A medication must reach its recipient without breaking temperature, loss of traceability, or weakness of control. Each transfer, warehouse passage, and customs procedure (read Passar 2026) can affect its integrity if responsibilities remain unclear.
The Swiss pharmaceutical sector represents over 118.4 billion CHF, of which 80.3 billion is traded with the EU (including chemicals).
For flows between Geneva, Switzerland, France, and the European Union, the choice of logistics partner therefore requires concrete evidence.
Why this choice impacts the integrity of pharmaceutical products
A pharmaceutical warehousing and distribution partner coordinates storage, order preparation, transport, and visibility of movements, from receipt to delivery. Its role is to maintain the defined conditions for the products throughout this journey. Galenica, for example, uses a storage at -80°C for certain oncology medications from Alloga.
Storage capacity alone is not enough to establish this capability. It is also necessary to examine the infrastructure, the continuity of the cold chain, security procedures, traceability, and the skills mobilized for regulated operations.. Swissmedic conducted 88 GMP/GDP inspections for 2025 demonstrating the importance of compliance of establishments.
This evaluation takes on a particular dimension in Switzerland. The flows from Geneva to France or other European Union countries can involve storage, international transport and customs formalities. A provider of warehousing and distribution services in Switzerland must demonstrate how these steps remain coordinated.
Before entrusting your products, transform each expectation into a verifiable criterion and request the documents that prove the announced operational capacity.
The criteria to verify before selecting a Swiss partner
What should be verified before choosing a partner Swiss warehousing and pharmaceutical distribution ? Compare the documented elements, applicable procedures, and contractual responsibilities rather than general promises.
The WMS (warehouse management system) is software that tracks and manages the movements of stock. Ask what data it records, who can access it, and how the provider handles discrepancies.
The evidence to request before any decision
🎯 Criterion
📄 Justification
❓ Question
📋 STAR Logistique Evidence
🎯 Storage Conditions
📄 Mapping of areas, temperature ranges and access controls
❓ Which areas correspond to the conditions of my products?
📋 Modular climate-controlled zones in Geneva
🎯 Continuity of the cold chain
📄 Receiving, preparation and delivery procedures
❓ How do you maintain the temperature at each transfer?
📋 Maintaining the cold chain from reception to delivery
🎯 Traceability
📄 Demonstration of the WMS and available movement data
❓ How do you track inventory and associated movements?
📋 WMS ensuring complete traceability
🎯 Coverage Switzerland–EU
📄 Map of countries, modes of transport and responsibilities
❓ Which routes do you manage directly or with partners?
📋 Switzerland and several European markets
🎯 Customs
📄 Description of formalities and role distribution
❓ Who prepares, verifies and transmits the customs documents?
📋 Customs broker in Geneva
🎯 Security
📄 Access controls, monitoring and incident procedure
❓ How do you protect stored and transported products?
📋 Continuously secured facilities
🎯 Regulatory competencies
📄 Valid certificates, training matrix and quality documentation
❓ What qualifications precisely cover my flow?
📋 ADR and IATA certifications of personnel
Also ask for the temperature deviation management procedure, the service levels, escalation contacts, and the ability to absorb load variations. Clarify the cost of each component of the service and the contractual exclusions.
Each criterion must correspond to an operational proof, a defined responsibility, and accessible documentation.
The operational capabilities to look for in a pharmaceutical partner
After this verification, the published capabilities of a provider allow for assessing its suitability with your products and your routes. STAR Logistique serves as a documented example for operations from Geneva to Switzerland and Europe.
Secure storage and real-time traceability
The warehouses of STAR Logistique, located on the right bank of Geneva, have large modular areas with controlled temperature. The facilities are continuously secured, 24/7.
STAR Logistique also uses a WMS ensuring complete traceability. This capability provides visibility on stock movements. Its precise scope must, however, be validated according to the data necessary for your operation.
For pharmaceutical products, the published capabilities include controlled areas from +15 °C to +25 °C and from +2 °C to +8 °C, continuous monitoring and real-time traceability via WMS. Ensure that the area considered meets the defined conditions for your products.
Cold chain and compliance skills
STAR Logistique has over 38 years of expertise in temperature-controlled logistics in Switzerland, France, and the Europe. The company maintains the cold chain during the logistical stages, from receipt to the preparation of orders and delivery.
Warehouse workers, planners, and drivers hold certifications ADR and IATA regularly updated. ADR pertains to the road transport of hazardous goods. IATA regulates operations related to air transport.
These qualifications demonstrate competencies for the relevant operations. They do not replace a verification of the quality documents specific to the storage and distribution of your pharmaceutical products.
Swiss distribution and cross-border access
STAR Logistique acts as a customs broker in Geneva. This role allows for the coordination of customs formalities with transport operations, subject to defining the documents and responsibilities of each party.
Secure transport covers the Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. This coverage can support national and cross-border flows when the routes, temperatures, and security requirements match the selected service.
The search for the best specialized freight forwarders in the transport of pharmaceutical products for Switzerland must therefore start from the product and the route. A European presence is not enough without proof of mastery over each planned step.
How to transform these criteria into a selection process
A structured process helps supply chain, quality, purchasing, and operations teams make a common decision. Apply the following steps:
- Define the characteristics of the products : temperature conditions, security level, and possible ADR classification.
- Map the Switzerland–EU flows : reception points, border crossings, destinations, and modes of transport.
- Check the storage conditions : available areas, monitoring, access, and alignment with product needs.
- Request tracking and security evidence : demonstration of the WMS, available records, and handling of anomalies.
- Specify transport and customs responsibilities : documents, validations, handovers between stakeholders, and contractual limits.
- Validate quality documents and escalation : qualifications, applicable procedures, contacts, and decision rules in case of deviation.
Controlled temperature products, valuable goods, and products subject to ADR require different controls than a standard flow. Confirm the adequacy between their constraints, the planned routes, and the provider's evidence.
For STAR Logistique facilities on the right bank of Geneva, the proximity to the airport and roadways can facilitate the organization of logistics operations.
In summary: choose based on operational evidence.
A solid decision relies on a controlled temperature infrastructure, the continuity of the cold chain, traceability, security, regulatory competence, and coverage of Swiss and cross-border flows.
STAR Logistique documents several elements on these dimensions: warehousing in Geneva, use of a WMS, ADR and IATA qualifications, cold chain experience, and transport in several European countries. The relevance of these capabilities always depends on the specific requirements of your products and each route.
Therefore, confront your specific needs with operational evidence, contractual responsibilities, and available quality documents. You can then contact STAR Logistique to review your flow and verify the suitability of the proposed arrangement.