Agility wins pharma plaudit

Agility says it has become the first freight forwarder to receive QEP experto accreditation from container specialist Envirotainer for its cold chain management of pharma and life sciences products.
Envirotainer’s Qualified Envirotainer Provider (QEP) program evaluates freight forwarders and airline stations and recognizes those able to meet the highest standards.
The QEP experto accreditation applies to Agility’s operations at EuroAirport in Basel, Switzerland, where Agility runs a Pharma Competence Centre (PCC) to manage global temperature-controlled transportation and cold chain solutions for pharmaceutical products. The PCC handles more than 20,000 temperature-controlled shipments per year. 
To achieve QEP experto recognition, providers must have Good Distribution Practices (GDP) certification along with dedicated +15°C to +25°C pharma storage, and manage at least 15 Envirotainer containers per month.
Agility’s Global Vice President for Life Sciences, said Eric ten Kate, said: “Pharmaceutical logistics is complex, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for customers. As a result, we work with our suppliers to maintain the highest level of quality and standards. Being the first freight forwarder to receive the experto certification from Envirotainer is proof of these efforts.”

Envirotainer compliance manager, Chris Fore, added: “On its ten-year anniversary, QEP started recognizing stations at either basico, advancedo or experto level.  QEP experto is only for those having the highest level of training and quality, along with the physical capabilities and extensive experience handling pharmaceutical products. I do not see many more forwarders meeting such strict criteria.”