Ethiopian Review

The first Ethiopian joint venture pharmaceutical company, Sino-Ethiop Associate (Africa) Plc, will receive today international good manufacturing practices (GMP) certification in accordance with the pharmaceutical inspection cooperation scheme (PICS) conformity, the Engineering Capacity Building Program (ECBP) said.

The PICS is a cooperative arrangement between the health authorities of European Union and other countries, and it is an internationally recognized organization. The scheme’s conformity certification ensures that high quality, safe and effective products are being produced in Ethiopia factories.

This certification will allow companies to export their products to the global market. The overall activities of GMP upgrading include building premises modification and renovation, installation of equipment, quality control, production improvement, documentation and utility system improvement, according to ECBP.

GMP is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. It is designed to minimize the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that can not be eliminated through testing the final product. It helps to boost pharmaceutical export opportunities since most countries will only accept the import and sale of medicines that have been manufactured to internationally recognized GMP.

Sino-Ethiop Associate (Africa) Plc is the first company to be certified in accordance with PICS conformity. The company was established in March 2001 with a strategic partnership of two Chinese companies and an Ethiopian company, Zaf Pharmaceuticals Plc, to develop and market empty hard gelatin capsules.

To be certified with the scheme conformity the company has invested a great deal of time and resources with the expectation that this certification will help expand the export opportunity of the company.

Currently, Sino-Ethiop exports its products to African and Middle Eastern countries in addition to selling in the local market.

Juneydi Sado, Minister of Science and Technology, is expected to hand over the certificate to the company in the presence of high-ranking government officials and members of the diplomatic community, it was learnt.

- By Melaku Demissie | The Reporter