Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community
Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community members work together to ensure that Puerto Rico is the best quality airfreight hub in the Americas and to act as the voice of the industry with legislators.
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LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RECOGNISED BY IATA FOR PHARMA HANDLING EXCELLENCE
The Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community will continue supporting its members operating across the airport to achieve IATA’s special cargo accreditation
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday 17th February 2025: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally recognised Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) as a hub for certified pharma handling, following efforts by the Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community to improve cold chain operations in the region.
The Community has been working closely with SJU and the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (DEDC) to support logistics providers in achieving the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma, including training initiatives for smaller organisations, and government subsidies for the accreditation cost.
This has resulted in the certification of seven members: American Airlines, Prime Air Corp, ETH Cargo, Expeditors, César Castillo, Isla Frio Refrigeration, and Ground Motive Dependable Airline Services (GMD).
The CEIV initiative was launched five years ago by Industry University Research Centre Inc. (INDUNIV), which is currently facilitating a second round of further accreditations across the Community.
“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for the recognition awarded to SJU and for the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” said Jorge Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Aerostar Airport Holdings, which operates and manages SJU.
“This achievement underscores our collective commitment to advancing Puerto Rico’s reliable and efficient transportation of pharma products.”
The CEIV Pharma accreditation, established by IATA, serves as the global standard for transporting pharmaceuticals, ensuring that critical products are correctly handled in line with stringent requirements.
“Congratulations to SJU Airport for playing an instrumental role in helping its airport community partners achieve IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification,” said Peter Cerda, IATA’s Regional Vice President The Americas.
“This milestone not only reflects a commitment to excellence but also strengthens the integrity of pharmaceutical transport through the airport’s cargo supply chain.”
“With this certification, SJU and its cold chain partners set a benchmark for reliability and compliance in line with CEIV standards, demonstrating their dedication to safeguarding the quality of life-saving medicines and establishing themselves as trusted partners in pharma logistics.
The continued drive for accreditation and education across Community members has been a crucial step in strengthening Puerto Rico’s pharma operations.
With further CEIV Pharma certifications in the pipeline, the Community and its partners will continue to advance the standard of pharma operations across the island.
About the Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community
Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community members work together to ensure that Puerto Rico is the best quality airfreight hub in the Americas and to act as the voice of the industry with legislators.
The Community is supported by the Puerto Rico Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio (DDEC) and brings together airlines, airports, forwarders, integrators, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, ground handlers, and hauliers.
The Community’s Board drives the initiative and includes Community members as well as the DDEC, Invest Puerto Rico, the Industry University Research Center (INDUNIV), Aerostar Airport Holdings, and the Port Authority of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico is the number one bioscience manufacturing hub in the U.S. by export volume, and twelve of the world’s 20 top-grossing pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie operate on the island, with eight of the 15 globally top-selling biopharmaceutical products manufactured on Puerto Rico.
Twelve out of the top 20 medical devices companies have manufacturing sites on the island, including Medtronics, CooperVision, and Boston Scientific, manufacturing products such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, surgical instruments, lab devices, dental equipment, and vision correction.
Latest from Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community
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LUIS MUÑOZ MARÍN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RECOGNISED BY IATA FOR PHARMA HANDLING EXCELLENCE
The Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community will continue supporting its members operating across the airport to achieve IATA’s special cargo accreditation
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday 17th February 2025: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally recognised Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) as a hub for certified pharma handling, following efforts by the Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community to improve cold chain operations in the region.
The Community has been working closely with SJU and the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (DEDC) to support logistics providers in achieving the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma, including training initiatives for smaller organisations, and government subsidies for the accreditation cost.
This has resulted in the certification of seven members: American Airlines, Prime Air Corp, ETH Cargo, Expeditors, César Castillo, Isla Frio Refrigeration, and Ground Motive Dependable Airline Services (GMD).
The CEIV initiative was launched five years ago by Industry University Research Centre Inc. (INDUNIV), which is currently facilitating a second round of further accreditations across the Community.
“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for the recognition awarded to SJU and for the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” said Jorge Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Aerostar Airport Holdings, which operates and manages SJU.
“This achievement underscores our collective commitment to advancing Puerto Rico’s reliable and efficient transportation of pharma products.”
The CEIV Pharma accreditation, established by IATA, serves as the global standard for transporting pharmaceuticals, ensuring that critical products are correctly handled in line with stringent requirements.
“Congratulations to SJU Airport for playing an instrumental role in helping its airport community partners achieve IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification,” said Peter Cerda, IATA’s Regional Vice President The Americas.
“This milestone not only reflects a commitment to excellence but also strengthens the integrity of pharmaceutical transport through the airport’s cargo supply chain.”
“With this certification, SJU and its cold chain partners set a benchmark for reliability and compliance in line with CEIV standards, demonstrating their dedication to safeguarding the quality of life-saving medicines and establishing themselves as trusted partners in pharma logistics.”
The continued drive for accreditation and education across Community members has been a crucial step in strengthening Puerto Rico’s pharma operations.
With further CEIV Pharma certifications in the pipeline, the Community and its partners will continue to advance the standard of pharma operations across the island.
Latest from Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community
Nothing found.
About the Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community
Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community members work together to ensure that Puerto Rico is the best quality airfreight hub in the Americas and to act as the voice of the industry with legislators.
The Community is supported by the Puerto Rico Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio (DDEC) and brings together airlines, airports, forwarders, integrators, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, ground handlers, and hauliers.
The Community’s Board drives the initiative and includes Community members as well as the DDEC, Invest Puerto Rico, the Industry University Research Center (INDUNIV), Aerostar Airport Holdings, and the Port Authority of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico is the number one bioscience manufacturing hub in the U.S. by export volume, and twelve of the world’s 20 top-grossing pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie operate on the island, with eight of the 15 globally top-selling biopharmaceutical products manufactured on Puerto Rico.
Twelve out of the top 20 medical devices companies have manufacturing sites on the island, including Medtronics, CooperVision, and Boston Scientific, manufacturing products such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, surgical instruments, lab devices, dental equipment, and vision correction.