2009
Today DB Schenker were awarded the Life Sciences GDP Passport by the Irish Exporters Association (IEA), which marks another key step in supporting pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturers to expand trade securely and efficiently from Ireland.
Ireland is one of the leading international locations for the manufacture of pharmaceutical and medical devices product and generates over 50% of merchandise exports, making Ireland the largest net exporter of medicines globally. Ireland is home to 13 of the top 15 companies in the world and manufactures 9 of the world’s top 15 medicines. In 2008 there were over 24,500 people employed in the sector producing exports of over €44 billion. Globally the sector has been expanding by 5-6% per annum since the turn of the decade, and last year recorded global sales of US $745 billion. By comparison exports of Life Sciences products from Ireland have more doubled in the same time frame and now account for 9% of global sales.
Michael Bennett, Life Sciences Ireland regional chairman stated at the presentation of the IEA Life Sciences GDP Passport to DB Schenker ;
‘’For any pharmaceutical and biotech/medical devices manufacturer, the safe and effective distribution of their products to the ultimate patient is crucial. This represents a significant challenge for manufacturers and their logistics partners, since the life sciences sector also has to operate with very heavily regulated legislation, not least of which is the increasing requirement for an international temperature controlled supply chain.
Hence, DB Schenker management and staff are to be congratulated on completing all the necessary training and meeting all the premises and equipment inspection standards to enable the Life Sciences Ireland GDP Passport to be issued.’’
The International regulatory bodies such as the World Health Organisation, the EU and the Irish Medicines Board have indicated the need for guidance on best distribution practices for pharmaceutical and medical devices products. These can generally be summarized as laying down requirements for the supply chain service providers to ensure the management of the following:
· Quality systems, organizations and personnel, in the supply chain.
· Premises and storage areas for life sciences products.
· Transport vehicles, external packaging and shipping practices for movement of life sciences products.
· Temperature controlled transport handling and dispatch areas, as well as temperature mappings to verify compliance in the supply chain.
· Counterfeit identification and prevention in the supply chain.
· Exports/imports and sub-supply routings approval processes.
Life Sciences Ireland was established by the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) two years ago to address these issues and to develop and deliver training for the logistics, transport and storage industry; In the process ensuring that the manufacturers in the sector in Ireland could lead the way in ensuring a regulated, safe and efficient supply chain system for their products through the international markets and on to the consumer in those markets.
Michael Bennett, regional chairman of Life Sciences Ireland, and associate director at Pfizer, Grange Castle stated at the presentation of the GDP Passport to DB Schenker;
‘’The IEA Life Sciences Ireland consulted with the Irish Medicine Board during the process of developing the GDP Code and welcome their input and support for this Code. We are confident that the Code and the training practices that go with it, will help to ensure that Ireland remains the preferred location for Life Sciences companies to develop, manufacture and distribute their products internationally from.’’
About DB Schenker;
DB Schenker is a world-class global freight forwarding and logistics solutions provider, using innovation, vision, technology and quality people to deliver the highest possible standards on a value for money and profitable basis.
In addition to the Life Sciences GDP Passport, DB Schenker has been awarded Certificate of Registration of Quality System to IS.EN.ISO 9001:2000 and Environmental Management System IS.EN.ISO 14001:2004.
EQA (Ireland) Limited certifies that DB Schenker in Ireland has been assessed and is in compliance with the provisions of the above standard in respect of the scope of operations of Freight Forwarding and Logistics and is included in the EQA directory of certificated organisations.
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For Further Information contact;
John Whelan
Irish Exporters Association
087 9271243
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