DHL’s Nijmegen campus is FDA approved; California facility is QEP accredited

According to Arjen Hellinga, business development manager at DHL Supply Chain in The Netherlands, this approval is unique for a logistics provider. It allows a number of products to go through ‘late stage customisation‘ – including kitting and labelling – at DHL’s facility, prior to being exported to markets outside the EU such as the US and Brazil.

At its shared-use Pharma Grade campus in Nijmegen, DHL manages supply chains for more than 25 pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

In other news, DHL’s Brisbane, California station (near San Francisco) has received accreditation as a Qualified Envirotainer Provider (QEP).

The company expects the San Juan station and several other North America stations to be added to its portfolio of QEP Accredited stations by the end of 2011.

Envirotainer launched its QEP/ CEP Training and Quality Program at the request of shippers of healthcare products and in response to industry guidance. The program acknowledges those service providers capable of properly managing shipments using Envirotainer containers. It confirms providers meet their obligations as defined in the current Good Distribution Practices guidance documents, including the requirements of the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

According to Mark McGonegal, vice president, West Region at  DHL Global Forwarding, the company plans to further invest in making its DHL Brisbane Station a Life Science Competency Centre in the coming year. The facility will include cold storage for deep frozen, controlled 2 ° – 8 ° Celsius and controlled 15 ° – 25 ° Celsius, all high in demand for pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers.