Uniformity is essential for growth
The pharmaceutical logistics industry has relied heavily on air transport due to its speed and efficiency, but it has been declining over the past decade due to lack of compliance, standardisation, accountability and transparency. IATA CEIV Pharma certifi
Transporting pharmaceuticals from one point to another is equivalent to handling precious lives. Hence, it is crucial to assure the product’s integrity. Adding to the complexities of the product; logistical ordeal such as temperature excursions, customs delays, packaging breakdowns, incorrect shipping, and packing choice are all risks allied to pharma shipments.
Transporting pharmaceuticals by air is even complex, demanding and often challenging, as temperature shall be maintained constant. At every step of the supply chain, stakeholders are responsible to ensure compliance with regulations that the product reaches their destinations without any compromise.
Transparency and cooperation is essential to safeguard patient safety. And, here lies the need of global standardisation for air transportation of pharmaceuticals. To overcome such international failures and to help organisation and the entire air cargo supply chain gets on the right track to achieve pharmaceutical handling excellence, International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma Logistics programme in 2014. The goal is to uplift industry know how and bring transparency en route.
Explaining what CEIV Pharma is and why it is required, Vipan Jain, Chairman, BAR (I) Cargo Committee – N.R, says, “A concentrated effort to improve the level of competency as well as operational and technical preparedness is urgently required to maintain certain standards in air cargo’s market for global pharmaceutical product transport. The industry identified a need to build a network of certified pharmaceutical trade lanes that meet consistent standards and assure product integrity. As a result, IATA has taken a leading role in supporting the air transport industry to comply with pharmaceutical manufacturers’ requirements.” “The business relies on air transport for its speed, consistency and efficiency in delivering highvalue, time-sensitive, temperaturecontrolled products. CEIV Pharma ensures that facilities, equipment, operations and staff comply with all applicable standards, regulations and guidelines expected from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The overall goal is to elevate the industry know-how and achieve global standardisation,” he added.
IATA has taken a leading role in supporting the air transport industry for pharmaceutical manufacturers
Talking about the issues that have got solved with this certification, Jain said, “Air cargo’s share of the global pharma product transport has declined from 17 per cent in 2000 to 11 per cent