Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) has received the IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators Lithium Batteries (CEIV Li-batt) certification for Air France Cargo and its hubs at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Chicago O’Hare.

Certification is only awarded following a strict assessment which confirms an organisation’s commitment to upholding the highest safety standards, and to ensure the safety of employees and operations by continually improving and maintaining standards.

Lithium batteries are dangerous goods that can pose safety risks if not handled in accordance with transport regulations.

The CEIV Li-batt certification programme is based on IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and IATA Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR). The programme aims to set standards by raising competency levels and quality management in the handling and transport of lithium batteries throughout the supply chain.

Christophe Boucher, executive vice president of Air France Cargo, said: “We are very proud of this certification that proves that Air France KLM Martinair Cargo applies the highest industry standard with regards to the handling of lithium batteries.

“We keep on working on the different aspects of the handling and transportation of such shipments in order to ensure the maximum level of safety to our passenger and cargo customers.”

The CEIV Li-batt certification programme is specifically designed to enable shippers, freight forwarders, cargo handling facilities and airlines to fulfil their safety obligations by complying with regulations for transporting lithium batteries.

Frederic Leger, IATA senior vice president commercial products and services, said: “Lithium batteries are critical power sources for many consumer goods and it is vital that we can ship them safely by air either with finished products or as components in global supply chains. That’s why we developed the CEIV Lithium Battery certification. It gives their shippers the assurance that they are operating to the highest safety and security standards when shipping lithium batteries.”

(Picture above – Christophe Boucher (third from the left) and Frederic Leger (in the middle)