Fresh premiere
Iata completed a perishables pilot project in Hong Kong recently (see also page 12 of ITJ 23-26 / 2019). It has now awarded the first ever quality seal of approval for the airfreight handling of perishable goods to the Alha Group.
The Italians are leading the way. The Alha Group, a Florentine freight-handling specialist, has now obtained Iata’s CEIV Fresh certification for perishable products handled in its reefer facilities at Rome Fiumicino (1,000 m2) and Milan Malpensa airports (4,000 m2). The official ceremony to hand the document over that proves the group’s specialised know-how to manage perishables took place during the Fresh Forum Milan Malpensa trade fair, which was organised by Alha in October and was dedicated to perishables operations.
In 2014 the global trade association had already provided enterprises with Iata CEIV (Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators), a certification programme that supports the global transport and handling of special consignments to the highest of standards. The first option in its range, CEIV Pharma, for logistics services for pharmaceutical products, is best-known and most widespread so far.
Standardised programme
The Alha Group, which is very active in this field, has already had this certificate for its Italian facilities for four years now. Thus it did not come as much of a surprise to learn that Nicola Caristo, the Alha Group’s manager in charge of the development of pharmaceutical and special products, was named secretary general of the Cool Chain Association in June, a body that is active in both pharmaceutical as well as perishables airfreight operations.
According to Alha Group CEO Lorenzo Schettini “the certificate allows Alha to continue to aim for the best service standards. We consider perishables’ continuous growth in the air transport segment to be an opportunity, which is why we’ve invested in updating and renewing our Malpensa and Fiumicino facilities, with a particular focus on perishable and pharmaceutical products.”
The Alha group managed no less than 30,000 t of perishable goods and around 7,500 t of pharmaceutical products in 2018 (+12% compared to the previous year’s figures).
