SDV to certify 16 pharma locations under CEIV

Recognizing the importance of cargo safety and security, U.K.-based forwarder SDV was one of the first to participate in the 2014 pharmaceutical certification program at Brussels Airport. Subsequently, SDV has decided to pursue certification for an additional 16 major air hubs in Europe, Asia, North America and South Africa, via IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification.

The first two of these certifications are to take place at SDV’s stations at Singapore Changi International and at Roissy Charles de Gaulle in Paris, said Brice Bellin, SDV’s healthcare regional director for Western and Central Europe. Both are scheduled to be completed by September or October of this year, he said.

Based on positive feedback and benefits from the “BRUcargo” community approach at Brussels Airport, SDV committed itself to certifying the additional hubs, Bellin said. The rest of the SDV healthcare stations are expected to by CEIV-certified by the spring or summer of 2016. “The investment, in terms of time, money, resources and organization, is heavy,” he added. “To be done seriously, and as a pilot, it cannot be done in a few weeks.”

Under the CEIV-Pharma program, SDV is currently setting up a training schedule that will last for eight days and will involve four people from each participating station, Bellin said. The certification will be carried out by an independent validator, who has been trained by IATA to perform the necessary assessments and audits. “It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the industry that we do not handle pharma business the way we did a few years ago,” Bellin said.

The CEIV certification aims to be the standard-bearer in the end-to-end safe handling of pharmaceutical goods worldwide. SDV – which has been a member of IATA’s Time and Temperature Task Force for more than three years, has been working on this project with IATA for the last two years – has a network of specialists located near main regions for pharmaceutical production, particularly generic products and biotechnologies. The company also strictly enforces security and safety rules for all cargo, follows rigorous cold chain management protocols and manages the flow of relief aid from several origins to emerging economies.