Schiphol launches pharma gateway

European cargo hub Schiphol has launched Pharma Gateway Amsterdam (PGA), a  community-based cool chain logistics programme for the niche high value airfreight product.
All participants in PGA will be IATA CEIV Pharma-certified and the programme is the initiative of Schiphol’s Pharma Task Force, launched in July 2015 by Air Cargo Netherlands, the Dutch Air Cargo Industry Association.
In a recent interview, to be published in the April 4 edition, Jonas van Stekelenberg, head of cargo at Schiphol said it is the first time an airport in Europe has created a whole CEIV chain, with  all parties in the handling of a pharma shipment – airlines, forwarders, truckers etc – certified.
The CEIV chain will be marketed jointly by all the participants, another first.
The announcement by the Dutch hub, the third largest European cargo airport by volumes, was made during the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Berlin.
The programme has already recruited WFS, DNATA, Swissport, Air France – KLM – Martinair Cargo, De Jong Special Services, DJ.Middelkoop, Jan de Rijk Logistics, IJS Global/GEFCO, VCK Logistics, Yusen Logistics and Cyberfreight as members.
More companies are expected to join in the near future.
Branded as “qualified and transparent," PGA’s objective is to create a ‘closed’ pharma chain at the airport, further developing Schiphol’s role as one of Europe’s largest gateways for pharma traffic.
Said a spokesman: “Pharma Gateway Amsterdam aims to support a certified track from the shipper, all the way to the consignee.
“It will achieve this locally by involving airlines, handlers, hauliers and logistics service providers – all of which will be certified to the IATA CEIV Pharma standard.”
For imports, it means covering the unloading of aircraft, ramp transfers, first line handling through the handling agent, transport to the second line forwarder warehouse and any handling carried out there, then haulage to the consignee or distribution centre.
“This all-inclusive approach will ensure the integrity of shipments remains intact,” added the spokesman.
IATA CEIV has been selected as the basis for PGA, as it builds on the storage-centric scope of GDP by covering all air cargo processes, and provides a uniform global set of standards without any scope for localised interpretation, said the airport.
Pharma manufacturers will continue to deal direct with their chosen suppliers, but will also be able to contact the neutral Pharma Gateway Amsterdam administration for additional information and a full list of participants.
Ferry van der Ent of Air Cargo Netherlands said: “Pharma Gateway Amsterdam goes well beyond a simple marketing programme. This new body is tackling the entire proposition of Schiphol Airport for pharma manufacturers, and is commercially neutral.  We’ll provide a transparent and qualified process, which can be fully monitored.
“We are targeting quality and transparency by closely linking all service providers, and setting uniform standards and procedures. At the same time, we’ll continue to offer shippers and their forwarders a choice of partners in their new, closed supply chain.”
He continued: “We have adopted CEIV as our base, as it’s the only truly worldwide standard today. Slowly but surely, more logistics partners are choosing CEIV, driven by shipper demand. And, although it’s not mandatory yet, it may be in the future. We cannot rule out the adoption of even higher standards in due course.”
Future plans for Pharma Gateway Amsterdam include real time monitoring on the ramp on a collective basis, similar to the airport’s current “Milkrun” transport collaboration.