Cold-chain best practices for international pharmaceutical shipments

Logistics  ·  5 min read

Plan around the product

Every cold-chain shipment should start with the product’s storage conditions, stability data and allowable excursions. These define the packaging, the maximum transit time and the monitoring required.

Packaging and monitoring

• Use validated packaging qualified for the expected ambient profile and duration
• Pre-condition coolants exactly as specified by the packaging supplier
• Place calibrated data loggers inside the payload, not just on the outside
• Label clearly with storage conditions and “do not freeze” warnings where relevant

Route and partners

• Prefer direct flights and pharma-certified handling at both airports
• Avoid weekend and holiday arrivals when customs and cold storage may be unavailable
• Confirm cold-storage capacity at the destination before dispatch
• Pre-clear customs documents to minimise time on the tarmac

When something goes wrong

Have an excursion procedure ready: quarantine the product, retrieve the logger data, contact the manufacturer with the temperature profile and obtain a documented decision on release or rejection. Never release a product after an excursion without a documented assessment.