The Cool Chain Association (CCA) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a celebratory cake and entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB), which will see collaboration into research initiatives on the air transport of perishables.

The MoU, signed at the CCA’s Airfreight Pharma Event, will see the collaboration into research initiatives on the air transport of perishables, particulary exports by air from South Africa.

“CCA is in a unique position to act as a neutral platform for all sectors in the temperature-controlled supply chain to collaborate on tangible initiatives,” said Stavros Evangelakakis, Chairman, CCA, and Head of Global Healthcare, Cargolux Airlines.

“The primary aim of the research is to identify gaps in the airfreight value chain and discuss possible mitigation measures with CCA and the airfreight industry at large,” said Vijan Chetty, Board Member, CCA, and General Manager, PPECB.

“The aim is to strengthen standards and educate the role players in the airfreight industry.”

CCA has been steadily growing its membership over the last few months and is planning a new perishables conference for next year. The group was established in 2002 to encourage collaboration in the temperature-controlled supply chain industry in order to reduce food loss and waste in the perishables sector as well as benefiting the pharma community.

The group’s recent initiatives include the establishment of a Technical Committee to drive projects that will benefit the cool supply chain, including a Risk Management project and a trial of a new perishables label.

“Having had the honour of kicking off the creation of the association at TIACA’s Bilbao Air Cargo Forum, I am delighted to wish the Cool Chain Association a very Happy 20th Anniversary,” said Ram Menen, one of the founders of the CCA.

“It has been a real pleasure to watch this association bloom and go from strength to strength and I wish them continued success in the years to come.”