NaijNaira
South Africa is pressing for unified pharmaceutical regulations across Africa, saying common standards will remove barriers that limit cross-border trade – www.naijnaira.com reports.
At the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 in Algeria, Zanele Sanni of the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition explained that exporters often face repeated and expensive compliance tests when entering new markets.
She pointed out that while medicines approved in South Africa already meet strict safety rules, producers must still undergo fresh certification in countries like Algeria, which inflates costs for businesses.
According to IOL, Sanni urged African governments to recognize each other’s standards, noting that inconsistent technical regulations remain the biggest obstacle for small and medium enterprises.
“We are doing something, but it’s not enough in terms of the demand,” she admitted, stressing that limited funding makes the problem worse.
The issue dates back to 1977 with the African Organisation for Standardisation, which was formed to reduce barriers and push industrial growth across the continent.
Dr Pamela Coke-Hamilton from the International Trade Centre also weighed in, calling Africa’s $20 billion annual pharmaceutical imports unsustainable and predicting a 73% surge in coming years.
“There’s no need, after COVID, to be begging people for vaccines. It ought not to happen,” she warned.
