DHL STATION IN NARITA SUCCESSFULLY RENEWS IATA CEIV PHARMA CERTIFICATION

• DHL Global Forwarding Japan once again been recognized by IATA for offering the highest standards for life sciences and healthcare shipments
• Air freight market leader DHL best positioned for more complex transports with its quality assurance initiative
  
• Highly qualified staff trained according IATA approved DHL Life Sciences Specialist training program
  

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has recertified its air freight station in Narita, Japan according to the CEIV Pharma Standard of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The central association for aviation attests to the highest service and quality standards through uniform processes and a compliant network.

“With vaccine logistics high on the agenda this year, there has been heightened scrutiny, rightfully so, on supply chain standards for life sciences and healthcare products. As a logistics leader that is committed to maintaining the highest standards for our customers in the life sciences and healthcare sector in Japan, we are happy to have received the re-certification for IATA CEIV Pharma on a corporate level and our air freight station at Narita Cargo Center,” said Charles Kaufmann, CEO, North Asia South Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding and President/Representative Director, DHL Global Forwarding Japan K.K.

Nina Heinz, Global Head of Network & Quality, Temperature Management Solutions at DHL Global Forwarding added: “For years, the number of regulations and requirements has been steadily increased in the life sciences and healthcare industry in general, especially regarding product transportation and storage. Although we at DHL have been a leader in ideas and innovation in the industry for a long time, we recognize that there is always room to improve. With our renewed IATA CEIV Pharma Certification, we are both clearly demonstrating our continued emphasis on constantly enhancing our service quality and showcasing that we are a reliable partner for transporting vital and temperature-sensitive products.”

DHL has been actively involved with IATA’s continuous efforts to adequately answer to the regulatory demands of the pharmaceutical industry. A standardized approach in air freight increases productivity, accuracy, and reliability while remaining compliant in all required areas. DHL began certifying its global stations according to the IATA CEIV Pharma Certification in 2016 to raise the bar in pharmaceutical logistics. Following independent audits by third parties and training courses for employees on site, the DHL GxP (good practice) in Narita successfully renewed the quality label. Thereby DHL Global Forwarding enhances transportation and storage quality levels of pharmaceutical goods with the DHL station exceeding the usual quality standards. The GxP facility in Narita comprises 580 square meters of space available for temperatures between two and eight degrees Celsius and 1,000 square meters between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.

As the leader in the Life Sciences & Healthcare Industry, DHL provides its employees at all levels and functions around the world with vital tools to understand and meet customers' and regulatory expectations. By providing a specialized training program, IATA regulation standards were implemented at scale in key GxP (good practice) facilities worldwide. The CIF Certified Life Sciences Specialist (CLSS) program provides a comprehensive curriculum of mandatory trainings, functional courses, and material to unlock the knowledge of this specialized industry. Like at all temperaturecontrolled locations of DHL, every designated employee in Narita handling and involved in Life Sciences & Healthcare shipments have successfully completed the training and are certified Life Science Specialists. This ensures that sensitive shipments are handled with utmost care and in compliance with the highest industry standards.

At each location, IATA examines and compares the station’s correspondence to its Temperature Control Regulations (TCR) as well as GDP (Good Distribution Practices) guidelines from the European Union, World Health Organization and other regulatory bodies.

With its international network, DHL offers a wide-ranging product portfolio at its Air GxP locations that covers all client needs for time and temperature sensitive airfreight shipments and provides seamless temperature visibility along the supply chain. Through its excellent service, DHL has successfully established itself as the market leader for logistics solutions in the life sciences and healthcare industry. The global logistics leader recently published a white paper on securing a stable supply chain for vaccines and medical goods during health crises and how the transport of vaccines as a highly temperature-sensitive product can be managed effectively to combat the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.