Air freight
Urgent air transportation of medicines, vaccines and samples, with the route and temperature plan agreed before dispatch.
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International freight forwarding of pharmaceuticals
Turnkey, temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipping to Russia: air delivery from China, the UAE and the Gulf countries in a SafePack thermal container with a SmartSensor logger all the way, customs clearance by our own broker and delivery to your door.
China → Russia · UAE and the Gulf countries
+2…+8 · +15…+25 · −20 °C · dry ice
Own customs broker since 2013
Pharma licence · GDP · ISO
Turnkey international freight forwarding of pharmaceuticals is what we do: we move medicines, pharmaceutical substances, finished medicinal products, reagents and medical equipment across borders. One-stop service instead of a dozen contractors: pickup from the sender, packing in our thermal container, air freight, customs clearance by our own team and delivery to your warehouse or clinic. One contract, one contact, one invoice.
Our strength is the China–Russia lane: shipping medicines from China to Russia (substances, finished medicinal products, laboratory and production equipment in the +2…+8 °C and other temperature modes). We also cover the UAE and Gulf countries route. Our own customs broker has worked since 2013, so we take on customs clearance of medicines ourselves rather than passing it on to you. Within Russia, after release, we carry the cargo as temperature-controlled transport of medicines, and urgent shipments go by air delivery.
Calculate an international freight estimate
Choose the route, transport option, weight and temperature range for an indicative estimate based on the same 2025–2026 quotations as the Russian calculator. This is a guide, not an offer price; the team confirms the route, documents, permits and final quotation before dispatch.
Quick selection:
Indicative estimate
China → Russia · air
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This is an indicative estimate, not a binding quotation. Estimate based on our 2025–2026 quotations. Price depends on the shipment, collection address, flight, route, season and Incoterms. Our international team will confirm the exact price, VAT and transit time for your shipment.
Indicative estimate based on the international tariff grid and Central Bank exchange rate as of 23 September 2026. This is not a binding offer. Dangerous goods, oversized shipments, Europe and the USA are quoted on request.
The Russian domestic leg can also be estimated with the delivery calculator. Customs duties, permits and any additional costs are agreed separately.
37years
in the cold chain, since 1989Up to 96hours
SafePack containers hold the temperature with no power supply, selected validated PCM configurations and test conditions30,000m²
Class A warehouse in VyrubovoWhat we ship and on which routes
Full-cycle international pharmaceutical logistics: from a single ampoule to a pallet, with the temperature mode maintained along the whole route.
Substances and finished medicinal products
Pharmaceutical substances and finished dosage forms from China to Russia. We ship temperature-sensitive cargo in our own SafePack thermal containers with temperature control along the whole route.
Medical and laboratory equipment
Production, laboratory and clinical equipment, reagents and consumables. Careful packing, insurance and turnkey customs clearance.
The China–Russia lane
Our main route: air freight from China with full customs clearance on our side. We work with temperature-sensitive cargo, including the +2…+8 °C temperature mode.
The UAE and the Gulf countries
The route via Dubai: our own presence in the UAE and production of SafePack thermal containers. A bridge between East and West for Gulf cargo.
Transit times for your route
The exact time depends on the direction, the temperature mode of the cargo and customs procedures — we calculate it individually for your route.
from 24 h
within Russia
Delivery within the country after customs clearance: from 24 hours in the western part of Russia and from 48 hours in other regions.
since 2013
own customs broker
We clear goods through customs ourselves: our own customs broker since 2013.
We do not promise transit times for Europe or for specific countries in advance — we give an honest estimate for your route and cargo.
International transit time depends on the direction, the cargo’s temperature mode and customs clearance.
How it works — turnkey
Five steps, all organised by us and under our control. You do not need to coordinate separate contractors.
1
Pickup from the sender
We collect the cargo from the supplier — in China, the UAE or another point of departure. We agree the documents and the temperature mode requirements.
2
Packing in SafePack and a logger
We pack the cargo in our own SafePack thermal container for the required mode and fit a SmartSensor logger: it records temperature, humidity, shocks and light along the whole route (the light reading shows whether the package was opened).
3
Air freight
We send the cargo by air along the chosen route. It travels with its temperature mode maintained, without external power — SafePack holds the mode on its own.
4
Customs clearance by our own team
We clear the cargo through customs ourselves: we have had our own customs broker since 2013. We take care of the clearance, the documents and communication with customs.
5
Door-to-door delivery
We deliver to your warehouse, production site or clinic. The SmartSensor record covers the route from pickup to hand-over; the temperature report is kept in the request card in your personal account (Files tab) once it is attached to the order.
Shipping medicines from China to Russia: steps and documents
We collect the cargo from the supplier, fly it in a thermal box, clear it in Russia and deliver it to you. The list of documents below is preliminary: requirements may change, and our customs department confirms the exact list.
How the process works
- A contract with the supplier (usually on EXW terms) and a contract with us.
- We check the documents before shipment. Until the customs clearance package is complete, we do not collect the cargo abroad — so you do not pay for idle time and penalties.
- We collect the cargo from the supplier, pack it in a thermal box with cool packs (with a logger if needed), handle the export formalities and send it by air.
- In Russia the cargo is received by a temporary storage warehouse and placed in a cold room. We file the declaration; duties and VAT are paid at the time of filing from BIOCARD’s unified customs account (ELS) — under the contract we can also pay from yours — and you reimburse them against a separate invoice with supporting documents; whether an advance is needed is set by the contract.
- After release we deliver to the BIOCARD warehouse or to you.
Documents usually required
- air waybill;
- invoice and packing list;
- description of the goods and HS code (TN VED) — the code is selected according to the description, composition and intended use of the goods and agreed when preparing customs clearance; a separate fee and time for code selection are not set by our procedure and, if needed, are defined in the contract, and responsibility for the description remains with the sender;
- contract and payment documents;
- permits, for example from the Russian Ministry of Health;
- safety data sheet (MSDS) for liquids and reagents;
- power of attorney to receive the cargo;
- for the first customs clearance — the company’s constituent documents.
Power of attorney — in advance
Without it the cargo will not be released from the temporary storage warehouse, and paid storage begins. This is the most common cause of delays.
Dangerous goods and dry ice
A safety data sheet and special marking are required for liquids and reagents, gas cylinders (even empty ones), batteries, magnets and electric motors. Cargo on dry ice is class 9, and we mark it too. For air transport, the IATA rules for each class apply.
Within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan) a customs declaration is, as a rule, not needed for the ordinary movement of EAEU goods, but tax, transport and permit requirements remain, and exceptions are possible for certain goods depending on the HS code — we check the code in advance. If you have already arranged the transport, we can do only the customs clearance. For the cost, request a quote: the exact figure is calculated by our international shipments department.
Why BIOCARD
Our own customs broker since 2013
Customs clearance is our in-house function. We deal with the border ourselves, with fewer intermediaries.
Our own SafePack thermal containers
We make the thermal containers ourselves — from ampoule size to pallet size. Modes from deep freezing to +25 °C; they hold the temperature without external power for up to 96 hours in selected validated PCM configurations under their specified test conditions. Registered as a medical device.
Our own SmartSensor logger
Our own Bluetooth logger records temperature, humidity, shocks and light — the light reading shows whether the package was opened. The battery lasts several years and does not need recharging. The data is read through a network of receivers in vehicles and warehouses, or with the app on a phone; the temperature report is kept in the request card in your personal account (Files tab) once it is attached to the order.
Everything our own — one point of contact
Thermal containers, loggers, a platform with a personal account, a warehouse, our own fleet and an in-house IT team. On a turnkey basis we take on as much of the logistics chain as possible with our own resources: one contract, one contact, one invoice for the whole chain.
Clinical trial experience
On the market since 1989; we have supported clinical trials since 2007 (our first project was with Novo Nordisk). We know pharma’s requirements for documents, temperature modes and deadlines.
Temperature recorded all the way
The sensor records the temperature along the whole route; the SafePack temperature report (PDF) is kept in the request card in your personal account (Files tab) once it is attached to the order. Transparent for audits and internal quality control.
What it looks like
A Class A warehouse, SafePack thermal containers, scanner-assisted receiving and a branded fleet — the whole chain in one pair of hands.
Trusted by
37 years
in pharmaceutical logistics — since 1989
since 2013
our own customs broker — we clear goods through customs ourselves
GDP + ISO
pharmaceutical licence for storing and transporting medicines, GDP and ISO standards
99 audits
We have been audited by leading companies in Russia and Europe — a list by date since 2018 →
“Strictly keeps to agreements… an expert in customs matters” — a recommendation of BIOCARD for international freight forwarding and customs clearance.
Biopharmrus LLC, Head of Foreign Trade Department · Podolsk, 30 July 2018
Among our clients:
Novo Nordisk, Astellas, Gedeon Richter, Lundbeck, Pharm-Sintez, Lancet, KRKA, Teva, Stada, Abbott, Sanofi
Frequently asked questions
What do you need to ship medicines internationally?
Four things: the storage conditions from the manufacturer’s documentation; customs documents — the contract, invoice, packing list, transport waybill and the registration certificate of the medicinal product; a carrier that maintains the temperature mode along the whole route; and customs clearance. We do all of this on a turnkey basis: we collect the cargo from the sender, carry it in a SafePack thermal container with a SmartSensor logger, clear it with our own customs broker and deliver it to the door.
Do you clear customs yourselves or through a contractor?
We do it ourselves. Customs clearance has been our in-house function since 2013. We organise pickup, air freight, customs clearance and door-to-door delivery and keep them under our control — one point of contact, one contract, one invoice.
Who pays customs duties and VAT on imports, and how are they reimbursed?
When the declaration is filed, we pay duties and VAT from BIOCARD’s unified customs account (ELS); under the contract we can also pay from the client’s ELS — Russian legal entities have one open by default. You reimburse these payments against a separate invoice with supporting documents (clause 1.2 of the General Terms of Service). Whether an advance is needed is set by the contract.
Do you pay for laboratory tests, certification and foreign payments on the client’s behalf?
Yes. On the client’s instruction we pay for laboratory tests, certification and payments to foreign counterparties. The costs are reimbursed as incurred, against supporting documents and on the terms of the contract.
How do you book air freight?
We book cargo capacity directly with airlines and with their official cargo agents. For each direction we choose the option with the best rate and a guaranteed booking.
Which routes do you cover for shipping medicines from China or the UAE to Russia?
Our main international lanes are China → Russia (substances, finished medicinal products, medical and laboratory equipment) and the UAE and the Gulf countries via Dubai, where we have our own presence and production of SafePack thermal containers. We calculate the specific route and timing for your task.
How do you maintain the temperature during international transport of medicines?
The cargo travels in our SafePack thermal container, which holds the required mode — from deep freezing to +25 °C — without external power for up to 96 hours in selected validated PCM configurations under their specified test conditions. A SmartSensor logger is placed inside: it records temperature, humidity, shocks and light along the whole route. The data is read through a network of receivers in vehicles and warehouses, and the SafePack temperature report (PDF) is kept in the request card in your personal account (Files tab) once it is attached to the order.
Which temperature modes are available?
The main modes are +2…+8 °C, +15…+25 °C, −20 °C and dry ice (−70 °C). On request we handle highly specialised tasks — for example +8…+15 °C, or shipping biomaterials in a Dewar vessel at −196 °C (liquid nitrogen). These are rare cases, and we discuss them individually.
Do you give transit times for Europe in advance?
We do not promise transit times for Europe or for specific countries in advance — we give an honest estimate for your route. The exact time depends on the direction, the temperature mode of the cargo and customs procedures. Within Russia, after customs clearance, delivery starts from 24 hours for the western part of the country and from 48 hours for other regions. Leave a request — we reply during business hours, usually within the working day, and calculate it for your task.
What are the typical air freight transit times?
As a guide, air freight on the China, UAE, Turkey and EAEU routes takes 2 to 5 days. This includes delivery with customs clearance in the country of departure. It is a guideline, not a promise: the exact time depends on the route, the flight schedule and how ready the documents are, and the specialist states the time for preparing the shipment, transport and customs clearance separately when quoting. We do not give transit times in advance for other directions or modes of transport.
What documents are needed to ship medicines from China to Russia?
Usually: an air waybill, an invoice and packing list, a description of the goods with the HS code (TN VED), the contract and payment documents, permits (for example from the Russian Ministry of Health), a safety data sheet for liquids and reagents and a power of attorney to receive the cargo; for the first customs clearance — the company’s constituent documents. The list is preliminary: requirements may change, and our customs department confirms the exact list.
Why is a power of attorney to receive the cargo important?
Without it the cargo will not be released from the temporary storage warehouse, and paid storage begins. This is the most common cause of delays, so it is best to prepare the power of attorney in advance.
What documents are needed to export medicines from Russia?
A preliminary set: the supply contract, an invoice or a pro forma invoice for a shipment free of charge, a packing list, a description and intended use of the goods, details of the sender and the recipient; for air shipments an air waybill is also prepared. Additionally, by cargo type: medicines — quality documents, details of registration, batch, expiry date and storage temperature, and permits and licences if they are required for the purpose of the shipment and by the countries of departure and destination; reagents — composition, CAS number, concentrations, safety data sheet and a description of the intended use; samples — description, quantity, purpose of shipment and value for customs purposes (“sample” status does not exempt the shipment from permit requirements); biomaterials — description and origin, purpose of shipment, infectious-substance classification and the necessary permits. We agree the customs clearance documents and the representative’s authority before dispatch; our customs department confirms the exact list.
Which documents are needed for dietary supplements?
As standard we ask for the contract and specification, the invoice, the packing list, a description and composition of the product, a quality document for the batch, the label, and details of the batches and expiry dates; the transport document is prepared according to the mode of transport. For commercial import into Russia for sale a valid state registration certificate (SGR) is required; we check the Russian-language label and the mandatory marking. For export, registration documents and certificates depend on the requirements of the destination country. For samples for registration and for shipments within the EAEU the set is agreed separately.
Can dry ice, biomaterials or lithium batteries be shipped by air?
Yes, but we check the requirements before booking: the airline and the terminal may set additional restrictions. Dry ice is class 9, UN1845: we agree the quantity with the airline, the packaging must let carbon dioxide escape, and every package must carry the UN1845 marking, the name Dry ice / Carbon dioxide, solid, the class 9 label and the net mass of dry ice; the air waybill states the number of packages and the mass of ice. Category B biomaterials (UN3373): triple packaging under PI650 and marking; a dangerous goods declaration is not required, and where dry ice is used its requirements are added. Category A (UN2814 and UN2900): packaging under PI620, the shipper’s declaration for dangerous goods and prior agreement on acceptance. The sender confirms the classification of the material. Lithium batteries in the cargo or in the client’s logger: we request the battery model and type, the quantity, the capacity in watt-hours or the lithium content, details of placement and the UN38.3 test summary.
What does “we take care of border formalities” mean?
We arrange the necessary customs and transit formalities along the agreed route: we prepare and submit the transport documents and the customs documents that are needed, work with the carrier and with customs representatives, and oversee the progress of the procedures. Before dispatch we check the documents and agree the scope of services and the costs. Permits, duties, fees and additional costs are included in the service only by agreement, and we do not guarantee that there will be no inspection or delays.
How long does customs clearance take?
By law, goods are released within four hours of the declaration being registered, but there are exceptions and extensions, and this is not the timeframe of the whole service: checking the documents, preparing the declaration, inspection and obtaining permits all need additional time. That is why we do not promise “clearance in four hours”. We state the time for preparing the shipment, transport and customs clearance when we quote, and we specify from which event it is counted and whether pickup, door-to-door delivery and obtaining permits are included.
What information do you need to quote an international shipment?
The departure address and the destination address; the Incoterms delivery terms; the preferred mode of transport; the date the cargo is ready and the desired delivery date; the name, composition and intended use of the cargo; the temperature mode; the HS code (TN VED), if you have it; the number of packages and the weight and dimensions of each package; requirements for packaging, thermal boxes and loggers. We will also ask for the value and currency of the cargo, the invoice and packing list, details of any hazardous components and the permits you already have, and who performs customs clearance. We calculate the cost and an estimated transit time once we have the data on the cargo and the route.
Who signs the documents, and is a contract with a customs representative required?
Documents are signed by the head of the organisation or by another representative with confirmed authority. The customs declaration is signed with an electronic signature by the declarant or by a customs representative acting on the declarant’s behalf. To clear goods through a customs representative, you need a contract with them or an existing contract that provides for them to perform customs operations; an instruction to a freight forwarder alone is not enough. The contract is made in writing — on paper or electronically with appropriate electronic signatures.
How is the HS code (TN VED) selected?
Based on the description, composition, properties and intended use of the goods; this may require technical documentation, a safety data sheet, quality documents, photographs and information from the manufacturer. We agree the code when preparing customs clearance; a separate fee and time for code selection are not set by our procedure and, if needed, are defined in the contract. The code we select is not a preliminary classification decision that is binding on customs.
Do you check cargo for dual-use goods?
Yes, free of charge: we agree the non-tariff regulation measures and check the permits. The goods are identified by the Russian participant in foreign trade: an HS code alone is not enough — the composition, characteristics, intended use and end user are looked at. Whether a licence or another permit is needed is decided after the goods are identified and the specific operation is checked. Questions about sanctions and a specific shipment are decided by the manager.
Do you import veterinary medicines and medicines for clinical trials into Russia?
Yes, we have handled such shipments; in customs clearance we act as a customs representative. We check the import conditions and documents and arrange the transport and customs clearance; support in obtaining permits is agreed for each specific shipment. For veterinary medicines we check the registration of the product or the legal basis for import, the importer’s right to import, whether a licence is needed, the permit of Rosselkhoznadzor (the Russian veterinary and phytosanitary supervision service) and the transport conditions. Medicines for clinical trials require a permit to conduct the trial and a Ministry of Health permit to import the specific batch; the quantities and names must match the permit.
Is an import permit needed in the destination country? What about Belarus and the EAEU?
The permit application is submitted by the local importer or consignee; we check the documents and, as an agreed service, arrange the preparation and support the process of obtaining the permit. For samples sent to the UAE we first determine the type of material, the purpose and the requirements of the competent authority: there is no single permit and no single list of documents for all samples. Belarus and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU): for the ordinary movement of EAEU goods a declaration is, as a rule, not needed, but tax, transport, permit and industry-specific requirements remain. For road imports into Russia that fall under the SPOT system, the Russian importer prepares in advance a document on the upcoming delivery (DOPP) and passes the QR code to the carrier; we can prepare it on the client’s behalf only if the authority and the service have been agreed separately. We check exceptions and conditions as of the delivery date.
Shipping medicines across the border?
We will quote turnkey international transport — air freight, our own customs clearance, a thermal container and a logger all the way. One point of contact from pickup to your door. We reply during business hours (Mon–Fri, 09:00–18:00 Moscow time), usually within the working day.
Get a quote and agree the next step
Send the origin and destination, cargo description, required temperature, piece count, actual weight and outer dimensions. You can ask a question or get an estimate before formal onboarding. The domestic delivery calculator uses the published Russian tariff; international routes, storage and special handling are quoted for the actual task.
Under the public transport offer, acceptance is signed through electronic document exchange before the first transport order. A registration link is then sent to the email in the acceptance, and orders are placed in the client account. If you have no electronic signature or need different contract terms, the manager agrees the contract route. Storage is arranged separately. How to start working with BIOCARD →
Equipment is selected for the cargo, route and conditions. The stated holding time of up to 96 hours applies to selected tested SafePack configurations; it is not a guarantee for every model, load or dry-ice shipment. The manager can provide the test report for the relevant model and range by email. Temperature reports in the client account are available once attached to the order.
Related services
Customs clearance
Customs declarations and document checks by BIOCARD’s own customs team, with an indicative clearance fee.
Temperature-controlled medicine delivery
Door-to-door courier delivery in SafePack thermal containers, with temperature logging and the published 2026 calculator.