Maastricht Aachen Airport secures PNAO designation for fruit, vegetables, and flowers

Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) has been officially designated as an approved inspection location for Products of Non-Animal Origin (PNAO) by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

The authorisation, following a comprehensive audit by the NVWA and confirmation by the European Commission (EC), allows mandatory inspections of plant-based goods to take place directly on-site at MST.

As the Netherlands’ second-largest cargo airport, this designation enables MST to handle a significantly wider range of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other plant-based products more efficiently.

By conducting official controls at the point of arrival, the airport can now release shipments that previously required transit to other locations for inspection, and expand its list of permitted products and countries of origin.

“Maastricht Aachen Airport is well known for its short transit times and efficient handling processes - critical factors in maintaining the quality and shelf life of fresh, temperature-sensitive goods,” said Dean Boljuncic, Head of Commercial Development, Maastricht Aachen Airport.

“Enabling on-site PNAO controls reduces waiting times even further, and ensures an optimally safeguarded cold chain for our customers.”

In 2025, the airport’s status as a Phytosanitary Inspection Centre was reaffirmed. The addition of approved PNAO controls on-site reinforces MST’s role as a key phytosanitary hub in Europe.

The designation marks a significant milestone in MST’s ongoing development as a specialist logistics hub, providing the infrastructure and regulatory approvals necessary to support the global fresh produce trade.