How do I pack my medicines for shipment?

The transportation of medicines is an area of logistics that requires special attention. Methods indicating how to pack medicines include the use of foil packs, thermal packaging and cardboard boxes. The transport of medicines also requires appropriate temperatures in the transport compartments. Manufacturers, distributors and carriers are also bound by strict regulations related to the transport of pharmaceutical products.

Can pharmaceutical products be sent in a parcel?

In the case of international transport, the carriage of prescription drugs is prohibited. The shipment of medicines (especially prescription medicines), may have legal consequences. The Ministry of Health in Poland regularly publishes a list of pharmaceutical products that cannot be exported abroad by courier without the appropriate authorisation. Such actions are often associated with the risk of high financial penalties for the sender.

Most national carriers include in their regulations that the sender sends these products at their own risk. In the event that a package is damaged or lost, there is no possibility of compensation under a claim.

The shipment of pharmaceutical products in parcels should follow the appropriate standards and procedures. The dispatch of medicines by courier by private individuals requires the protection of the goods inside. It is most important that the vials of medicines are not damaged. Medicines should be provided with appropriate conditions for the duration of transport. Most chemicals can react to sudden temperature changes. This results in damage to the medicine and it will not be fit for consumption.

Some medicines may be considered as hazardous products. If this is the case, it is necessary to use special methods to secure the items during transport. You can read more about shipping dangerous goods on our blog.

Conditions for transporting drugs in Poland – key information

Many transport companies in Poland provide services for the transport of medicines. Before sending a parcel, it is worth knowing how to pack medicines. Some pharmaceuticals need to be transported and stored at appropriate temperatures and humidity. The biggest logistical problem for transporting medicines is maintaining the so-called cold supply chain. Some prescription drugs need to be transported at a temperature of between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. Without a modern fleet of vehicles, it is virtually impossible to realise safe transport.

Depending on the category of medicinal products, they can also be transported in temperature ranges of 8 to 15 and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. Maintaining such values in the transport chambers is less of a problem.

The manufacturer, distributor and transporter are responsible for the proper transport of medicines in Poland. Sanitary services and pharmaceutical companies control how pharmaceuticals are transported. In the course of any inspection, the transport temperature, air humidity and the way the goods are secured during transit are checked.

Note: According to the regulations on the transport of medicines in Poland, medicinal products may not be stored in transshipment chambers for longer than 36 hours. It is also a requirement that medicines must be transported in original and tightly sealed packages or master cartons.

What operating materials should be used to pack medicines?

The following can be used to pack medicines: packing tape, foil pack s, cardboard boxesas well as bubble envelopes. Manufacturers and wholesalers should know how to ship medicines in accordance with current regulations. It is also crucial that pharmaceutical products are properly protected. Any damage or even UV exposure to medicines can adversely affect the ingredients in them. How do you ensure that your warehouse staff can pack medicines for shipment quickly, conveniently and safely? Simply use:

• Isothermal packaging – a good way to protect medicines from temperature changes. The isothermal interior of the box allows the package to maintain a uniform temperature even outside the refrigerated compartment.
• Packaging for the transport of dangerous goods – are essential when shipping medicines with a high content of chemicals in the formulation. Boxes in this category are usually covered with kraft paper and fitted with a PE foil bag. Even if a medicine vial is damaged, its contents will not leak out of the packaging.
• Bubble envelopes – created for transporting small medicines sensitive to mechanical damage. Glass vials and bottles can be inserted into the cushioning envelope.
• Parcel fillers – useful for filling empty spaces in cardboard packaging. The filler can be used to immobilise medicines inside the pack, which reduces the risk of damage, e.g. during transport on bumpy roads.

Knowing how to pack medicines is useful for both manufacturers and stockists responsible for packaging pharmaceuticals. A particularly useful operating material is adhesive tape. It can prevent substances from leaking out of packages. Warning labels are essential for shipping medicines. The packaging of medicines involves a lot of formalities and the observance of appropriate transport conditions. The same applies to the rules for shipping by air – we have covered this topic in more depth on our blog.

Correct labelling of the finished shipment is a guarantee for the safe transport of medicines. In this way, you can inform the courier of the required transport temperature or the need for special care.

How much does it cost to send medicines by courier?

Shipping medicines by courier is significantly more expensive than standard shipments. Maintaining a cold supply chain is quite a challenge for the shipping company. For this reason, the unit price of shipping a parcel of medicines can reach up to several hundred PLN. Transport companies most often do not ship pharmaceuticals on behalf of private individuals. Transit services for dangerous goods and medicines are mainly addressed to manufacturers and distributors. To find out the exact cost of transporting pharmaceuticals, it is enough to contact the transport company. Unfortunately, not all hauliers are able to provide a cold supply chain. This requires a modern fleet of refrigerated vehicles, which generate significantly higher freight costs.

How do you ship medicines to maintain maximum safety?

Proven tips on how to pack medicines abound. The key is to use thermal cardboard packaging, bubble wrap and fillers. Manufacturers and carriers can also use bubble envelopes. This is a good way to protect fragile vials, such as vaccines.

You can read a little more about secure operating materials in the blog: Types of secure envelopes that your company should not be without.

The transport of medicines by courier is necessary to transport pharmaceuticals from manufacturers to points of sale and onward distribution. Courier companies are contractually obliged to maintain a cold supply chain, while manufacturers are obliged to secure medicines for transit. Only when medicines are transported in proper conditions is there no risk of them losing their properties or becoming damaged.