Ethiopia EFDA Serialization and Traceability Compliance

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Global Regulations

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Labelling

Products are required to display information in writing.

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Unit Level Traceability

Sellable units are uniquely identified enabling a more granular traceability.

Summary

Pharmaceutical products in Ethiopia are regulated by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) under the Food and Medicine Administration Proclamation No. 1112/2019. Ethiopia has introduced regulatory requirements to improve medicine traceability and combat counterfeit pharmaceutical products.

The EFDA requires pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers to implement serialization using GS1 compliant DataMatrix barcodes on medicine packaging. The system enables verification of medicines and supports supply chain monitoring from manufacturers and importers through distribution.

The Ethiopian traceability framework is designed to align with global GS1 identification standards and supports electronic verification of medicines throughout the supply chain. Serialization requirements apply primarily to human prescription medicines and selected priority pharmaceutical products.

Labelling Requirements 

Medicines marketed in Ethiopia must include a 2D DataMatrix barcode on the secondary packaging to support serialization and traceability.

The DataMatrix must follow GS1 standards and include the following data elements:

  • GTIN
  • Serial Number
  • Batch Number
  • Expiry Date

These elements enable unique identification of each pharmaceutical package and support product verification within the Ethiopian supply chain.

Human readable information printed on the packaging must match the encoded barcode data.

Regulatory Timeline 

2011–2017
Ethiopia introduced regulatory initiatives aimed at improving pharmaceutical supply chain integrity and combating counterfeit medicines.

2019
The Ethiopian government adopted Proclamation No. 1112/2019, strengthening the authority of EFDA to regulate medicines and medical products.

2020 onward
EFDA began implementing serialization initiatives and encouraging pharmaceutical manufacturers to adopt GS1 based DataMatrix identification for medicine packages.

Current Status
Serialization requirements are being progressively adopted to improve product verification and supply chain oversight.

Reporting Requirements 

Operation
Data to Maintain
When to Record
Serialization
GTIN, Serial Number, Batch, Expiry
During packaging
Import Documentation
Product identification and batch details
Before import approval
Distribution Records
Product identifiers and shipment documentation
During supply chain transfers
Verification
Serialized pack identification
At distribution or dispensing stages
Decommission
Product identifiers and removal reason
When products are destroyed or withdrawn

Companies must maintain accurate traceability records and provide them to EFDA during regulatory inspections when required.

OperationData to ReportWhen to Report

Commission 
Aggregation 
Shipping 

GTIN, Serial, Batch, Expiry  
Parent SSCC, Child Serials  
Sender GLN, Receiver GLN, SSCC or Serial List
During packaging before shipment 
When creating cases or pallets 
Before dispatch 
ReceivingImport Clearance
Supply to Pharmacy
GTIN, Serial, Batch, Expiry  
Parent SSCC, Child Serials  
Sender GLN, Receiver GLN, SSCC or Serial List
During packaging before shipment 
When creating cases or pallets 
Before dispatch 
Returns 
Decommission 
Serial status and reference 
Reason and serials 
When return is approved 
When product is destroyed or removed 

Operational Timelines for Industry 

  • Configure packaging operations to generate serialized identifiers using GS1 standards.
  • Print DataMatrix barcodes containing serialized data on secondary packaging.
  • Maintain traceability records for manufactured and imported pharmaceutical products.
  • Ensure accurate documentation of product movement within the supply chain.
  • Provide traceability data during EFDA inspections when requested.

Reporting Hub

Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical traceability system is overseen by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA).

The system supports verification of serialized products through digital identification and authentication mechanisms. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers must ensure that serialized identifiers are generated according to EFDA requirements and maintained within their internal traceability systems.

While the EFDA regulates serialization requirements, supply chain reporting primarily relies on company traceability systems and regulatory inspections, rather than a centralized national reporting platform.

Aggregation Requirements 

Ethiopia’s serialization framework focuses on unit level identification using DataMatrix barcodes.

Aggregation at case or pallet level is not currently mandated in EFDA guidance. Pharmaceutical companies may implement aggregation internally to improve logistics and warehouse management.

Common Errors to Avoid 

  • Incorrect formatting of GS1 DataMatrix barcodes.
  • Mismatch between serialized barcode data and printed packaging information.
  • Failure to maintain traceability records for serialized products.
  • Incomplete documentation of product movement across the distribution network.

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