Girteka Logistics has successfully passed the fifth annual Good Distribution Practise (GDP) audit, scoring 96.45% following an independent assessment. The certificate will allow Girteka Logistics to continue carrying cargo for our pharmaceutical customers, an important part of the company‘s business. Obtaining GDP certification means that the road freight transport provider meets the minimum standards to ensure that the quality and integrity of medicines are maintained throughout the supply chain.
“The fact that Girteka Logistics has managed to pass its fifth annual GDP audit with little-to-no issues just showcases how well we have developed our pharmaceutical supply chain solutions. While we always aim to go the extra mile for our customers, such audits showcase that our foundations for our processes to carry pharmaceutical products are in great shape,” comments on the audit Pavel Kveten, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the European Business Unit.
According to the auditor‘s final report, Girteka Logistics cleared 112 of the requirements to acquire the certificate. Nevertheless, per the conclusion, the score was “excellent and no further action, such as a Non-Conformance Report (NCR), is needed,” making Girteka Logistics perfectly compliant with GDP requirements.
The certificate is the basis of not only transporting but also storing pharmaceuticals for human and animal use. According to European Union (EU) guidelines, compliance with GDP ensures that the pharmaceuticals that are transported are authorized for use within the bloc, are stored in the right conditions at all times, including during the transportation process. Furthermore, contamination has to be avoided and the right products have to reach the right location within a satisfactory period.
While per the EU guidelines the distributor has to ensure the quality of the services it dedicates to third parties, the third party that handles any of the distribution procedures should “have adequate premises and equipment, procedures, knowledge and experience, and competent personnel to carry out the work ordered by the contract giver.” Having an independent party verify that Girteka Logistics’ pharmaceutical distribution practices are compliant with GDP procedures assures that the company can offer its customers the right conditions to ensure the safety and quality of their pharmaceutical products while they are transported on the road.
Overall, the road transport company’s final score was 96.45%, up from last year’s result of 94.33%. The certificate affirms that Girteka Logistics can organize international and domestic road freight transport of controlled temperature (from -25 to 25 °C) of medicinal products.
“Our continuous improvement in the carriage of pharmaceuticals showcases that we truly strive to be the obvious first choice for our customers, as we constantly look for ways to improve our road freight transport solutions,” concludes Kveten. The certificate will be valid until September 2023, allowing the company to continue perfecting its pharma transport solutions.
Throughout 2020, more than 4% of the company’s total Full Truck Loads (FTL) were involved in transporting pharmaceutical products, as Girteka Logistics continued to grow its fleet and the number of annual FTLs.
Girteka Logistics is the largest European asset-based transportation company, transporting more than 820,000 full truck loads every year. The company grew from 600 trucks in 2010 to 9,000 trucks in Europe, Scandinavia, and CIS countries by 2021. With more than 20,000 professional employees, Girteka Logistics is a leading transportation company chosen by the largest global brands.