LtoR: Maurice Meade, Managing Director – DHL Global Forwarding, Ireland, John Whelan, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association, Michelle O’Toole, DHL GDP Champion, Dublin, Declan Costelloe, DHL GDP Champion, Shannon Sarah McNamara, DHL GDP Champion, Cork, Pat O'Loughlin, Director Life Sciences,  Irish Exproters Association

Award of Good Distribution Practice (GDP) presented to DHL Global Forwarding

The IEA Life Sciences Ireland this week awarded the GDP Passport status in Good Distribution Practice for the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry to DHL Global Forwarding in a ceremony at DHL’s facility in St. Margaret’s, North County Dublin.

“Attaining the GDP Passport demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Life Sciences sector as we work closely with manufacturers to ensure that all of the required controls are in place and constantly monitored throughout the supply chain”, explained Maurice Meade, Managing Director Ireland of DHL Global Forwarding. “The DHL Global Forwarding team has embraced the GDP training and we have built an intrinsic GDP competence throughout the business”, the MD said.

John Whelan, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association, at the award presentation stressed the key strategic importance of the pharmaceutical and medical devices sector to the Irish economy and said;
"The Life-Sciences industry is now the largest and fastest growing export sector, accounting for in excess of 50 % of total merchandise exports in 2009.To ensure the on-going success of this major manufacturing export sector, we need high quality logistics companies such as DHL Global Forwarding supporting the industry right across the supply chain.The IEA GDP Passport holders are stakeholders in the Pharmaceutical / Medical Device Manufacturing and Distribution business sectors who display the most advanced expertise in supply chain security and safety, offering a complete professional supply chain service both in Ireland, Europe and Internationally for pharmaceutical and medical devices products .’’

The GDP Passport Code of Practise was drawn up by the Life Sciences industry and the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) in consultation with the Irish Medical Board (IMB) to meet the requirements as set out in both the IMB's GDP Guidelines and the requirements set out by EU Guidelines. The GDP Code will bring Ireland to the highest standard required by the highly regulated pharmaceutical and medical devices global industry. As stated by Dr. P.J. Fitzpatrick "initiatives like the IEA GDP Passport help Ireland to position itself as a leading global hub for manufacturers of pharmaceutical products and/or medical devices."

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For Further information on IEA LIFE SCIENCES IRELAND

Contact Mr. Raul Molina, Life Sciences Ireland Manager, e-mail:raulmolina@irishexporters.org phone number: +00353 (0)1 661 2182
Or Patrick O Loughlin, Life Sciences Ireland Director; email; loughin@eircom.net


Media contact at DHL:

Teresa Tyrrell, DHL Global Forwarding
Tel.: 086 0204389 EMail: Teresa.Tyrrell@dhl.com


About DHL – The Logistics company for the world
DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 300,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of more than 46 billion euros in 2009.