Bangkok Flight Services, the joint venture between Bangkok Airways and Worldwide Flight Services, has achieved the good distribution practice (GDP) certification for its dedicated pharma handling facility at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).

The GDP certification was awarded by independent audit body Escem/TüV Rheinland following a two-day assessment of the pharma facility by Global Pharma Solutions LLC.

Located inside the main BFS cargo terminal, the pharma facility consists of three zones offering some 120 square metres of dedicated capacity, equipped with charging stations for ‘active’ cargo containers.

Over 20 of the 80 airlines handled by BFS in BKK now regularly ship pharma cargo, and the company said it plans to make investments this year to increase its storage capacity to support the volume.

With the latest certification, WFS, and other subsidiaries of the SATS Group, now operate 27 certified pharma handling facilities (GDP and IATA CEIV combined), with two further locations in North America aiming for certification in the second and third quarters.

“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,” said Stewart Sinclair, Managing Director of BFS.

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.