Cargolux renews GDP certification for pharma logistics

European freighter operator Cargolux Airlines has renewed its Good Distribution Practice (GDP) qualification for transporting pharmaceuticals after passing the its surveillance audit.

Cargolux became the world’s first GDP certified airline in January 2014, confirming its compliance with European Union (EU) GDP and World Health Organisation (WHO) requirements for a consistent quality management system across the transportation process.

Cargolux’s hub at Luxembourg airport as well as 12 other stations within its network are compliant with GDP and/or are also certified to IATA's CEIV Pharma qualification via subcontracted service partners, the ground handling agents.

“GDP Certification ensures best practice policies are upheld in the handling and transportation of this sensitive cargo,” said Franco Nanna, Cargolux director global logistics services and also chairman of IATA’s Time and Temperature Working Group, adding: “Along with the temperature-controlled zones onboard the aircraft, this certification represents additional peace of mind for our customers whose satisfaction is our key priority”.

The GDP certification programme centers on the use of sophisticated, specialised equipment, well established pharmaceutical working procedures and continuously improving pharmaceutical handling expertise.

Stavros Evangelakakis, Cargolux's global product manager for CV Pharma, said: “The demand for specialised transportation of pharmaceuticals has risen considerably over the past few years and Cargolux’s dedicated product CV Pharma is in increasing demand.

"There is growing market interest for these products in South America and Africa although the majority of the supply is still flown from Europe to North America, North East Asia and the Gulf region.”

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