Brussels Airport enlarges its pharma community certification program by adding nine companies to this ambitious scheme. It’s a further step in the airport’s aim of becoming one of the most preferred places for the throughput of temperature sensitive commodities.
The path is the goal! According to this classic premise BRU Cargo is advancing step by step in consolidating its prominent position as a leading gateway for products that require an unbroken cool
chain, in particular pharmaceutical and biotech products. Step one took place officially on 25 November last year, with IATA’s helmsman Tony Tyler and BRU’s chief Arnaud Feist introducing the
program which enables stakeholders of the local cargo community to receive the CEIV Pharma Certification.
BRU jumps on the bandwagon
It’s a standardized global program set up by IATA that trains and conducts onsite assessments to provide the expertise needed to transport and handle cool-chain pharmaceutical products worldwide.
BRU’s decision to jump on IATA’s cool bandwagon was not made by chance. It was only a preliminary result of the airport’s continuous efforts to offer its partners – handling agents, airlines and
forwarders – efficient and dedicated pharma procedures enabling an integrated cool chain.
Second wave
At the time Tony Tyler and Arnaud Feist introduced the CEIV program 11 enterprises engaged in cargo transport or handling at BRU Zaventem Airport committed to coming along. Now, 9 additional
companies have confirmed their commitment to obtain the IATA CEIV pharma certificate, amongst them are well known names such as Panalpina, DHL Global Forwarding, Kuehne + Nagel or Geodis Wilson.
Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo at BRU states: “The fact that we have had so much good feedback from the first group of companies and seen the interest we got from the market to do a second wave,
shows the strength of the program for all. This second wave of our pharma community certification program participants clearly demonstrates that Brussels Airport is now recognised by the pharma
industry as the preferred gateway for pharmaceutical and biotech products in our region.” He goes on to say: “By the end of this year in total twenty locally acting companies will have obtained
the IATA CEIV pharma certification program, guaranteeing a robust and transparent cool chain for pharmaceutical shipments at Brussels Airport.”
Cluster for pharmaceutical and biotech products
As a matter of fact, the handling of temperature controlled items requires dedicated infrastructure and fine-tuned procedures. At BRUcargo, the cargo area of the airport offers more than 13,000
sqm of temperature controlled zones within the warehouses and are available for daily utilization, all in accord with the guidelines for Good Distribution Practices (GDP) set up by the EU. These
investments have been made by recognising that Belgium has become a European centre for the production and distribution of temperature critical products, proven by 150 enterprises that are active
in this industry. Meanwhile, export figures of the pharmaceutical and biotech products manufactured in Belgium amount to 36.53 billion euros per annum. Its share in the economic development of
Belgium is considerable.
Therefore, BRU joining IATA’s CEIV program was just a logical step, adding an important link to secure a supply chain of pharmaceuticals, biotech and alike sensitive products, that remains
uninterrupted from door to door.
Heiner Siegmund
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