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Pharmacists double-check airports’ numbers
[ December 10, 2014 // Chris ]A recent conference on Good Distribution Practice (GDP) for pharmaceuticals in the aviation Industry at Schiphol airport underscored the importance of data integrity for quality managers and the lack of data quality at some airports.
Schiphol Cargo hosted the conference, in close cooperation with DARQA (Dutch Association of Research Quality Assurance Professionals) and Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo’s Product Market Group Pharmaceutical Logistics. It was attended by high-ranking delegates from DARQA, IATA, the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate, Dutch Customs, pharmaceutical shippers, Air France-KLM-Martinair Cargo and Schiphol Cargo.
The event examined GDP Guidelines both in theory and practice, highlighting anomalies such as the lack of a clear definition of storage, and the fact that the Healthcare Inspectorate is only responsible for inspection of parties holding a wholesale-license, so airlines and airports are not subject to its scrutiny.
DARQA stressed the strong need for validation of IT systems as performed by its members, and recommended that carriers should avoid airports which do not provide acceptable data quality.
Schiphol Cargo’s pharma logistics expert, Bart Pouwels said: “The event provoked valuable discussion, with opportunities for shippers and the industry to voice their views and achieve better mutual understanding. The all-important networking process has now started.”