Awards of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)presented to Expeditors

The IEA Life Sciences Ireland on the 4thth October 2010 awarded the GDP Passport status in Good Distribution Practice for the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry to Expeditors in a ceremony at Expeditors facility in Dublin.

Speaking at the presentation, Expeditors chief executive Greg Lewis stated ;

"Expeditors are delighted to have completed successfully all phases of the GDP Passport programme and to receive the prestigious GDP Passport from the IEA Life Sciences Ireland. Expeditors recognise that cost effective, innovative and compliant supply chain solutions are critical to companies operating in the Life Sciences Sector and that the GDP Passport will help to ensure that the logistics sector is well equipped to support Life Sciences manufacturing companies into the future."

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 economic downturn of the last two years has also made Ireland a much more competitive location for manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceutical and medical devices products . The investment history from the pharmaceutical sector going back over 30 years has been supported by excellence in supply chain management and has led to Ireland’s leading reputation for pharmaceutical investment globally.

The GDP Passport programme will ensure skilled supply chain personnel and facilities will continue to support more investment in the sector over the next decade."

He went on to say;

"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."


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


For further details on Expeditors service to export industry , please see www.expeditors.com , for facilities in Dublin , Cork , and Shannon.