The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has backed the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate (DCC) as the global standard for the rollout of vaccination certificates worldwide.
IATA recently enhanced its Travel Pass digital passport app, allowing EU and UK digital Covid vaccinations certificates to be uploaded to the pass, and it said that the DCC should “serve as a blueprint” for other nations.
The European Commission first unveiled proposals for an EU-wide certificate (under the working name of the Digital Green Certificate) in March, and began the rollout of the DCC in June.
All 27 member states have now adopted the system, and reciprocal agreements have been signed with countries including Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine. Up to 60 other countries are also understood to be looking to use the DCC specification for their own certification.
IATA said that the DCC meets several key criteria, including the flexibility to be used in both paper and digital format, the use of a QR code containing “essential information as well as a digital signature to make sure the certificate is authentic”.
The association added that the DCC was consistent with the latest World Health Organization Guidance, and it enables holders to access non-aviation sites in Europe which require proof of vaccination, such as museums, sporting events and concerts.
Commenting on the news Conrad Clifford, IATA’s deputy director general, said:
“The DCC was delivered in record time to help facilitate the reopening of EU states to travel. In the absence of a single global standard for digital vaccine certificates, it should serve as a blueprint for other nations looking to implement digital vaccination certificates to help facilitate travel and its associated economic benefits.”
