Movianto Handles Cannabis Logistics for HAPA in Kist

HAPA pharm commissions the logistics service provider Movianto at the location in Kist. Movianto will serve as the import hub and distribution center for cannabis products. The logistics specialist organizes nationwide distribution in Germany and takes care of fulfillment up to invoicing. Handling controlled substances requires high standards of security and 100 percent transparent documentation.

(Neunkirchen) The Dortmund-based company HAPA pharm, which develops, manufactures, and distributes medical cannabis products, has commissioned the logistics service provider Movianto, specialized in healthcare logistics, with storage, distribution, and fulfillment tasks in Germany. “The storage and handling of such products is a future market with high demands and rapidly increasing demand, for which we have specifically prepared ourselves,” says Dennis Spamer, Managing Director of Movianto Germany. “As a logistics provider for healthcare products, we can ideally contribute our know-how and our special storage capabilities here.” According to a report by the ARD magazine Plusminus, the demand for cannabis for medical purposes has risen sharply in recent years. In 2020, 9.4 tons were imported into Germany, nearly 20 times more than in 2017.

Separate Areas in the Warehouse

Because cannabis is classified as an opiate, special conditions of the Narcotics Act regarding security and documentation apply to these products. “Controlled substances – short BTM – are stored in a completely separate area of the warehouse,” says Spamer. “Thick vault doors secure the BTM storage area, access to the BTM area is specially secured and directly connected to the police. The logistics provider must always be able to provide information about where how much of which substance is located and what was handed over to whom and when.”

Temperature-Controlled Between 15 and 25 Degrees

In addition, cannabis products must be stored and transported in a temperature-controlled environment between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. “We can also offer all of this at our location in Würzburg-Kist, which serves as the import hub and distribution center for HAPA pharm.” Movianto employees report the receipt of goods to the Federal Opium Agency and take a sample from each batch upon storage, which is examined by an external laboratory. After the batches are released, Movianto can begin order-specific picking of the goods and organize transport to pharmacies or wholesalers. The authority also receives a semi-annual report on the stocks, which Movianto checks daily. This semi-annual report includes all movements of controlled substances. “Additionally, HAPA pharm also makes use of our ‘Order to Cash’ service,” says Spamer. In this process, Movianto handles the entire order processing up to invoicing the recipient.

Photo: © Movianto