Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has passed its first World Health Organization (WHO) Good Distribution Practices (GDP) annual surveillance audit.
Last year, the cargo handler, became the first handling agent in Hong Kong to achieve GDP accreditation, which covers the provision of handling, logistics and storage services for pharmaceuticals.
The 2015 annual audit was conducted by Geneva-based independent GDP auditor SGS and included full surveillance of Hactl’s staff competence, premises, equipment, processes, quality control system and hygiene standards.
During the year, Hactl created a new quality assurance supervisor post within its GDP management team to strengthen the observance of GDP-governed operations.
The audit found there had been no deviation events since Hactl’s original accreditation, and there no non-conformities. It confirmed that Hactl’s cold chain management system continues to meet specified standards.
Hactl chief executive, Mark Whitehead, says: “Pharmaceuticals is an increasingly important part of the total airfreight market. I am very pleased with the direction of the GDP initiative, and its positive impact on airfreight’s ability to serve this sector.”
