# Pharma logistics

> Pharma logistics is the term we use for storing, transporting and delivering medicinal products and other pharma-sector goods, such as promotional material and supplies for patients.

Original page: https://t10.de/en/glossary/pharma-logistics
Publisher: total10 GmbH, https://t10.de/en/glossary

This is not a legal term. The [EU GDP guidelines](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52013XC1123(01)) speak of wholesale distribution instead, quoting its definition from Article 1(17) of Directive 2001/83/EC: all activities consisting of procuring, holding, supplying or exporting medicinal products, apart from supplying them to the public. Their glossary defines transport as moving medicinal products between two locations without storing them for unjustified periods of time. The GDP definition covers the supply chain stages from the manufacturer's site to the pharmacy or person authorised or entitled to supply medicinal products to the public.

Two points in the guidelines are relevant to logistics providers. First, the introduction says other parties involved in distribution should follow relevant sections, without saying which. Second, section 1.3 says the quality system should extend to the control and review of outsourced activities. Chapter 7 adds that these should be correctly defined, agreed and controlled, and that the contract giver is responsible for the activities contracted out. A transport contract with a third party should include the requirements of Chapter 7.

One of our long-standing customers is a pharma logistics provider. We have seen proofs of delivery arrive from several carriers in different formats, leaving someone to re-type the data into the next system. Our software for such cases connects to the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system or WMS already in place.

## See also

- [GDP](https://t10.de/en/glossary/gdp): Good distribution practice (GDP) is the part of quality assurance which ensures that the quality of medicinal products is maintained throughout all stages of the supply chain.
- [Business application](https://t10.de/en/glossary/business-application): In general terms, a business application is software used to perform or support business functions.
- [WMS](https://t10.de/en/glossary/wms): WMS stands for warehouse management system; according to the short description of VDI 3601, its task is to manage and optimise a company's internal storage and transport systems.

## Where the term appears

- [Proof of delivery in pharma logistics: matched to the client, searchable in a portal](https://t10.de/en/blog/pod-handling-pharma-logistics)
- [Out of the inbox: a knowledge platform for a pharma logistics provider](https://t10.de/en/blog/knowledge-platform-pharma)
- [Pharma IT services: Non-GxP software](https://t10.de/en/pharma)
- [Non-GxP in pharma: what we build, what we leave out and where our systems stop](https://t10.de/en/blog/non-gxp-pharma-logistics)
- [Ordering promotional material without losing control](https://t10.de/en/blog/promo-material-ordering-pharma)
- [Stock alerts in pharma logistics: the customer asked for a web shop. We thought it through.](https://t10.de/en/blog/stock-alerts-pharma)
- [Bespoke software & business apps with Symfony](https://t10.de/en/symfony-development)
- [About us: two founders, one team, two worlds](https://t10.de/en/about-us)

## Sources

1. [Leitlinien vom 5. November 2013 für die gute Vertriebspraxis von Humanarzneimitteln (2013/C 343/01)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52013XC1123(01)), Amt für Veröffentlichungen der EU (EUR-Lex), accessed 2026-11-06