French logistics service provider Geodis has obtained GDP accreditation in China as the company ramps up its services to meet the demands of the growing healthcare market.

The forwarder said the accreditation underscores its commitment to ensuring the quality and integrity of pharmaceutical products during transport, citing how COVID-19 exposing the emerging risks and weaknesses of the industry’s supply chain.

The implications of the accreditation are extensive, given the stringent requirements published by the Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2013, the company noted. The GDP certification requires comprehensive audits of operational procedures in warehouses, ensuring they are compliant with the highest industry standards to handle pharmaceutical products.

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“This GDP accreditation demonstrates our continued dedication to providing industry-leading solutions and services in every aspect to meet the high standards set by China’s Ministry of Health,” said Onno Boots, president and CEO for Asia Pacific at Geodis.

The forwarder said it is also in the process of obtaining certification from the IATA Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) for its operations in India, Korea, Thailand and Singapore.