Pharmaceuticals by air freight to Canada

Why pharmaceuticals by air freight?

Pharmaceuticals require speed, control, and traceability — three core qualities of air freight. Medicines, vaccines, and biologicals are valuable, time-critical, and temperature-sensitive. Sea transport takes weeks and offers insufficient control over the cold chain. Air freight takes 1–3 days — with continuous monitoring.

Schiphol is one of Europe's leading pharma cargo hubs: KLM Cargo's Pharma Gateway Amsterdam (PGA) is certified for GDP transport and offers specialized storage and handling facilities for pharmaceutical air freight at the airport itself.

When is air freight indispensable for pharma?

• Clinical trials: samples and study medication must arrive exactly on time
• Acute drug shortages where every day counts
• Vaccines and biologicals with short shelf life or strict cold chain
• High-value APIs where risk of delay is unacceptable
• Compassionate use: individual patient shipments

Exporting to Canada

Canada is one of the Netherlands’ key trading partners outside the EU — under the CETA trade agreement, nearly all Dutch goods benefit from preferential or zero-tariff import duties. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Toronto (YYZ) via Air Canada Cargo and KLM Cargo, with frequent connections to Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR). Cargo-to-cargo transit typically takes 8–12 hours.

Customs & Regulations

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses the CARM system (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management). Importers must have a Business Number and a CARM Client Portal account. For most shipments, a commercial invoice, packing list, and — for applying CETA rates — a preparer’s declaration or Statement of Origin are sufficient. Health Canada and CFIA registration requirements apply to foodstuffs, medical devices, and cosmetics.

Practical Tips

• Always specify “CETA Statement of Origin” on your invoice for preferential import — this can reduce duties by 100%
• Consider provincial sales tax differences (GST/HST/PST) when pricing
• Both English and French labeling may be required for consumer products in Quebec

Aircargo.nl works with dedicated agents in Toronto and Montreal and handles the complete documentation process — including CETA certification — for optimal throughput.

Points of attention for air freight pharmaceuticals

GDP transport mandatory

Pharmaceuticals must be transported according to Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines. This means an unbroken cold chain with temperature recording, certified storage, and documentation proving that the temperature remained within the required range during the entire transport. Aircargo.nl works exclusively with GDP-certified handlers and airlines.

Temperature requirements

Most pharmaceutical products require transport at 2–8°C (cold chain) or 15–25°C (room temperature). Biologicals, vaccines, and certain diagnostics require -20°C or lower (frozen transport). Each shipment is provided with a calibrated temperature logger and a temperature excursion report if applicable.

Regulatory documentation

• GDP certificate from the sender
• Import or export permit depending on product type and destination country
• Controlled substances: DEA license (US) or national narcotics permit
• Batch release certificates for biologicals