Air Cargo - Mial Sets Benchmark In Pharma Handling

The Mumbai international airport’s partnership with brussels airport has made it the first airport in the country to embark on a community approach for the IATA CEIV pharma certification, Manoj Singh, senior vice president and head of cargo, Mumbai international airport told Tirthankar Ghosh.

- Tirthankar Ghosh

When Brussels Airport (BRU) and Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) announced their partnership in the recently launched Pharma.Aero initiative that is focused on improving pharma handling and quality in the air cargo industry, it came as a breath of fresh air to pharma stakeholders.

With the signing of the partnership pact, the Mumbai airport became the first airport in India to embark on a community approach for the IATA CEIV (Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators) Pharma certification. The move has enhanced MIAL’s handling standards and capability for temperature-sensitive pharma cargo.

Speaking about the partnership, Nathan De Valck, Chairman, Pharma Aero had said that since MIAL had become the first Indian airport to join the Pharma.Aero initiative as a strategic member, it would play a co-ordinating role within the Indian subcontinent in bringing shippers together and create end-to-end pharma lanes together with Brussels Airport. “The benefit for all participating airports and shippers is that we will collaborate on creating end-to-end certified pharma lanes, sharing best practices in improving the overall handling quality of pharmaceutical shipments,” he said.

On joining the Pharma.Aero initiative, Manoj Singh, Senior Vice President and Head of Cargo, Mumbai International Airport said, “It is something very different from any other association, which is more focused on the airports and shippers connecting. We believe this will really add value, quality and safety standards in the entire pharma industry. This focused product management will grow by leaps and bounds and the airports are going to be informed through shippers about the quality they demand. This will open communication channels among stakeholders of pharma supply chain.”