Brussels Airport (BRU) plans to become the first European hub to gain IATA certification for handling cold-chain pharmaceuticals.

IATA says the certification BRU will receive, the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma is a standardized global certification program that “goes beyond the Good Distribution Practices (GDP).” Brussels Airport has invited ten local ground handlers, freight forwarders, truckers and airlines to undergo the CEIV Pharma training.

Earlier this year, SATS Coolport, which handled more than 15,200 tonnes of pharmaceuticals at Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN) in 2013, received its CEIV Pharma certification.