The Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture organized a workshop last Saturday, under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Trade and in cooperation with the Libyan Numbering Association, entitled “Implementing GS1 System Standards” to track medicines, equipment, and medical products in the Libyan market, in accordance with Minister of Economy and Trade Resolution No. 379 of 2023.
In the presence of the Chairman of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Committee, Anwar Abu Sitta, the President of the Libyan Barcode Association, Abdul Hadi Al-Shawish, representatives of the National Centre for Disease Control, and several owners of companies specialized in supplying medicines and medical products.
Tracking medical imports to ensure consumer protection
According to the statement to Libya Herald by the President of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Anwar Abu Sitta, this workshop comes within the interests of the business sector and owners of companies specializing in the field of importing medicines and medical equipment to adhere to tracking procedures and in order to contribute to organizing the Libyan market in a way that ensures the protection of consumers and the detection of violators.
Applying GS1 standards
Abu Sitta pointed to the desire of the private sector members of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce to adhere to the implementation of Minister of Economy Resolution No. 379 of 2023 regarding the application of GS1 standards. There is also a desire to develop a data matrix with two-dimensional barcodes on pharmaceutical products and medical equipment in the Libyan market. This comes within the framework of introducing the mechanism for implementing the system’s standards from the relevant government agencies to regulate the process of trading pharmaceutical and medical products in the local market and achieving consumer protection.
Tripoli Chamber ready to cooperate
The Tripoli Chamber head said his chamber was ready to cooperate with all parties concerned with barcoding and consumer protection to provide the necessary assistance. This, he continued, is especially since all suppliers of medicines and medical equipment are affiliated with the chambers of commerce and wish to protect the Libyan market from commercial fraud or medicines and equipment of unknown origin that are likely to enter Libya within wide open competition. However, he said this open competition should be within the restrictions of the necessary legislation, laws and decisions, including the decision regarding the application of GS1 system standards.
