Cold Chain Management Takes Flight: Part II

To overcome many of new challenges, global logistics managers continue to rely on guidelines created by The International Air Transport Association (IATA). This massive Geneva-based sanctioning body recently welcomed the decision of Brussels Airport to become the first European hub for pharmaceutical freight using IATA's global certification program for shipping cold-chain pharmaceuticals.

The IATA Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV Pharma) is a standardized global certification program that trains and conducts onsite assessments to provide the expertise needed adequately to transport cold-chain pharmaceutical products across the world.

“The CEIV Pharma certification program provides participants in the air cargo value chain with the tools to ensure that they are operating to the highest standards for the transport of what in many cases are life-saving drugs and medicines,” says Tony Tyler, IATA Director General and CEO. “And it will give pharmaceutical companies confidence and assurance that their cold-chain logistics requirements are being met through an independent certification process.”

Brussels Airport is inviting a group of ten local stakeholders (ground handlers, freight forwarders, truckers and airlines) to undergo the CEIV Pharma training, bringing the cargo community together for the common goal of becoming certified.

Since the program goes beyond the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) covering air transport requirements, it is particularly attractive to logistics managers who value the extra confidence this certification brings. Earlier this year, SATS Coolport (Singapore) – which handled more than 15,200 tons of pharmaceuticals last year – received its CEIV Pharma certification.

“The pharmaceutical industry has relied heavily on the airline industry for its speed and efficiency in transporting high-value, time- and temperature-sensitive cargo,” notes Tyler. “However, until this year, there were no global certification standards that could be internationally recognized and implemented.”

The global pharmaceutical industry will spend $8.36 billion on cold chain logistics in 2014 and is expected to expand to more than $10 billion by 2018. Meanwhile, mulitnationals are developing more complex “biological” based medicines – as opposed to chemical-based medicines – including hormone treatments, vaccines and complex proteins, that require ever more cold chain refinements.

“Brussels Airport is aiming to strengthen its position as a leading gateway for the handling and transportation of pharmaceutical freight in Europe,” says Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo at Brussels Airport. “We hope that our example in seeking certification will persuade other airports to do the same.”

Next: The Domestic loop

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