Dnata’s U.K. operations receive GDP certification

The U.K. arm of Dubai-based ground handler, dnata, joined industry members Panalpina Global Forwarding and Cargolux Airlines today in reception of the Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification, which sets standards and best practices around the safe transportation of cool-chain products.

Dnata UK CEO Gary Morgan said the company’s goal in pursuing the certification, awarded by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, was to “reinforce our commitment to our airline customers who operate in the fast-growing pharmaceutical transportation sector.”

As the company pursued its certification, it invested in temperature-mapping warehouse monitoring systems and “automated handling systems,” which store pharmaceutical products at adjustable temperature ranges. The company was able to employ the technology in March when a cold front caused a sudden drop in temperature, which would have disturbed the integrity of sensitive pharma products.