𝐄𝐠𝐲𝐩𝐭:
Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) has set aggressive timelines for 2026:
February 2026: Mandatory registration for imported and manufactured finished products.
August 2026: Mandatory registration for locally produced or packed products. With over 4 billion units sold annually, the transition to serialized packs is a massive undertaking requiring seamless connection to the national platform.
𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚 & 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚-𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮: Both nations are moving rapidly to secure their supply chains:
𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚: Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) Mandate event reporting begins in June 2026, with aggregation reporting becoming mandatory by December 2026.
𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚-𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮: The official "go-live" for primary package serialization is set for March 19, 2026. By September, this mandate extends to secondary and higher packaging.
𝐁𝐚𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧: Transition & Continuity
Following National Health Regulatory Authority termination of their previous vendor agreement, the industry is closely watching the transition period.
𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝
While 2026 is about execution, the preparation for 2027 is already underway:
𝐀𝐥𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚: Serialization and aggregation become mandatory on January 1, 2027.
𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧: waiting for the new circulars to understand the timeline for implementation of serialization.
𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚: Following 4 years plan announced (2027-2031) announced last year,2026 is the year of
• Industry readiness assessment
• GS1 membership verification
• System capability evaluation
𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
The UNICEF#TRVST (Traceability & Verification System) pilots in Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe are providing vital data that will likely lead to permanent regulatory frameworks soon. Furthermore, we expect new guidelines from The Gambia following their pilot phase.
𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐨𝐧:
Qatar & Iraq: Discussions regarding national track and trace systems are intensifying, with official announcements expected soon as part of broader regional health security initiatives.