In San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, ETH Cargo Services (ETH Cargo) made history by becoming the first member of the Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community to achieve the prestigious International Air Transport Association (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification.
The Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio (DDEC), which has been a strong supporter of the Community since its inception last year, successfully secured government funding to invest in CEIV certifications for 8 organizations within the community. This effort resulted in an 80% subsidy for the certification process.
The CEIV Pharma certification, established by IATA, sets a standard for the transportation of pharmaceuticals to ensure proper handling of temperature-sensitive and time-sensitive products.
Sascha Herzig, Chief Executive Officer of ETH Cargo, expressed the significance of achieving the CEIV Pharma certification. He emphasized that it reinforces the company’s commitment to handling customers’ cargo in accordance with industry standards, ensuring its safe arrival without any damage.
As a logistics provider based in Puerto Rico, ETH Cargo specializes in air freight, ocean freight, warehousing, and ground transportation services, particularly focusing on pharma logistics and temperature-controlled solutions. The company has a track record of handling temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo, including life-saving medications.
Now certified, ETH Cargo will lead by example in pharmaceutical handling within the life sciences hub and will participate in training initiatives offered by the Community to assist smaller organizations in Puerto Rico. Herzig stressed the importance of maintaining CEIV Pharma standards across the hub to uphold the integrity of the cold supply chain.
The achievement of the CEIV Pharma certification was a demanding task that required the dedication of key employees at ETH Cargo, for whom Herzig expressed gratitude.
The Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community comprises over 40 members representing various sectors of the air cargo supply chain, including pharmaceutical and medical manufacturers, forwarders, airports, airlines, and representatives of DDEC. The goal of the Community is to enhance the quality of airfreight and pharma operations on the island.
Community representatives will be attending the upcoming IATA CNS Partnership Conference in Dallas, USA on April 16-19, further showcasing Puerto Rico’s commitment to excellence in air cargo and pharmaceutical transportation.
