Following six months of intense preparation, training and strict auditing, Challenge Group is now IATA CEIV Lithium Battery certified, in addition to its existing IATA CEIV Pharma and IATA CEIV Live accreditations previously awarded to Challenge Airlines and Challenge Handling in Liège.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), around 1.3 million shipments of lithium batteries are transported by air annually. They also estimate that about 5% of air cargo shipments include lithium batteries, in addition to other electronics and mail parcels. And those are just the shipments officially declared as containing these batteries. “At Challenge Group, we are very concerned with detecting mis-declared or undeclared Lithium Battery shipments and therefore make certain that our people are trained in what to look out for,” Yossi Shoukroun, Chief Executive Officer of Challenge Group, says. “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. Thank you to the IATA CEIV Lithium Battery auditors for their commendations and feedback as we continue to ensure the highest level in handling standards.”

“As the numbers of lithium batteries being shipped globally continues to increase, it’s essential these vital items are transported safely and efficiently. IATA’s CEIV Lithium Batteries was established to raise standards, spread best practice, and ensure regulatory compliance across the supply chain. 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,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA Global Head of Cargo.

Safety in the workplace is ensured through a dedicated Lithium Battery expert team that is drilled on risk prevention and crisis management. Lithium Battery shipments have their own separate handling areas, both in the warehouse Dangerous Goods section as well as in the second-line warehouse dedicated to e-commerce. “e-commerce receives particular attention,” David Canavan, Chief Operating Officer of Challenge Group underlines, “since around 70% of e-commerce being flown across the globe, contains Lithium Batteries. That is another reason why more and more air cargo stakeholders should be striving for risk awareness and safe handling. An IATA CEIV Lithium Battery audit is the best way to adopt and ensure company-wide compliance with the required safety standards.”