Continuing a long string of supply-chain stakeholders that have concentrated on improving their pharmaceutical handling operations at Brussels Airport, Panalpina’s facility has earned its Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification for pharma traffic. The achievement represents the first Panalpina station to earn a cert via the IATA’s much-sought-after CEIV validation process.
“Unlike the recent shattering news that came from Brussels International Airport Zaventem, this is good news,” said Frank Raeckelboom, Panalpina’s head of quality, health, safety and environment, in Belgium, citing last month’s deadly terrorist bombing at the airport’s passenger terminal. “The certification is yet another proof of our excellent handling capabilities.”
In addition to the CEIV cert, Panalpina’s facility is fully compliant with TAPA-A (Transported Asset Protection Association) standards. Belgium’s Federal Agency of Medical and Health Products also has certified Panalpina Brussels, which has been GDP (Good Distribution Practices) compliant since it opened in August 2012.
The building includes 940 square meters of rack storage, with a capacity of 328 pallets, plus floor storage that can accommodate 450 pallets. The entire facility can be temperature-controlled to maintain a range between 15°C and 25°C. A separate, 325-square-meter room is dedicated for cargo that must be kept at a range between 2°C and 8°C.
With these certifications, Raeckelboom said Panalpina customers can be assured that valuable products, such as “human or veterinarian finished products, active pharmaceutical ingredients or medical devices,” will be handled under the strictest-existing international standards.
Other supply chain stakeholders in Brussels’ BRUcargo community that have already earned CEIV-pharma certs include AD Handling, Aviapartner, Bio Pharma Logistics, Brussels Airlines Cargo, Expeditors, Finnair Cargo, Jan de Rijk Logistics, SDV, Swissport Cargo Cervices, UTi and Worldwide Freight Services.
Mark Guilliams, Panalpina’s business unit manager for Brussels, also added that the March attacks, which killed 32 people in the airport and a city subway station, had little effect on the forwarder’s operations. “We rerouted cargo to our Antwerp facility during the initial lock-down of the airport,” he said. “By now, operations have almost returned to normal, even though some airlines have yet to reach full capacity.”
