aviation Services Cargo, the airline’s ground handling partner, also received the IATA CEIV Pharma certification for its pharma handling and warehouse at Hamad International Airport.

Guillaume Halleux, chief officer cargo at Qatar Airways said: “We are glad to be awarded IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification for our capability in handling pharmaceutical and life science shipments with reliability and efficiency, compliant with international standards.

“Since we launched the product in 2014, significant investment and enhancements have been made to the QR Pharma product and our world-class hub, which ultimately benefits our customers.The validation by IATA is a milestone achievement and an award for all the hard work done over the past years since the QR Pharma product launch.”

Nick Careen, IATA senior vice president, airport, passenger, cargo and security, said: “The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on air cargo for its speed and efficiency. As an industry, we have a duty to ensure that global standards and best practices are in place so that life science and pharmaceutical products are handled and transported accordingly and in cooperation between business partners to provide the high-quality services that customers demand, to ultimately safeguard patient safety.”

Along with the cargo warehouse and temperature-controlled sections at Hamad International Airport, its Climate Control Centre was also certified.

The airline added that plans are underway to add Internet of Things devices on board the aircraft that will provide real-time temperature updates.