CAL joins pharma programme

CAL Group has joined IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators Pharmaceutical Logistics programme (CEIV Pharma).
Once completed, CAL states that it will be the first group to have a certified pharmaceutical logistics programme.
Israel-headquartered CAL Group – specialising in temperature-controlled and pharma goods – includes freighter carrier CAL Cargo Airlines, LACHS ground handling services at Liege airport and trucking throughout Europe and the US.
The CEIV Pharma programme, carried out in cooperation with Liege Airport, begins this month and continues through June, with full certification expected in July 2015.
The programme was developed by IATA to help foster air cargo’s competitiveness in the growing pharma segment. It assesses and validates cool-chain processes and provides training to guarantee that industry stakeholders comply with all applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
Eyal Zagagi, chief executive of CAL Group, said: "Completion of the programme will strengthen CAL’s position as a leader in the front line of carriers providing services for the pharma sector.
"We have almost 40 years experience handling temperature controlled freight and 35 per cent of our cargo business is temperature controlled. The CEIV certification will improve the quality and integrity of our customer’s product and the industry as a whole."
Ronald Schaefer, IATA project leader for CEIV Pharma, said: "We are excited about CAL’s commitment. With the CEIV Pharma programme, IATA aims to work closely with industry and regulators to raise the bar and make air freight the mode of choice for the transportation of pharmaceutical products.
“This will help companies demonstrate the quality of their services and capture new business."