Archive · 7 Aug 2025
Zambia Mandates Pre-Export Checks for Indian Medicines
Zambia is now checking all medicines from India before they can be sold there.
This is to stop fake or bad quality drugs from being sold.
Starting October, all medicine shipments must pass a test by a special lab.
This lab will give a certificate if the medicine is good.
This is because some Indian cough syrups have been linked to deaths.
India's pharmaceutical industry is large, but Zambia wants to make sure all the medicine they import is safe.
Zambia mandates pre-export checks on Indian medicines to curb substandard drugs.
Starting October 1, all Indian medicine shipments to Zambia require inspection and quality testing.
Zambia's regulatory authority, ZAMRA, will issue a Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA).
Quntrol Laboratories Pvt Ltd is the authorized agency in India for these checks.
The move follows concerns about substandard medicines and deaths linked to cough syrups.
- Who
- Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and Indian pharmaceutical exporters.
- What
- Zambia has mandated pre-export checks of Indian medicines.
- When
- Starting October 1st, 2025.
- Where
- Zambia.
- Why
- To curb the entry of substandard and falsified medicines.
Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
Zambia
Trade and Regulation
Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
The checks will add to the cost and time required for exports. Stricter regulations can hinder growth and competition in the market.
Zambia
The quality control checks are a direct response to concerns about substandard and falsified medicines entering the Zambian market.
- Mandate
- Pre-export checks for Indian medicines
- Starting Date
- October 1, 2025
- Authorized Agency
- Quntrol Laboratories Pvt Ltd
- Reason
- To curb substandard and fake drugs
- Indian Pharma Exports to Zambia (FY24)
- $99.49 million
- Indian Pharma Export Value (FY24)
- $26.5 billion