Ethiopian Review

Ethiopian pharmaceutical company, Sino-Ethiop Associate (SEA) received international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification following a pharmaceutical inspection cooperation scheme.
SEA is the first company to be certified by the pharmaceutical inspection cooperation scheme (PIC/S) conformity.
It was established in March 2001 by a strategic partnership of two Chinese Companies (China Associate Group and Dandong Jinwan group) and an Ethiopian company, Zaf Pharmaceuticals PLC, to develop and market Empty Hard Gelatin Capsules.
According to experts, the certification will help to expand the export opportunities of the company. Currently, Sino-Ethiop exports its products to African and Middle Eastern countries in addition to selling in the local market.
In order to make companies more competitive and increase their good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards to internationally accepted levels, over the last two and a half years the Engineering Capacity Building Program (ECBP) has been working closely with 15 pharmaceutical industries in Ethiopia.
This assures the quality of their products, as well as giving them access to larger international markets. As part of this activity, a number of German senior experts in the field provided hands on trainings and consultation to the local companies to upgrade their GMP standards and qualify them for pharmaceutical inspection cooperation scheme certification.
Pharmaceutical inspection cooperation scheme (PIC/S) is a cooperative arrangement between health authorities of European Union and other countries. It is an internationally recognised organisation.
This PIC/S conformity certification ensures high quality, safe, and effective products are being produced at Ethiopian 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.
Good manufacturing practice (GMP) is a system for ensuring that products are constantly produced and controlled according to quality standards. It is designed to minimise the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated through testing the final product.
GMP helps to boost pharmaceutical export opportunities, since most countries will only accept import and sale of medicines that have been manufactured to internationally recognized GMP.
The official certificate hand over was held last Saturday at the compound of the company. It was attended by government officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Health, and also German ambassador Claas Knoop.

By MulukenYewondwossen | (Capital)