SUPPLY CHAIN & DISTRIBUTION
Responsible supply from manufacturer to patient — every step documented
FTFP operates a fully documented, regulated supply chain. From pre-departure quality review at the manufacturer through to individual pharmacy orders — every handoff is controlled, recorded and traceable. Below we describe exactly how that works, stage by stage.
Stage 01 — Our approach
We review every product before it leaves the manufacturer — not after it arrives
Quality control does not start at the Australian border. Our supply chain team reviews finished goods at the point of manufacture before release for shipping. If a product does not meet our packaging and labelling requirements, it does not leave. This is a standard FTFP applies to every product in our portfolio — because catching an issue before freight is faster, cheaper and better for patients than catching it on arrival.
Independent batch controlled testing of the therapeutic substance is also conducted at this stage — confirming formulation compliance against our specification before the product enters the international freight chain.
Packaging compliance review
FTFP's supply chain team reviews finished goods against our labelling and packaging specification before release. Products that do not pass are held — not shipped.
Independent batch substance testing
Each batch of therapeutic substance undergoes independent controlled testing to confirm formulation compliance. Testing is conducted against FTFP's specification — not the manufacturer's self-assessment.
Release to ship
Only product that passes both the packaging review and substance testing is released for shipment to Australia. This is the first documented control point in FTFP's supply chain.
What we do
- Supply chain team review of finished goods against specification — at the manufacturer, before release
- Independent batch controlled substance testing confirms formulation compliance prior to shipping
- Packaging and labelling assessed against current TGO 110 requirements and FTFP specification
- Non-compliant product held at manufacturer — not released until issues are resolved
- Pre-departure review records retained as part of FTFP's batch documentation
How this aligns with the framework
TGA jurisdiction begins at the Australian border — pre-departure review is an FTFP standard, not a regulatory requirement. We apply it because it ensures every product entering Australia has already passed a documented quality gate. By the time a product reaches Australian Border Force, it has already been reviewed twice: by our supply chain team and by an independent testing laboratory.
Stage 02 — Our approach
Every product enters Australia on a current ODC permit — checked by Border Force before it moves
TGA notification confirms a product can be sold in Australia. An ODC permit is a separate and additional authorisation — it confirms a product can be manufactured in or imported into Australia. FTFP holds an ODC permit for every product in our portfolio. No product moves without one. These are not retrospective approvals — the permit is on the freight before it ships.
Only cleared product is released to our licensed indent warehouse facility. On receipt, the warehouse photographs every inbound consignment before it is placed into storage — creating a visual record that matches freight documentation to physical product.
ODC permits — what they mean
The Office of Drug Control issues import permits for scheduled therapeutic substances. A TGA notification says a product can be sold in Australia. An ODC permit says it can be imported. FTFP holds both for every product we supply.
Australian Border Force clearance
ABF verifies ODC permits on all inbound FTFP consignments. Product is not released to our warehouse until ABF clearance is confirmed. This is a Commonwealth regulatory checkpoint — not an administrative step.
Photographic inbound receipt
Our licensed indent warehouse facility photographs every inbound consignment on receipt — before product is placed on a shelf. This creates a visual record matched to freight documentation and batch codes for every delivery.
What we do
- Current ODC permit held for every product in the FTFP portfolio — provided on all inbound freight documentation
- Australian Border Force verifies permits before releasing any consignment
- Licensed third-party indent warehouse facility receives cleared product and photographs inbound consignments on receipt
- Photographic records matched to freight documentation, batch codes and purchase orders — retained as part of FTFP's supply chain record
- Import records and ODC permit documentation maintained and available for regulatory review
How this aligns with the framework
The ODC permit framework sits alongside TGA notification — they are complementary, not interchangeable. Healthcare professionals and pharmacists sometimes ask whether a product has both authorisations. For every FTFP product: TGA notification confirms it meets the standard to be sold in Australia. The ODC permit confirms it was lawfully imported. Both are in place before supply commences.
Stage 03 — Our approach
Every unit is tracked from the shelf it sits on to the order it leaves on
FTFP's products are held in a licensed third-party indent warehouse facility operating under a licence to warehouse and distribute scheduled therapeutic goods. This is not a general logistics facility — it is a regulated environment specifically authorised for scheduled pharmaceutical products.
Every unit picked for dispatch to our exclusive licensed distributor is photographed against the purchase order it is fulfilling. The warehouse manages batch control in and out, operating strict FIFO — first in, first out — to ensure older stock is never superseded by newer batches. FTFP's Logistics Management System captures and tracks every batch by finished goods order and warehouse location, providing a continuous chain of custody from receipt to dispatch.
Licensed facility
Licensed to warehouse and distribute scheduled therapeutic goods. A regulated environment — not a general logistics warehouse.
Photographed pick
Every unit picked for dispatch is photographed against the purchase order it is fulfilling — a visual record that product and order align before it leaves.
FIFO batch control
Strict first-in, first-out management. Older batches are always dispatched before newer stock. Batch tracking maintained on every movement.
FTFP's Logistics Management System
Captures and tracks every batch by finished goods order and warehouse location — providing a continuous chain of custody record.
What we do
- Products held in a licensed third-party indent warehouse facility — authorised for scheduled therapeutic goods storage and distribution
- Every inbound consignment photographed on receipt — visual record matched to freight documentation and batch codes
- Every unit picked for dispatch photographed against the corresponding purchase order before leaving the facility
- FIFO batch management applied to all stock movements — older batches dispatched before newer ones without exception
- FTFP's Logistics Management System tracks each batch by finished goods order and warehouse location throughout
- Full chain of custody record maintained from warehouse receipt to distributor dispatch
How this aligns with the framework
Using a licensed facility for scheduled therapeutic goods is a requirement — but the level of documentation FTFP applies at this stage goes beyond what is mandated. Photographic pick records and Logistics Management System batch tracking mean that in the event of a product recall or field safety action, FTFP can trace affected batches to individual distributor orders without delay. That traceability is the operational foundation of responsible supply.
Stage 04 — Our approach
One exclusive licensed distributor — every pharmacy verified, every order tracked to SKU level
FTFP supplies to the pharmacy channel through a single exclusive licensed distributor — a deliberate choice. A single distribution partner means consistent controls, a single point of accountability and a clear chain of custody from our indent warehouse to every pharmacy that stocks our products.
Our exclusive licensed distributor holds a licence to warehouse and distribute scheduled therapeutic goods and manages all pharmacy orders — both online and brick-and-mortar. Pharmacies must register their licence details on the distributor platform before they can place an order. FTFP receives SKU-level order data across the entire pharmacy channel, allowing us to monitor order trends and patterns and identify anything that falls outside expected supply parameters.
Exclusive licensed distributor
Our exclusive distributor holds a licence to warehouse and distribute scheduled therapeutic goods — operating under a formal agreement with FTFP that governs supply conditions, compliance and anti-diversion requirements.
Pharmacy registration & verification
Pharmacies must register their pharmacy licence details on the distributor platform before they can place any order. Unregistered or unlicensed premises cannot access the ordering system.
SKU-level order monitoring
FTFP receives order data at individual SKU level across all pharmacy orders — allowing active monitoring of supply trends and rapid identification of any activity outside expected parameters.
Batch traceability to pharmacy
Batch codes are tracked through the distributor system to individual pharmacy order level. In the event of a recall or field safety action, affected batches can be traced to the receiving pharmacy without delay.
What we do
- Single exclusive licensed distributor — formal agreement governing supply conditions, compliance and anti-diversion obligations
- Pharmacies must register licence details on the distributor platform before any order can be placed — unlicensed premises cannot order
- SKU-level order data received by FTFP across all pharmacy orders — trends and patterns actively monitored
- Distributor and warehouse batch control systems linked — FIFO and batch traceability maintained end-to-end
- Batch codes traceable to individual pharmacy order level via distributor system — supports recall capability without delay
- No supply through any channel other than this licensed distribution pathway — no exceptions
How this aligns with the framework
The Vaping Reforms Act 2024 requires supply through authorised pharmacy channels only. Our distribution model goes further — pharmacy registration before ordering, SKU-level monitoring and end-to-end batch traceability mean we do not just comply with the channel restriction, we actively maintain visibility over how product moves through it. If something is wrong, we can identify it, locate it and act on it.
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