Those in the pharmaceutical industry will no doubt know how important it is to ensure that medication is kept to a certain temperature – and tertiary packaging, as well as secondary, is essential in this regard.
If products overheat or are exposed to incorrect temperatures, decomposition of the drug can occur, which can limit their effectiveness and potentially put lives at risk. But this can be difficult to control during the logistics and supply chain process, with products being transported from one facility to another.
Warehouses need to make sure that the indoor temperature is qualified based on a series of tests so if there are any areas of susceptibility where the temperature could fluctuate to dangerous levels, action can be taken. These tests need to be taken when the warehouse is empty and also when it’s fully stocked with products in order for approval to be granted.
Once approval has been given, it’s essential that the warehouse is constantly monitored to ensure that the correct temperature is maintained at all times. Luckily, there are devices that can be purchased these days that will sound an alarm if the temperature reaches a particular point.
There also need to be processes and procedures in place so that action can be taken if something unexpected happens, which could be anything from an extreme weather event to equipment failure. Carrying out risk assessments is essential in this regard.
As hard as it may be to maintain temperature control in a warehouse, transportation of medication can be even more difficult. The weather, the possibility of accidents on the road and so on can all have an impact on the effectiveness of the medication once it reaches its end destination.
Tests are carried out on shipments to make sure that the packaging is able to maintain the correct temperatures. Where pallets are concerned, there are also strict tests involved, carried out during both the summer and winter months to ensure that the vehicle being used is able to transport the products safely.
It is the responsibility of the drug manufacturer to ensure that all parties involved in the transportation of products understand the necessary conditions for moving goods. While we’re still in the EU, it would be wise to have a look at this directive covering medicinal products for human use if you’d like to find out more about production and distribution.
And if you’d like to find out more about the packaging of pharmaceutical products, get in touch with us at KFM Co-Packer. We provide a quality-driven range of repackaging services for this particular sector and we’re able to provide a very flexible service, whether you need something for big commercial volumes or smaller niche drugs.