For Pharma & Healthcare sector Singapore Airlines launches Thrucool product.

For high value, temperature control & time sensitive shipments Singapore Airlines (SIA) has introduced a Thrucool product specially for pharma & healthcare shipments.

Thrucool offer variable cod chain services like cold room facilities, hermal blanket, covers for crucial isnulation & many more.

SIA senior vice president cargo, Chin Yau Seng, in an interview said: "As the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to be CEIV Pharma-certified, the launch of Thrucool reinforces our commitment to provide customers dedicated cold  chain  services when transporting time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments.

"We are acutely aware of the life-saving role these shipments play  in  societies  across the world and Thrucool is our assurance that our customers' cargo will receive the best care not only on our flights but also on the ground during transit.

"We will continue to collaborate with our  industry  partners  to  expand  our  network  of quality corridors to further promote  the  integrity  of  pharmaceutical  products  in their journey across key trade lanes."

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Pharma defection to ocean is ‘wake-up call’ to airfreight

Airlines are targeting premium products to claw back lost revenue from the recession. Foremost of those is the cool chain for fresh produce and pharmaceuticals.
But, according to Steef Van Amersfoort, chairman of the air transport at the Dutch Shippers Council and veteran pharmaceutical-logistics executive, there is a massive difference between what pharma shippers need and expect, and what the airlines actually deliver.
“To be honest, there aren’t a lot of airlines offering time and temperature sensitive (T&TS) shipping services that I am confident of,” he says.
“I don’t want to be told ‘don’t worry’ about my shipment. I need to know everything about the service. I need to know about the hardware, but also about its organisational processes, so I can see it is properly a part of the company.
“I often see that the airlines control the service themselves at the origin and during transit,” he adds, “but at the destination they rely on handling companies that either do not offer the same service or offer one that the airline is not willing to pay a premium for.
“Even within the airline, not everyone always knows about the specifications of the service. If you offer a service you have to ensure it can be delivered to every part of your network at the same level of quality and reliability.”
Van Amersfoort says that there have been encouraging developments lately, but that there is still far to go.
“With so much pharma now being sent by ship, that should be a wake-up call for airlines to start investing into a reliable air cargo supply chain for pharma,” he warns.
“IATA implementing a T&TS label was a nice first step, as was the task force, but there is still a huge gap between the premium we pay and the premium service we get.
“Carriers need to recognise that becoming a pharma specialist requires more than just saying you’re one. It requires training of operational people and an obligation to invest in airport facilities.”

Source : http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/pharma-defection-to-ocean-is-wake-up-call-to-airfreight.html

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Exelsius launches pharma programme

Exelsius has launched a pharmaceutical qualification programme (PQP) for companies involved in the handling and transportation of pharmaceutical & life science products.
The UK-based international cold chain management consultancy says that its programme allows airports, freight forwarders and logistics service providers to become certified to Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards.
The PQP has been developed specifically for those involved in the air cargo cool chain and allows participants to demonstrate that they are compliant to the latest GDP regulations issued by the airlines, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the European Union and the US Food and Drugs Administration.
Exelsius chief executive Tony Wright says: “With over half of the value of healthcare products being moved by air, shippers will be seeking only the most compliant GDP logistics providers.
“This programme will be of initial importance in the UK where the MHRA have taken a lead in requiring airport ground handling companies, airlines and forwarders holding pharmaceuticals to have applied for a Wholesale Dealers Authorisation (WDA).
“With the Exelsius pharmaceutical qualification programme, organisations involved in good distribution practice can be ready to meet those requirements.
The PQP programme includes a full facility assessment, compliance plans, quality management system & SOP development, vendor assessment, route qualification and a fully integrated and certificated training plan.
The PQP requires participants to demonstrate compliance with all aspects of an initial gap analysis and training programme before certification will be granted. Re‐assessment will take place within two years.

Source : http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/exelsius-launches-pharma-programme.html

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IAG Cargo gains pharma certificate

IAG Cargo has received GDP (Good Distribution Practice) certification for pharmaceutical transport.
The carrier, bringing together the cargo divisions of British Airways and Iberia, says that it is the first airline to be awarded GDP certification by a national government health agency in meeting the premier standard for pharma transport.
IAG Cargo received the award following an inspection by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The carrier has been granted Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) for medicines intended for both human and veterinary use.
Alan Dorling, global head of pharmaceuticals & life sciences at IAG Cargo, commented: “The authorisation is testament to the significant investments we have made in our dedicated people and our temperature controlled infrastructure facilities and capabilities, in addition to continuous product development and training to improve our customer experience.
“It is welcome third party recognition that IAG Cargo has become the diamond standard for the transportation of medicines worldwide and underscores our global leadership in this fast-growing market.”
IAG Cargo has made significant investment in its Constant Climate product for specialist service for time-and-temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, and is now available in more than 100 stations worldwide.
Loranne Vella Zahra, global quality assurance manager at IAG Cargo, said: “GDP is a complex area that requires all areas of our supply chain to adhere to the highest standards. Our network ensures that only authorised pharmaceutical products are distributed safely, and their strength, stability, purity, potency and integrity are maintained throughout.
“Achieving full GDP status and being granted a WDA is testament to the strong quality system we have in place and the investment we have put in people, equipment, facilities and processes.”
To ensure the integrity of shipments, accredited GDP/WDA shippers  are likely to select those carriers that have a GDP/WDA licence.

Source :  http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/iag-cargo-gains-pharma-certificate.html

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