May 31, 2016: Life Sciences and Healthcare network of DHL reaches new quality standard through IATA CEIV Pharma Certification

DHL Global Forwarding continuously works on ensuring the highest service quality through globally consistent processes and a specialized, as well as a compliant network for its customers in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sector. In line with its continuous improvement strategy, DHL Global Forwarding is working with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to raise the bar in the transport of pharmaceuticals by implementing IATA's CEIV Pharma Certification across its key facilities globally. The DHL Global Forwarding station in Brussels, Belgium has already been awarded the CEIV Pharma Certification. This certificate is given by IATA after independent audits and trainings, and it encompasses IATA Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), European Union Goods DistributionPractices (EU GDP), World Health Organization Annex 5 and United States Pharmacopeia Standards.

'As global demand for structurally complex, temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products grows, the life sciences and healthcare sector faces the challenges of increasingly stricter regulations and the need for smart cold chains that can secure product integrity and patients' safety,' said David Bang, Global Head of DHL Temperature Management Solutions, DHL Global Forwarding. 'The IATA CEIV certification is yet another initiative within part of our continuous improvement activities to ensure our specialized and compliant network is up to the latest quality standard that recommends DHL as the right partner to the life sciences and healthcare sector.'

DHL Global Forwarding has launched its global CEIV Pharma certification. In the first phase it includes 30 of its key DHL Air Thermonet GDP Compliant stations worldwide. The project will be conducted in close coordination between DHL and IATA. The assessments are expected to start in the third quarter of 2016.

The IATA CEIV certification program is based on IATA's Temperature Control Regulations (TCR) and the global Goods Distribution Practices (GDP) guidelines translated to the specific air cargo environment. IATA has great experience in establishing industry standards (dangerous goods, pharmaceutical handling, live animals etc.) and represents a quality reference for the various industry players such as handling agents, airlines, forwarders, shippers and companies in the life science and healthcare sector.

'DHL's commitment to join the CEIV pharma program and certify its key global Thermonet facilities is good news for customers who can have even more confidence that their life-saving and temperature sensitive products will be delivered in impeccable condition. For the industry, it is another step towards achieving industry alignment and standardization across the pharmaceutical logistic supply chain, further enhancing the capabilities of the global pharma network,' said Glyn Hughes, IATA Global Head of Cargo.

DHL is the market leader for life sciences and healthcare logistics solutions and has developed over time a rich product portfolio that caters for all customer needs and all transport modes, such as DHL Air Thermonet for temperature sensitive air freight shipments and DHL Ocean Thermonet for customer interested in shipping high value and sensitive goods via ocean. A door-to-door courier transport solution, 'Life Sciences graded Specialty Courier', covers for the specific needs of the life sciences industry and complements another product offer, Medical Express, which is based on DHL Express's global network and time definite express service. With 'DHL Clinical Trial Logistics', DHL provides logistics services for clinical trial materials including investigational medication, ancillaries and lab kits.

The facilities selected for the IATA CEIV pharmaceuticals certification are part of DHL Global Forwarding's Thermonet network. DHL Air Thermonet is the global standard for time and temperature sensitive air freight shipments, providing seamless temperature visibility along the supply chain, 24/7/365 proactive monitoring and intervention based on pre-determined touch points and DHL's RFID SmartSensor technology, that is also GDP certified.