A medication can be immobilized at a border while its temperature must remain within a specific range. This risk concerns both the integrity of the product, the documentary compliance (read the legal requirements of Swiss Medic) and the ability to deliver to the recipient according to the agreed conditions.
An international pharmaceutical shipment therefore requires a unique plan that connects the cold chain, Swiss customs and final delivery.
Why does Swiss pharmaceutical export require a cold chain and coordinated customs clearance?
Swiss exports of chemical and pharmaceutical products reached 152.1 billion CHF in 2025 [1]. They represented more than half of the country's exports. These volumes give a central place to the pharmaceutical logistics in Switzerland's international trade.
The cold chain and customs clearance depend on each other. An incomplete file can prolong the wait at the border. In the meantime, temporary storage, the operation of the refrigeration unit, monitoring, and the chain of custody must remain controlled.
Transportation, temperature monitoring, commercial documents customs declarations, and final delivery must form a single pathway. Each handover must have a designated responsible person, accessible instructions, and expected proof.
STAR Logistique specializes in the management of sensitive products, including pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, gourmet food and chemical products. The operational scope remains to be defined for each product, route, and destination.
Before booking transportation, confirm in writing the temperature range, route, customs responsibilities, and the identity of the final recipient.
The requirements of a pharmaceutical flow under controlled temperature
The cold chain organizes storage, preparation, transport, transfers, and delivery to maintain the defined conditions for the product. These conditions come from its specifications and cannot be deduced from its commercial category alone.
STAR Logistique communicates capacities for refrigerated transport from +2 °C to +5 °C and frozen transport down to −20 °C. These ranges must always be confirmed based on the product, packaging, expected duration, and instructions from the client.
Temperature, monitoring and proof of compliance
Temperature protocols cover the entire supply chain, from the receipt to the order preparation, then to the delivery. STAR Logistique uses monitoring systems to maintain the defined temperatures during these operations.
The monitoring must provide the evidence requested by the sender or the recipient. It is therefore necessary to specify before the pickup the frequency of readings, the format of records, the authorized persons who can access the data, and the applicable procedure in case of deviation.
Use this checklist before each departure:
- Defined temperature range based on the product specifications
- Thermal packaging or vehicle suitable for the journey
- Tracking device identified and correctly positioned
- Detection, reporting, and handling rules for deviations
- Chain of custody and responsible parties for each transfer
- Expected temperature records
- Loading, unloading, and waiting conditions
- Proof of delivery and any reservations
The presence of each item must be confirmed in the shipping instructions. The choice of vehicle, packaging, or tracking device depends on the assessed risk for the relevant flow.
Storage, preparation, and transfer between stakeholders
Controlled temperature storage must maintain the same conditions as transport. The receiving areas, storage locations, preparation spaces, and docks require instructions compatible with the product.
The WMS allows for real-time inventory control. This warehouse management system records movements and provides an operational view of the goods available.
The management of batches, dates, statuses, and traceability must be included in the specifications. It is necessary to specify the data to be recorded, the rules for releasing orders, and the handling of products placed on hold.
Each transfer constitutes a control point. Teams must know the expected time, the delivery area, the responsible person, the maximum allowed duration, and the proof to be retained. These rules also apply to operations carried out by a carrier, a warehouse, a customs broker, or a distributor.
When cross-docking reduces the dwell time
The cross-docking transfers goods from receiving to shipping with little or no intermediate storage. In a refrigerated environment, it can accelerate the delivery of medications by limiting the dwell time.
This option is suitable when the documents are ready, the slots are coordinated, and the next transport is confirmed. The stability of the product must also allow the operation under the planned conditions.
Uncertain customs clearance or an unplanned final delivery can negate the expected gain. A temporary storage solution that respects temperature and the chain of custody must then be provided.
Have the storage conditions, authorized transfers, and expected proofs validated in writing before departure.
Swiss customs: clearly allocate roles and documents
An international shipment can bring together several customs operations. Their distribution depends on the direction of the flow, the itinerary, the agreed Incoterm, and the contractual role of each party.
The customs broker or representative coordinates the formalities entrusted to them. The shipper, the importer, the declarant, and the tax representative must, however, know their responsibilities before pickup.
Export, import and transit
Export refers to the declared exit of the goods from the country of departure. It requires consistent information about the seller, the recipient, the product, its value, and its destination.
Import concerns the entry of the goods into the country of destination. It may involve document checks, authorizations, duties, VAT, and obligations specific to the importer.
Transit allows goods to cross a territory or move under a customs regime before their final clearance. It is necessary to define the opening point, the closing point, the documents, and the responsible party.
An error in any of these steps can disrupt the operational continuity. The transport plan must therefore link the customs status to the physical location of the goods and their storage conditions.
Documents, classification and applicable requirements
STAR Logistique handles the transport documents as well as the commercial invoices and pro forma necessary for customs clearance. The file may also include a customs declaration, product information, authorizations, and transit documents.
Before departure, check at a minimum:
- Concordance between the invoice and the goods
- Precise description of the product and its use
- Declared origin, value, and quantity
- Contact details of the sender, importer, and recipient
- Agreed Incoterm between the parties
- Proposed tariff classification
- Potentially applicable authorizations
- Documents related to transit
- Temperature and handling instructions
The tariff classification and permits must be verified for each shipment. A generic designation may be insufficient to determine the applicable formalities.
STAR Logistique also assists with the formalities related to authorizations, customs duties, and compliance with health and phytosanitary standards. The exact scope of this intervention must appear in the transport confirmation.
Duties, VAT, and tax representation
Customs duties and VAT depend in particular on the product, its classification, its origin, its value, and the destination. The parties must identify who bears the costs and who completes each formality.
The Swiss operations of import-export handled by STAR Logistique include the customs declarations, tax representation, customs clearance in Geneva, and integrated logistics. These services are to be confirmed according to the file and the commercial setup.
The responsibility for providing complete product data must be clearly assigned. The roles of the importer, the declarant, and the tax representative also require validation before departure.
Transmit the following information to the provider:
- Country of origin
- Commercial value
- Detailed description of the product
- Proposed tariff classification
- Agreed Incoterm
- Temperature requirements
- Identity and address of the recipient
- Available permits and authorizations
- Desired delivery date
An integrated logistics model, from reception to delivery
An integrated model connects each operation to the next. It prevents a transport from being booked before document validation, a shipment arriving without proper storage, or a recipient being unaware of their responsibilities.
The process can be organized as follows:
- Review of the product, corridor, temperature, and delivery constraints
- Verification of invoices, transport documents, authorizations, and customs data
- Pickup and inspection of the goods upon receipt
- Storage or order preparation if necessary
- Loading into the vehicle or confirmed transport unit
- International transport with defined tracking
- Export, transit, and customs clearance upon import
- Possible transfer to another carrier or site
- Delivery to the agreed recipient
- Confirmation of delivery and collection of requested evidence
Reception, storage, and order preparation
STAR Logistique propose storage under controlled temperature, cold chain management, and refrigerated cross-docking. The choice between storage and direct transfer depends on the documentation status, the next transport slot, and the product conditions.
Upon receipt, teams must verify the identity of the goods, the apparent condition of the packaging, and the applicable instructions. Any discrepancies must be recorded and directed to the person designated in the procedure.
Order preparation must follow the defined rules for quantities, references, and packaging. If the specifications require lot or date management, these parameters must be confirmed before stock integration.
International transport and border crossing
STAR Logistique' international services include full or partial freight, mail, urban distribution, and chartering. The appropriate mode must be chosen based on the stability of the product, volume, packaging, route, and customs requirements.
STAR Logistique serves Switzerland daily from international destinations and in the opposite direction. This overall capacity does not replace the validation of the corridor, vehicle, temperatures, and slots for a given shipment.
The border crossing must be prepared with the references of the documents, the contact details of the declarant, and the instructions in case of inspection. The driver or responsible party must know where to present the goods and who to contact if the operation takes longer than expected.
Final delivery and proof of delivery
The final delivery covers the route between the last logistics point and the designated recipient. The schedules, access conditions, the unloading equipment, and the identity of the authorized person must be included in the instructions.
The chain of custody only ends after the agreed handover. The proof may include the time, place, name of the recipient, the apparent condition of the packages, and any reservations made.
The transfer conditions and the delivery receipt are planned on a case-by-case basis. Request a written transport plan that designates the person responsible for each handover and each formality.
European coverage and expertise of STAR Logistique
STAR Logistique has over 38 years of expertise in logistics and transport and specializes in the cold chain and refrigerated transport. The company ensures the secure transport in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom.
This coverage supports the European pharmaceutical flows. Each request remains subject to validation of the departure city, destination, product, temperature range, and requested timeframe.
STAR Logistique also offers a cold e-logistics in Switzerland, France, and other European countries. This organization can link storage, order preparation, and distribution, subject to agreed parameters.
To qualify a corridor, communicate:
- Country and departure address
- Country and arrival address
- Nature and status of the product
- Temperature range
- Value of the goods
- Level of urgency
- Documentary requirements
- Need for storage or cross-docking
- Scope of final delivery
Corridors outside the documented European perimeter require a feasibility study. This preliminary check particularly concerns the flows with Canada and the United States.
FAQ on Swiss pharmaceutical corridors
STAR Logistique coordinates the temperature-controlled pharmaceutical transport between Germany and Switzerland, with tracking, document verification, and customs procedures for medicines, vaccines, samples, and laboratory products. The mode, temperature range, transfer of responsibility, documents, and final delivery must be confirmed before quoting.
Send to the STAR Logistique team the corridor, the product, the temperature, the value, the available documents, the Incoterm, and the desired date.
STAR Logistique coordinates the pharmaceutical transport between the UK and Switzerland, customs clearance, secure handling, and the final delivery for medications, vaccines, biological samples, and laboratory products sensitive to temperature. The mode of transport, the applicable range, responsibilities during transfers, export and import documents, as well as the delivery address are validated before commitment.
Send to the STAR Logistique team the corridor, the product, the temperature, the value, the available documents, the Incoterm, and the desired date.
STAR Logistique has documented coverage of secure transport in Spain and Switzerland. The route, mode, temperature, distribution of responsibilities, customs clearance, documents, and the scope of final delivery must be validated before the quote.
Send to the STAR Logistique team the corridor, the product, the temperature, the value, the available documents, the Incoterm, and the desired date.
STAR Logistique studies your temperature-controlled pharmaceutical transport needs between Canada and Switzerland. Depending on the type of medication, we check the conditions for air transport, maintenance of the cold chain, customs formalities, tracking of goods, and final delivery. Before providing you with a quote, we confirm the route, the temperature to be maintained, and the responsibilities of each party involved.
Send to the STAR Logistique team the corridor, the product, the temperature, the value, the available documents, the Incoterm, and the desired date.
The Switzerland–United States corridor requires validation before any commitment, as its operational perimeter is not generally confirmed. The study must cover the mode, temperature, transfers of responsibility, the formalities of both countries, the documents, and the final delivery.
Send to the STAR Logistique team the corridor, the product, the temperature, the value, the available documents, the Incoterm, and the desired date.
Start by defining the temperature range, the reception rules, the stock data, the mode of distribution, and the proof of delivery. Then confirm the responsibilities between the importer, the warehouse, the carrier, and the recipient, as well as the customs documents if the goods arrive from abroad.
Send to the STAR Logistique team the corridor, the product, the temperature, the value, the available documents, the Incoterm, and the desired date.
STAR Logistique has documented coverage of secure transport in Switzerland and Italy. The mode, temperature range, the transfer of responsibility, customs formalities, documents, and the final delivery perimeter must be confirmed according to the product.
Send to the STAR Logistique team the corridor, the product, the temperature, the value, the available documents, the Incoterm, and the desired date.
Didn’t find the answer suitable for your flow? Contact us.
In summary
An international pharmaceutical flow relies on three coordinated decisions:
- Define the temperature conditions and the expected proofs before departure
- Assign customs responsibilities and prepare consistent documents
- Combine storage, transport, transfers, and the final delivery into a single plan
STAR Logistique combines cold chain, warehousing, order preparation, cross-docking, and customs support according to the documented needs of the flow. The scope is confirmed after studying the product, the corridor, and the delivery requirements.
Plan your international pharmaceutical flow
Prepare the origin, destination, nature of the product, the temperature range, volume, value, Incoterm, available documents, deadline, and contact details of the final recipient. This information allows for feasibility studies without assuming the timeline, the availability of the corridor, or applicable regulatory requirements.