ANA, Japan’s largest airline and a leading player in the aviation industry, has become the first Japanese airline to receive the prestigious Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Perishable Logistics (CEIV Fresh) certification. This international recognition, established by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), acknowledges ANA’s excellence in the transportation of perishable products.
The CEIV Fresh certification was developed by IATA to commend companies and organizations involved in air transportation for their proper handling of perishable food products. Its goal is to minimize product damage and waste caused by environmental factors, such as temperature changes during handling and transportation.
Kenichi Wakiya, Executive Vice President of ANA and President of ANA Cargo, expressed the airline’s commitment to delivering consistent and high-quality service to its customers. He stated that the certification reaffirms ANA’s dedication to upholding high standards in handling, training, and quality control of goods transportation. ANA aims to exceed quality expectations and continuously enhance its transportation processes.
Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security, congratulated ANA on achieving the CEIV Fresh certification. He highlighted the sensitive nature of perishable goods and emphasized the need for exceptional standards to maintain product integrity. With ANA’s certification, shippers can trust that their cold-chain logistics needs will be handled with the utmost care, further supporting Japan’s goals of expanding agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports.
The CEIV Fresh certification is based on various standards, including the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety control list, the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) international standard for food safety management systems 22000:2018. By adhering to these standards and implementing a high-quality control system, ANA ensures the freshness and quality of the perishable goods it transports.
The certification is particularly crucial for ANA as Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has set ambitious targets to increase exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. To achieve these targets, it is essential to choose transportation operators that can maintain the freshness of these products through strict quality control.
ANA’s quality control system at Tokyo Haneda Airport impressed IATA, leading to the certification. The system encompasses aspects such as personnel, training, quality control, and handling manuals for transporting perishable goods. By prioritizing lead-time reduction and temperature control within the supply chain, ANA can contribute to reducing food loss and waste.
This achievement follows ANA’s previous milestone in 2017, when it became the first Japanese airline to receive the CEIV Pharma certification for its excellence in pharmaceutical transportation. The airline remains dedicated to expanding its transportation services and enhancing the overall quality it provides to its valued customers.
With the CEIV Fresh certification, ANA is setting new standards in the industry and setting an example for other airlines to prioritize the proper handling and transportation of perishable food products. As ANA continues to strive for excellence, customers can trust that their perishable goods will be safely and reliably transported, supporting the growth of Japan’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports.
In conclusion, ANA’s achievement of the CEIV Fresh certification underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality services and maintaining exceptional standards in the transportation of perishable products. By continuously improving its transportation processes and adhering to strict quality control measures, ANA is playing a crucial role in reducing product damage and waste caused by environmental factors. This certification not only benefits ANA but also the entire aviation industry, as it sets a precedent for proper handling and transportation of perishable goods.
