K+N first to receive IATA CEIV Pharma certification for entire network setting new industry benchmark

Kuehne + Nagel and IATA are proud to announce full IATA CEIV Pharma network certification of the entire global KN PharmaChain GxP compliant air network, currently including 86 locations and covering all continents.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) introduced the CEIV Pharma Standard in 2015. CEIV Pharma aims to improve the level of competency as well as operational and technical preparedness of all parties in the air logistics industry as a response to increasing regulatory requirements and the demands of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Through training, quality audits and validation, the IATA CEIV Pharma standard ensures the integrity of every pharmaceutical and healthcare product in the airfreight supply chain and ultimate certification allows shippers to identify approved providers.

Independent certification of both the current and any future expansion of the KN PharmaChain network under the IATA CEIV Pharma programme is in line with the Kuehne + Nagel strategy of utilising audits by external parties to maintain its own GxP standard at the highest levels. This quality driven approach continues to set the industry benchmark for pharma and healthcare logistics.

CEIV Pharma network certification confirms the quality and risk based credentials of the award winning KN PharmaChain. A unique web-based risk assessment tool is now used to complete a risk assessment at a lane level and all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are managed via a pharma compliant document management system. During the transportation process, KN PharmaChain can additionally provide real-time monitoring and visibility through the use of active transmitting sensors and proactive intervention via the 24/7/365 CareTeam. All of this is supported by highly trained personnel and dedicated facilities. Compliance to the required WHO TRS957 standard was validated through rigorous audits at global locations around the entire KN PharmaChain network.

With over 170 locations across all modes of transport, Kuehne + Nagel is now operating one of the world’s largest multi-modal pharma networks. The dedicated KN PharmaChain network is capable of providing differentiated solutions for critical general cargo, ambient or temperature controlled door-to-door solutions all meeting the high standards of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

“We are delighted being the first logistics provider receiving CEIV Pharma accreditation for our entire network. Achieving this confirms the high standards we set with our KN PharmaChain offer and together with IATA we even strengthened our product further now. We will drive this standard towards our supply chain partners as well for the benefit of our customers,” comments Marcel Fujike, Senior Vice President Products & Services Global Air Logistics at Kuehne + Nagel.

“Kuehne + Nagel’s strategy to join the CEIV Pharma certification demonstrates the importance of such programme for the air cargo and pharmaceutical industries. Our joint effort to certify the global KN PharmaChain network as well as the integration of the IATA CEIV Pharma Standards, like the CEIV checklist, in Kuehne + Nagel’s quality process is a key step forward to roll out this program worldwide. We congratulate Kuehne + Nagel for this achievement meeting shippers’ expectations in terms of standardisation and transparency across the supply chain. This will lead to a stronger, more competitive and enhanced air cargo service for this vital sector of the global economy,” said Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.