The stations will be certified according to the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) Standard of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
CEIV Pharma was created by IATA to help aviation stakeholders and regulators achieve pharmaceutical handling compliance.
“For DHL Global Forwarding, this certification shows our commitment to the life sciences and healthcare industry and to ensuring quality in every step of the supply chain,” David Goldberg, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, US, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.
DHL began certifying its global stations in the third quarter of 2016. In the Americas, it received its first certification in Bogota, Colombia. Globally, it will certify the remaining stations by the end of the second quarter of 2017.
“The CEIV Pharma Certification of the aviation industry’s umbrella association attests the highest service and quality standards for life sciences and healthcare customers through uniform processes and a compliant network,” Goldberg said.
Additionally, Goldberg said the company is “setting an example” for other stakeholders, such as airports, airlines, truckers, and forwarders to join the same standard, “which ultimately reduces the risks and increases compliance and productivity throughout the chain.”
The certification process includes training, quality audits, and validation.
“IATA has a checklist which it has developed alongside of the industry and at each location, IATA examines the station’s correspondence to the Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), the GDP (Good Distribution Practices) guidelines of the European Union, the Annex 5 of the World Health Organization and the United States Pharmacopeia Standards,” explained Goldberg.
By the end of the second quarter of 2017, several DHL Global Forwarding stations will be certified, including those in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Goldberg stated, “DHL Global Forwarding is always looking for ways to improve its products and services to meet the needs of the life science and pharmaceutical industry.”
The company has more than 4,500 employees, of which 2,000 are DHL Global Forwarding employees focused on managing life sciences and healthcare business.