Conversations That Matter
No deviation’s Takeaways from ISPE France Conference – Outsourcing and Supplier Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Topic: A deep dive into how pest control is approached in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals—through the lens of service providers committed to compliance and innovation.
Speaker: Jérôme Provent, Abioxir – Information Systems Director.
Pest control is not just about extermination—it’s about protection. As presented by Jérôme Provent, the goal is to safeguard buildings, goods, and production processes through a preventive mindset.
Rather than reacting to infestations, the core philosophy is to prevent them through detailed risk analysis, targeted advice, and data-driven strategies.
“It’s not just about killing a rat or catching a fly—it’s about delivering a protection service that ensures overall safety and compliance.”
Built-In Sustainability: It’s Not a Trend, It’s Their DNA
Since 2006, forward-thinking pest control professionals have committed to targeted product use and non-permanent baiting, long before regulations required it. This approach blends environmental responsibility with ethical treatment of animals.
“We don’t just throw pesticides around. It’s a conscious, political choice to act only when necessary—and to do so with minimal harm.”
Quality and Continuous Improvement: Non-Negotiables
Operating primarily in high-stakes environments like food packaging and pharma, the pest control sector treats quality as an ongoing journey. This is backed by:
- ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications
- Platinum-level CSR recognition
- PI-certified staff training
One-third of the workforce is involved in quality-related functions—directly or indirectly.
Audits as a Growth Driver, Not a Burden
In pharma and other GxP-regulated sectors, audits are a constant reality. Leading pest control providers don’t just prepare for them—they embrace them.
Audits are approached as:
- A test of documentation, traceability, and process control
- A check on service providers’ practices and risk assessments
- An opportunity to demonstrate structured, risk-based methods
Crucially, these companies position themselves as auditable partners, not just vendors.
“Audits push us to do better. They’re not just boxes to tick—they help us evolve.”
Going Digital: Smarter Ways to Track Services
When it comes to tracking interventions, pest control professionals distinguish three levels:
- Paper-based: Simple but limited in traceability and analysis
- Hybrid: Double the effort, double the risk
- Fully digital: Aligned with audit expectations, compliant, and efficient
The digital-first route—despite higher upfront costs—offers better data, faster response, and future readiness.
Building Their Own Software: By Auditors, For Audits
To meet client needs and audit demands, some pest control providers have developed custom internal platforms designed to:
- Log technician activity in real time
- Provide complete traceability
- Generate customized reports on demand
- Enable secure electronic signatures (FDA-compliant)
- Integrate facility maps and trap histories
- Offer modular compliance features aligned with contracts
“We didn’t just build a tool—we built an audit ally.”
The software is under constant improvement, and future versions will include IoT integration for smart trap monitoring.
Partnership-Centered, Audit-Ready
For clients with GxP obligations, modern pest control companies offer more than a service—they offer a compliance partnership. Audits are seen as mutual learning opportunities and engines for innovation.
The ambition is to shape “good practices” in pest control by being proactive and transparent—especially during audits. This includes contributing to better industry standards, not just meeting them.
“We see audits not as constraints, but as catalysts for progress.”
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