The UPS freight forwarding operation at Changi Airport has received IATA CEIV Pharma certification for pharmaceutical logistics — a first for UPS in Asia Pacific.
IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification is an industry certification developed by IATA, regulators and aviation industry stakeholders.
The certification requires companies to meet or exceed many existing pharmaceutical standards and guidelines such as IATA Temperature Control Regulations, European Union Good Distribution Practices, World Health Organisation Annex 5 Good Distribution Practices for Pharmaceutical Products and United States Pharmacopeia Standards.
“Pharmaceuticals are time and temperature-sensitive, requiring an extra amount of care throughout the transportation process. These are not typical packages, and at times life-saving deliveries as well. This certification is an affirmation of the high standards of handling and transportation that UPS’s customers in the healthcare and life sciences sector have come to rely on for their high-value shipments,” said Lim Bee Koong, director, healthcare strategy, UPS Asia Pacific.
As a biomedical sciences hub for the Asia Pacific region, Singapore is home to eight of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies globally, manufacturing four of the top 10 drugs by global revenue.