If independent pre-shipment inspection of goods was not done there would be chances of detection of defects in products and inconsistency in batch quality. A control mechanism in place will not only rule out the visible defects but also the invisible, according to M Venkateswarlu, director, SGS Lifescience Services, a Chennai-based Contract Service Organization.

Addressing a meeting of Pharmaceutical exporters in Chennai he said that inspection of goods is an effective way of safeguarding the company against costly risks and expensive recalls. It will improve and ensure quality of medicines that are donated or imported. Further it controls various risks that can happen at any stages of the entire supply chain management, he said.

Venkiteswarlu said the person who conducts the inspection will check the quantity, specifications of the products, samplings, marking & labelling, verify the quality and will take photographs of the consignments. He will also verify whether the packing is in conformity with the WHO Guidelines for Drug Donations, normal good practices in packing and appropriate to the specified mode of transportation as well as in conformity with the requirements of the principal (declared ingredients, colour, shape etc).

A lot of risks are encountered while shipping products. But they can be minimized by proper precautions. Any exporter has to face mainly three types of risks while dealing the business such as marine risks, exchange risks and payment risks.

Besides, there are political risks, legal risks, storage condition risks, internet frauds, malversations, poor quality of products, problems in manufacturing process, inaccurate packing contents, incomplete labelling or markings, smuggling or counterfeit products or spurious products. These risks can be occurred at any stages of the supply chain management, he said.

He advised the exporters that they should do extensive market research and try to understand the political, economic and cultural situations of the country where his client was located. The suddenly introduced new regulations of that country may affect the business. There would be some other factors like natural disaster or riots which might also affect the overseas business.