http://www.abrbuzz.co.za JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2018 5
Over the past ten years, the Imperial Logistics bonded warehouse, located in Centurion, has operated within the Medicines Control
Council (MCC) license exclusions, which restricted the warehousing activities to certain donated antiretrovirals. “Following the recent
lifting of these restrictions by the MCC, the revised license will extend the benefi ts of our model. This will enable Imperial Logistics to
provide additional services to our clients and optimally serve the patients across the continent, whether through commercial, donor-
funded or government channels,” says healthcare strategy executive, Dr Iain Barton. The Imperial Logistics warehouse is currently one
of only two pharmaceutical bonded facilities in South AfricaO
utlining the function and
benefits of a bonded
warehouse, Dr Barton
explains: “Also known as a
customs and excise warehouse, a bonded
facility enables companies to import and
store products destined for exportation
without declaring or clearing them
through customs or paying import duties
and levies.” He expands, adding that this
process is managed through the South
African Revenue Service (SARS).“In the case of healthcare products, these
do not attract duties and levies, but the
MCC of South Africa and regulatory
authorities around the world do not allow
the importation of unregistered products
into their respective countries. Imperial
Logistics’ pharmaceutical bonded facility
in Centurion, which is registered with SARS
and the MCC, enables our pharmaceutical
industry partners to easily and effi ciently
import products that are unregistered in South Africa, and to store
these, on condition that the products will be exported and are
not for local consumption.” Dr Barton notes that pharmaceuticals
and medical device products unregistered in South Africa may be
stored in Imperial Logistics’ bonded facility for six months, which
can be extended for an additional three months at a time at the
discretion of SARS.
In addition to the facility in South Africa, Imperial Logistics has
another pharmaceutical bonded warehouse located in Tema, Ghana,
which was launched in 2006. “Imperial Logistics’ strategically
placed bonded pharmaceutical facilities deliver signifi cant benefi ts
for our healthcare partners. They provide the ability to keep stock
as close to the point of consumption as possible, which reduces
procurement/order-delivery lead times and ensures that patients
have uninterrupted access to life-saving medication,” says
Dr Barton.For Imperial Logistics’ healthcare clients, the bonded warehouses
will improve and accelerate distribution and offer cost
benefi ts. “The bonded facilities will enable our clients’ products
to reach patients faster, and provide for medicines and healthcare
products to be delivered more cost-eff ectively. They allow for
the consolidation of products with similar packaging for smaller
markets, which is not registered in South Africa, as well as for
late nationalisation of pharmaceutical products.” Barton says
that, because of the license, Imperial Logistics’ clients will be ableto manage Portuguese packs from South Africa to Angola and
Mozambique, French packs to French-speaking Africa, and Arabic
packs to the Middle East.Barton elaborates: “Using the South African bond store as a
route-to-market, our pharmaceutical partners are able to supply
Southern Africa countries (that have shorter registration periods)
with new products while the product is still in the registration
process in South Africa.”“Our pharmaceutical bonded warehouses reflect Imperial
Logistics’ well-earned reputation as Africa’s ing healthcare
supply chain partner, and our commitment to constantly expand
our diverse capabilities and solutions in order to enhance access
to products and enable our clients’ growth,” Dr Barton concludes.Imperial Logistics was Recently Awarded a
Revised License for their Pharmaceutical Bonded
Warehouse in Centurion, South Africa
LOGISTICALLY SPEAKING