Bangkok joins WFS’ network of certified pharma handling facilities
Located inside the main BFS cargo terminal, the pharma facility consists of three zones offering some 120m² of capacity
Photos Credit: WFS
Bangkok Flight Services (BFS), the joint venture between Bangkok Airways and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, has achieved Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification for its dedicated pharma handling facility at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
The award takes the number of GDP or IATA CEIV Pharma certified facilities available to WFS customers globally to 27 with two further locations in North America aiming for certification in Q2 and Q3 2024, says an official release from WFS.
In addition to Bangkok, WFS, and other subsidiaries of the SATS Group, now operate certified pharma handling facilities in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bangalore, Beijing, Brussels, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dallas Fort Worth, Dammam, Dublin, Frankfurt, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London, Madrid, Miami, Mumbai, Muscat, New York JFK, Paris CDG and Philadelphia, the release added.
“BFS, WFS and SATS have a shared commitment to ensuring the safe and secure handling of temperature-controlled, life-enhancing pharma cargoes," says Stewart Sinclair, Managing Director, BFS. "This is evident by our investments in best-in-class pharma centres in Europe, Scandinavia, North America, the Middle East, India and Asia, and more certified facilities will join this network in 2024. These operations are vital to maintaining the integrity and compliance of pharma shipments as well as to supporting premium and special cargo products offered by our customers."
BFS received its GDP certification from independent audit body Escem/TüV Rheinland following a two-day assessment of the pharma facility by Global Pharma Solutions, the release added. "This confirms the operation’s compliance with EC Guidelines on Good Distribution Practice of medicinal products for human use, and the World Health Organization’s WHO TRS 1025 – Annex 7 for Good Storage & Distribution Practices for medical products."
Located inside the main BFS cargo terminal, the pharma facility consists of three zones offering some 120m² of capacity. This includes over 215 storage positions within controlled temperature ranges of 15-25°C and 2-8°C, the release added. "The facility also incorporates charging stations for ‘active’ cargo containers used for the transportation of temperature-controlled pharma products. The facility is operated by a specially trained team and protected by comprehensive security measures."
Over 20 of the 80 airlines handled by BFS in Bangkok now regularly ship pharma cargoes, the release added.
