Special Cargo and Pharmaceuticals Strategic Partnerships Program

Special Cargo & Pharmaceuticals Strategic Partnerships Summary

The Special Cargo and Pharmaceuticals area focuses on dangerous goods and live animals and perishables. Moreover, dangerous goods includes the transport of dangerous goods by air, including lithium batteries, applicable across the complete supply chain. Live animals and perishables manages the development of standards for the air transport of live animals, perishables and healthcare cargo, such as medical devices, vaccines and other pharmaceuticals.

Benefits

• Participate in some of the meeting(s) above (contact us for details)
• Participate in the new standards collaboration tool when actively involved
• Be featured in IATA publications such as the IATA e-Freight handbook
• Benefit from first selection of sponsorship/exhibition opportunities at IATA World Cargo Symposium and CNS Conference and any e-Cargo event organized by IATA
• Advertise on the Cargo website at a discounted rate
• Receive industry notifications on a broad spectrum of areas including EDI, Customs, Security, etc.
• Receive a complimentary premium listing in IATA’s Cargolink

Activities

The Special Cargo and Pharmaceuticals area is comprised of two Boards, the Dangerous Goods Board (DGB) and the Live Animals and Perishables Board (LAPB), along with their subgroups. The DGB manages the development of standards and guidance related to the transport of dangerous goods by air, including lithium batteries, applicable across the complete supply chain. The LAPB manages the development of standards for the air transport of live animals, perishables and healthcare cargo, such as medical devices, vaccines and other pharmaceuticals.

Dangerous Goods Board (DGB)
The objective of the DGB is to promote the safe transport of dangerous goods by air. This is accomplished by establishing clear, concise and practical procedures for shippers, freight forwarders and airlines. These Regulations are applicable worldwide and consider the operational needs of our members, as well as the special conditions to which a package is subject during transport by air. The Board meets to consider and review new developments in the international regulatory arena. The Board discusses problems that arise in the transport of dangerous goods and acts to modify or develop new regulations as appropriate.

Dangerous Goods Training Working Group (DGTWG)
The DGTWG reports to the Dangerous Goods Board and meets twice a year to review all matters pertaining to dangerous goods training. It was established by the DGB to review, amend and update the IATA Dangerous Goods Training Program. The contents thereof are current and fully aligned with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Other tasks are:

• Develop and implement competency-based training and assessment
• Review and evaluate remote and digital training and delivery

Live Animals & Perishables Board (LAPB)
The LAPB develops criteria for the acceptance, handling and loading of live animals, perishables and healthcare cargo in air transportation, as outlined in the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR), the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR) and the IATA Temperature Control Regulations (TCR). The Regulations include provisions for the safety and quality of commodities while in the custody of IATA Airline Members and throughout the air transport supply chain. The Board meets twice a year to review and enhance standards that are included in the respective regulations.

Healthcare Cargo Working Group (HCWG)
The HCWG provides recommendations to the LAPB on the development of healthcare cargo transportation and handling standards. Specifically, these recommendations include: 

• Proposing new, or amendments to existing IATA Industry Standards, Recommended Practices and guidance material on effective handling and transportation techniques to ensure the quality and the integrity of healthcare cargo
• Proposing training in relation to the abovementioned activities
• Reporting regulatory developments relating to the handling and air transportation of healthcare cargo
• Developing and promoting sustainable practices aligned to the IATA sustainability framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

Perishable Cargo Working Group (PCWG)
The PCWG provides recommendations to the LAPB on the development of perishable cargo transportation and handling standards. Specifically, these recommendations include:

• Proposing new, or amendments to existing IATA Industry Standards, Recommended Practices and guidance material on effective handling and transportation techniques to ensure the quality of perishables
• Proposing training in relation to the abovementioned activities
• Reporting regulatory developments affecting the handling and air transportation of perishables
• Developing and promoting sustainable practices aligned to the IATA sustainability framework and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)

Focus Areas

• One Record
• e-Freight/e-AWB
• Digital Cargo future initiative

Designed for

• Develop process and technical standards
• Shippers (pharmaceutical companies, etc.)
• Freight Forwarders
• Air Cargo Ground Service Providers
• Temperature Sensitive Logistics Providers

Please view the full list of Strategic Partnerships Program benefits (pdf).

Contact

Strategic Partnerships Program

partnership@iata.org