The import of medicines within the EU on the basis of intra-Community trade in goods is a proven practice for ensuring the availability of high-quality medicines at favorable conditions:
Wholesalers and parallel distributors are subject to strict regulatory monitoring by the competent state supervisory authorities. Our processes comply with the relevant EU directives, known as Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP) and Good Distribution Procedures (GDP).
German legislation promotes the sale of EU imported medicines through a so-called “import quota.” This requires pharmacies to sell at least 5% of their turnover as imported medicines, thereby realizing cost savings for health insurance companies.
Identical medicines have different prices across Europe. Parallel distribution takes advantage of this pricing structure of international pharmaceutical companies, making medicines more affordable and thus thereby strengthening the EU healthcare system.
The production of medicines is by now largely international. A small number of production sites supply various national markets. Parallel-distributed medicines originate from identical production. They therefore correspond to the brand-name product of the patent holder and are therapeutically identical.
Imported medicines come exclusively from EU countries (no so-called third countries). The parallel import of medicines is based on the core idea of the EU: the removal of trade barriers and the free movement of goods between member states as a means of creating a single economic area in Europe.
Imported medicines are only adapted to comply with the local labeling regulations of the respective destination country.
Product labeling is adapted within the framework of validated processes and is subject to strict internal controls as part of a quality management system.
Drug safety is a top priority and is central to the commercial success of parallel trade. Drugs are sourced exclusively from reliable, qualified, and state-monitored drug wholesalers.
As a special commodity, pharmaceuticals require modern, specialized logistics due to their sensitive temperature control requirements. International transport within the EU is as unproblematic as domestic transport under controlled conditions.
“Parallel imports” are branded products manufactured in other EU countries that are then imported in parallel with the brand manufacturer. The rarer “re-imports” are branded products manufactured in Germany that are first exported to another EU country and then re-imported.