A further 18 students have graduated from the IAG Cargo/Exelsius Good Distribution Practice (GDP) Academy — the fifth such international training course — this time held in London.
Attended by students from Singapore, India and the UK, the course was of particular benefit to forwarders and ground handlers who are either in the process of obtaining local GDP certification or applying for a Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) approval from the UK’s Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency.
Aimed at improving industry compliance to GDP standards for healthcare and life science products, the two-day course offered a combination of both interactive classroom learning and an airport airside visit to the IAG Cargo Constant Climate Centre.
Students came from forwarders, airlines and ground handling companies, with successful participants being awarded a certificate of achievement following a comprehensive written examination. The certification is valid for two years.
Tony Wright, chief executive of Exelsius, commented: “The course programme is designed to provide students with an understanding of the compliance needs of GDP from a truly end–to-end perspective and uses a number of interactive teaching methods.”
One participant was James Wells, UK International Freight Manager at Aramex UK: “An excellent and thoroughly enjoyable course that I would recommend to anyone involved in the transportation of time and temperature sensitive life science products.”
Gastion Mesias, manager of Pinnacle International Freight, said: “Quality content, excellently delivered.”
Both IAG Cargo and Exelsius have already announced dates for three further GDP Academy training courses this year in Dublin, Atlanta and a key city in the Asia Pacific Region.
Alan Dorling, global head of pharmaceutical and life sciences at IAG Cargo, said: “The continued call for this type of GDP training is clearly demonstrated by the demand for places, with the course being sold out very quickly.
"I am delighted that all delegates found the unique course enhanced their understanding of GDP and the standards required throughout the end-to-end supply chain and in order to achieve certification.”
