How to Verify a Parallel Trade Supplier in the EEA: A Buyer's Checklist

Parallel trade is a legitimate, regulated part of the European pharmaceutical market — but only when every link in the supply chain is licensed and documented. For a pharmacy chain, hospital procurement team or wholesaler evaluating a new supply partner, the difference between a reliable supplier and a risky one is rarely visible on a website or a price list. It is visible in the documents.

This checklist covers the six verification steps we believe every buyer should complete before placing a first order with any parallel trade supplier in the EEA — including us.

Check the Wholesale Distribution Authorisation in the national register

Every legitimate pharmaceutical wholesaler in the EEA operates under a Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) issued by its national medicines authority. This is not a certificate a supplier prints for themselves — it is a public, verifiable licence.

Ask the supplier for their WDA number and the name of the issuing authority, then verify it yourself in the national register. Do not rely on a PDF copy alone; registers are public precisely so that buyers can check them independently.

As a worked example: SoliFarma operates under WDA No. 0947, issued by VVKT (Valstybinė vaistų kontrolės tarnyba), Lithuania's State Medicines Control Agency. The licence is publicly verifiable in the VVKT register — and any supplier you evaluate should be able to point you to the equivalent entry in their country's register within minutes.

Confirm the EudraGMDP listing

The European Medicines Agency maintains EudraGMDP, a union-wide database of manufacturing and wholesale distribution authorisations. A wholesaler licensed anywhere in the EEA should appear there. Cross-checking the national register against EudraGMDP takes five minutes and closes the loop: the licence exists, it is current, and it covers wholesale distribution of medicinal products.

If a supplier's story requires an explanation of why they do not appear in either register, the conversation should end there.

Verify the supply chain, not just the supplier

A licensed wholesaler buying from unlicensed sources is still a compliance failure — yours, once the goods are on your shelf. The EU Falsified Medicines Directive places responsibility on every actor in the chain to source only from authorised partners.

Ask directly: where does the product come from? A credible answer names categories, not secrets — licensed manufacturers, authorised distributors within the EEA — and comes with a willingness to provide supplier qualification documentation for a specific transaction. Vague answers about "our network" are a warning sign.

Request batch documentation before the first order

Before committing to a first order, ask what documentation accompanies a delivery: batch numbers, expiry dates, and — where relevant, such as clinical trial supply — a Certificate of Analysis (CoA). A serious supplier confirms availability, pricing and batch documentation before each order cycle, not after the goods have shipped.

This is also the moment to check how the supplier handles Falsified Medicines Directive verification obligations for the products and markets in question. The right answer is specific, not reassuring.

Assess GDP-compliant storage and transport

Good Distribution Practice covers the physical journey of the product: storage conditions, temperature control, chain of custody. Ask who physically handles and stores the goods, and under what conditions. Many lean wholesalers, including SoliFarma, work with established licensed logistics partners rather than operating their own warehouses — that is a normal model, but the buyer should know who holds the product and under whose GDP responsibility.

Check the commercial substance of the company

Finally, the mundane checks that catch most problems: verify the company registration and VAT number in the national business register, confirm a physical registered address, and test responsiveness with a specific technical question before you test it with an order. A supplier who takes a week to answer a documentation question will take longer when something urgent goes wrong.

Red flags worth walking away from

A supplier who cannot name their licensing authority; prices dramatically below every other quote with no explanation of sourcing route; reluctance to provide batch documentation before payment; pressure to transact quickly; and any suggestion that licensing checks are "not necessary between partners." Legitimate parallel trade margins come from price differentials between EEA markets — not from shortcuts.

Frequently asked questions

Is parallel trade of medicines legal in the EEA? Yes. Parallel trade is the lawful cross-border movement of authorised medicines within the European Economic Area, based on the free movement of goods. It is legal when every actor in the chain holds the required licences and the products remain within authorised distribution channels.

What documents should a parallel trade supplier provide? At minimum: a verifiable WDA number and issuing authority, company registration details, and per-order batch documentation. For clinical trial supply, a Certificate of Analysis where required. Supplier qualification documentation should be available on request.

How long does supplier onboarding usually take? With documentation in order on both sides, qualification of a new EEA supplier typically takes one to three weeks — most of it your own due diligence. A supplier who has been through the process before will have a standard documentation pack ready.

SoliFarma MB is a WDA-licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler (No. 0947, VVKT) based in Alytus, Lithuania, supplying licensed wholesalers, pharmacies and hospital procurement across the EEA. If you are qualifying a new parallel trade supplier, we are happy to provide our full documentation pack — get in touch via our contact page and we will respond within one business day.