Service for Shipping Biological Samples, Specimens and Dangerous Goods in Excepted Quantities Now Available in More Than 100 Nations
UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced a major expansion to its International Special Commodities (ISC) program. Customers can ship biological substances, dangerous goods in excepted quantities, and shipments utilizing dry ice via UPS to more than 50 additional international destinations. This brings the total number of countries served by UPS’s dangerous goods service to more than 100.
This latest expansion is a direct response to growing demands from biopharmaceutical manufacturers, diagnostics companies, laboratories, distributors and care providers to ship specialized commodities when security, time and temperature control are a high priority.
UPS is now able to pick up and deliver packages under regulation UN3373 (Biologic Substances, Category B, Diagnostic Specimen and Clinical Specimen) as well as UN1845 (Carbon Dioxide, solid or dry ice) in the following 51 added countries and territories:
Afghanistan**
Cyprus
Kazakhstan
Oman
Albania
Djibouti‡
Kenya
Pakistan‡
Aruba
Egypt
Kuwait
Qatar
Bahrain
El Salvador
Lebanon
Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)**‡
Barbados
Ethiopia
Liberia**
Senegal
Belarus
Georgia, Republic Of
Macedonia
Sri Lanka
Bosnia Herzegovina
Guam
Malawi
Tanzania
Botswana**
Guatemala
Malta
Togo**
Brunei‡
India
Moldova
Trinidad & Tobago
Burkina Faso**
Iraq
Montenegro
Uganda
Cameroon
Ivory Coast
Namibia**
Zambia
Costa Rica†
Jamaica
New Caledonia**
Zimbabwe
Curacao
Jordan
Nigeria
UN3373 and UN1845 are guidelines issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to regulate the safe transportation of goods using air transportation modes. A full list of approved countries and categories accepted by UPS can be found here.
“This network expansion demonstrates our ongoing investments to continually build out an optimized supply chain to meet our customers’ demands,” said Dan Gagnon, UPS vice president of global healthcare strategy. “As specimen logistics get more complex globally, organizations will need to rely on streamlined, end-to-end solutions that can help transport sensitive goods on time, undamaged and within temperature range.”
Healthcare and life science companies shipping high-value, time- and temperature-sensitive shipments to, from and within the U.S. and global markets have access to UPS Proactive Response™ Secure – a solution combining shipment monitoring and risk management to help mitigate product spoilage. The service helps critical shipments reach their destinations even if unexpected events occur, and covers potential losses if products are damaged or spoiled.
UPS delivers value to healthcare companies through a broad portfolio of specialized freight and small package transportation and distribution services. UPS’s healthcare network also offers services such as temperature-sensitive storage and transportation, around-the-clock monitoring and security, kitting and labeling as well as order management and accounts receivable. Services across all locations are accessible via one global IT order management platform.
** Import delivery only
† Export airport drop-off only (no pick up)
‡ UN1845 Dry Ice Does Not Apply
About UPS Healthcare
UPS provides global supply chain solutions and expertise to pharmaceutical, biopharma and medical device companies. UPS has approximately 7 million square feet of cGMP- or cGDP-compliant healthcare distribution space. UPS also maintains one of the world’s largest networks of field stocking locations with approximately 950 sites. For parcels requiring strict temperature environments, from CRT to cryogenic, and those requiring around-the-clock monitoring, UPS has solutions such as UPS Temperature True™ and UPS Proactive Response™ services. UPS is committed to expanding its healthcare capabilities including recent acquisitions of Marken, CEMELOG and Poltraf, to meet the complex and evolving supply chain needs of the healthcare and life science sectors. Visit ups.com/healthcare.
Improving Relationships and Diversifying the Site Selection Process
April 17th 2025In this episode of the Applied Clinical Trials Podcast, Liz Beatty, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Inato, discusses a number of topics around site engagement including community-based sites, the role of technology in improving site/sponsor relationships, how increased operational costs are impacting the industry, and more.
Behind the Buzz: Why Clinical Research Leaders Flock to SCOPE Summit
February 7th 2025In this episode, we meet with Micah Lieberman, Executive Conference Director for SCOPE Summit (Summit for Clinical Ops Executives) at Cambridge Innovation Institute. We will dive deep into the critical role of collaboration within the clinical research ecosystem. How do we bring together diverse stakeholders—sponsors, CROs, clinical trial tech innovators, suppliers, patients, sites, advocacy organizations, investors, and non-profits—to share best practices in trial design, program planning, innovation, and clinical operations? We’ll explore why it’s vital for thought leaders to step beyond their own organizations and learn from others, exchanging ideas that drive advancements in clinical research. Additionally, we’ll discuss the pivotal role of scientific conferences like SCOPE Summit in fostering these essential connections and collaborations, helping shape the future of clinical trials. Join us as we uncover how collective wisdom and cross-industry partnerships are transforming the landscape of clinical research.
