Adrian Whelan, Head of Global Security for DHL Express commented: "Operating in more than 220 countries and territories, DHL Express is the most international company in the world, and security has always been a top priority for us. Although we always had our own internal security standards for many years, we are convinced that it is important to have security standards independently verified and certified, mainly for our customers, so that they know their valuable shipments are in safe hands. Since certifying the first facility which was Penang Gateway in Malaysia in 2001, we are now very proud to complete the certification of the 300th facility," And he summarizes: "It is all about the customer and their needs - security is not a nice to have, it is a must have!

"The internationally recognized TAPA certification is one of the most rigorous logistics and supply chain security certifications. This independently audited certification is widely respected as the leading security standard in this sector, and focuses on the way in which high-value goods are handled, warehoused and transported. As the global leading logistics provider DHL Express ensures that its processes and services provide the highest standards possible in the industry.

Ian Wilson, CEO DHL Express UK, says: "We are proud to receive the Level "A" certification for Birmingham and especially with this being the 300th TAPA-certified facility. We are working in such a fast-moving and dynamic operational environment, that the highest level of security is absolutely paramount to the company's success. That is why DHL Express has adopted TAPA's FSR at the heart of its global security strategy. We view security as a competitive advantage and our customers tell us that the security is critically important to them. With state of the art access control, CCTV and alarm systems, the Birmingham facility meets the highest levels of security specifications. Ian Wilson concludes: "Our customers want and deserve the highest level of security. We are committed to providing them with that as well as ensuring our people are safe and secure at work.

"With 300 certified TAPA Level A and B sites, DHL Express is the global industry leader with  the number of TAPA certified facilities. The accredited facilities now span 82 countries, with 96 DHL Express facilities located in Europe, 87 in Asia-Pacific, 25 in China, 43 in the Americas , 30 in Sub Saharan Africa and there were 19 certificates obtained in the Middle East and North Africa.

"We congratulate DHL Express and its Global Security team on this outstanding achievement and for their commitment to the TAPA Security Standards," declares Thorsten Neumann, Chairman of TAPA EMEA. "They clearly recognise our Facility Security Requirements as the leading supply chain security standard and the most effective way to protect their customers' goods. More and more customers are asking their logistics partners if their facilities are TAPA certified because it is the security benchmark they trust. This is why the level of TAPA certifications in the EMEA region is at its highest-ever level in our 20-year history and growing every month. We expect to see more companies following the example set by DHL Express."