During the air Cargo China exhibition and conference on Wednesday 15 June 2016, lux-Airport and Eastern Air Logistics (EAL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive medicinal products for human use, in accordance with the European Union and world Health Organisation Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certifications.
EAL is one of the largest air cargo terminal operators at Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong Airport. Together with lux-Airport and the support of their local partners, it will exercise efforts to maintain a fully "Good Distribution Practice" secured End-to-End Trade Lane focused on the transportation of healthcare products between Luxembourg and Shanghai.
The MoU reflects the parties' commitment to ensure the quality and integrity of pharmaceutical and healthcare products on the ground and in the air by supporting the safe and secure movement of healthcare products between Shanghai and Luxembourg; educating local and global businesses of the added value obtained by trading with "Good Distribution Practice" certified partners; and verifying that all participants in the chain of transportation monitor performance indicators and maintain a quality system in respect of their activities.
"I am delighted to establish this mutually beneficial cooperation agreement between Eastern Air Logistics Co., Ltd.(EAL) and lux-Airport," commented John Vanneste, CEO of lux-Airport. "This is the second such agreement we sign and I noticed some other airports are now copying us. I am convinced this is a very interesting and unique development for shippers of valuable pharma shipments, and that it will stimulate traffic between Shanghai, the world’s third largest cargo airport, and Luxembourg. We will actively stimulate that all parties involved in the chain of transportation at our respective airports are brought together and cooperate to the best of their efforts."
Generally, the parties will develop and strengthen communication and commercial and operational cooperation in matters related to the transportation of healthcare products.
The agreement will serve to strengthen links between Asia and Europe and two GDP certified cargo airports specialised in pharmaceutical products handling, namely Luxembourg and Shanghai. This agreement aims at ensuring GDP compliance for transportation of pharmaceutical products by air for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Jin Xu, Vice President of EAL, explained how the MoU has enabled the company to create a GDP standard pharma trade lane between the two parties: "This is a significant step in EAL’s strategy to build a global pharma hub and spoke system that embraces all key world markets. By signing this significant MOU with lux-Airport who is also world-known by handling pharmaceutical and healthcare products in the industry, EAL shall cooperate closely with our strategic partner and make unremitting efforts to promote the development of GDP business in local emerging market. By establishing such a fully GDP secured End-to-End trade lane for pharma and healthcare shipments, we shall stand together to provide more comprehensive, professional and reliable services to all kinds of our clients in this high-valued specific market in the bright future."
