What is “Good Storage Practice” (GSP)? How does it relate to GDP?

“Good Storage Practice” (GSP) is a set of guidelines focused on ensuring the quality and integrity of medicines during storage. It sets out detailed requirements for the design, equipment, procedures and personnel of medicine warehouses, covering every storage stage from receipt of medicines to storage and dispatch. GSP can be regarded as a core component of “Good Distribution Practices” (GDP). GDP has a broader scope: it encompasses all the storage activities covered by GSP and extends to other aspects of medicine distribution, such as order processing, transportation, record-keeping, recalls, and the management of customers and suppliers throughout the supply chain. Therefore, full compliance with GDP requirements necessarily means that GSP requirements are also met. In Hong Kong, the official guidance issued by the Department of Health is GDP, the statutory standard that licensed wholesalers must follow.