Avianca Cargo, a member of the Abra Group, has become the first airline in the Americas to achieve Good Distribution Practices (GDP) Pharma certification for the handling of pharmaceuticals across its European network, following the certification of its operations in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.
The certification, which came after a process of approximately six months, validates that Avianca Cargo’s ground handling and air transport services for pharmaceutical products comply with requirements for controlled temperature and product integrity.
The GDP certificate is based on the good distribution practices of medicines as defined by the World Health Organization and is issued by SGS, an independent certification body. This provides assurance that Avianca Cargo complies with the necessary standards in the handling, storage, distribution and transport of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products while maintaining their quality and integrity throughout the supply chain.
“Obtaining the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) Pharma certification for our operations in Madrid and Barcelona makes us the first airline in the Americas to achieve this certification, and this is a new milestone in our strategy of reinforcing our specialized pharma transport services. “This achievement along with our IATA CEIV Pharma certification reinforces our commitment to an industry that requires safe, consistent and traceable operations,” said Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo.
The new certification adds to Avianca Cargo’s current IATA CEIV Pharma certification, further bolstering the carrier’s strategy to grow and reinforce its specialized pharmaceutical transport capabilities.
For Avianca Cargo, the certification also represents a commitment to meeting the increasingly specific requirements of pharmaceutical clients. Madrid and Barcelona play a strategic role in this network, acting as hubs for the consolidation of pharmaceutical shipments from all over Europe.
The two Spanish cities are part of a wider network that gives Avianca Cargo greater control over its operations, and also allows the airline to provide a specialized and reliable supply chain linking pharmaceutical shipments with major markets.
The speed at which the certification was obtained is also remarkable. Avianca Cargo’s team completed the process in about six months, significantly less than the usual 12 months required for this type of audit.
Avianca Cargo’s GDP Pharma certification for its Madrid and Barcelona operations puts another layer of certification and operational control over its pharmaceutical logistics offering across Europe.
