GENEVA - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today announced that the 172 countries that are party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) have passed a resolution on the transport of live specimens that calls on governments to incorporate standards listed in IATA’s Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR) manual and Live Animal Regulations (LAR) into national legislation and policy.
CITES is an international agreement between governments designed to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
IATA’s Live Animal Regulations represent the worldwide standard for safe and humane transport of live animals by commercial airlines. Regulations specify minimum requirements for the international transport of animals and wildlife and indicate what precautions airlines, shippers, cargo agents and animal care professionals should take on the ground and in the air.
The PCR manual makes the shipping of time and temperature sensitive goods or perishables more convenient to shippers and helps airlines reduce US$25 million in costs associated with improperly packaged or wrongly documented cargo.
The CITES resolutions also recommended that IATA standards should be used as a reference for other modes of transport and that applicants for export permits or re-export or travelling exhibition certificates must follow the specifications laid out in both documents.
Airlines also stand to benefit by saving millions in costs related to adhering to diverse standards in different countries.
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