Hong Kong is first for freshness

IATA’s CEIV Fresh certification ensures Hong Kong keeps its status as number one in the world for the quantity – and quality – of perishable shipments

Airport Authority Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific Services Ltd (CPSL) announced at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Singapore in March that they had successfully worked together to make Hong Kong International Airport CEIV Fresh-certified airport community.

The new CEIV (Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators) certification enables stakeholders to operate to a single required quality standard for handling perishable shipments, which is assessed by independent industry experts. The CEIV Fresh programme follows CEIV certification for pharma and live animal shipments.

Cathay Pacific attended the programme’s launch at the symposium and will announce its own CEIV Fresh certification in the coming months.

Director Commercial and Cargo Ronald Lam said: “Congratulations to CPSL. IATA’s CEIV Fresh certification is an achievement that our airline aims to emulate in the near future.”

Speaking at the Singapore event, IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: “Shippers will have assurance that CEIV Fresh-certified companies are operating to the highest quality and standards in the transport of perishable products.”

Read how CPSL achieved CEIV Fresh certification so quickly here.