After several months of preparation, training and auditing, international air cargo conglomerate Challenge Group has been awarded IATA CEIV Lithium Battery certification.

This is in addition to its existing IATA CEIV Pharma and IATA CEIV Live accreditations previously awarded to Challenge Airlines and Challenge Handling in Liège.

The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) CEIV Lithium Batteries was established to raise standards, spread best practice and ensure regulatory compliance across the supply chain.

Around 1.3 million shipments of lithium batteries are transported by air annually, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

It is also estimated that approximately 5% of air cargo shipments include lithium batteries, in addition to other electronics and mail parcels.

Yossi Shoukroun, chief executive of Challenge Group, said: “We are proud that our efforts have been officially recognised and that we may now carry the IATA CEIV Lithium Battery seal of approval as a visible demonstration to customers that their DGR shipments are in the best of hands, including the ones under UN3090 and UN3480.”

Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s global head of cargo, said: “As the numbers of lithium batteries being shipped globally continues to increase, it’s essential these vital items are transported safely and efficiently.

“We commend Challenge Group for achieving CEIV lithium battery certification. This gives customers total confidence in Challenge Group’s world-class performance and quality credentials for lithium battery shipments.”

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