Cargolux renews GDP certification

Jan 22, 2016: Cargolux Airlines passed its GDP ( Goods Distribution Practices) Surveillance Audit, validating its GDP certification for another year and attesting that the company’s management system fulfills the requirements of the EU directive ‘Guidelines on Good Distribution Practice of Medicinal Products for Human Use’ and of WHO guidelines. Cargolux became the world’s first GDP certified airline in January 2014, confirming its compliance with EU GDP/WHO requirements and Cargolux’s dedication to operate a consistent quality management system across the transportation process.

Cargolux’s hub at Luxembourg airport is also GDP certified.

GDP certification plays a key role in assuring the quality and the integrity of the transportation and distribution of medicinal products for human use.

“GDP Certification ensures compliance with best distribution practice and quality in all related logistics services, especially in this highly regulated sector,” says Franco Nanna, Cargolux director Global Logistics Services and also chairman of IATA’s Time and Temperature Task Force. “It provides peace of mind to the customers when shipping these valuable commodities from point of origin to destination.”

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

In addition, the GDP certification recognises Cargolux’s operation of a specialized fleet of Boeing 747 freighters with four independently-controlled temperature zones and its qualified team of cool chain experts, experienced in the handling of healthcare goods in an effective, end-to-end temperature controlled process.