Trade in materials, equipment and veterinary drugs in Burundi is a growing sector, but faces many challenges. These challenges include product regulation, product quality control and public health protection.
The regulation of veterinary products is a necessity to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs, medical devices and prefabricated animal feed. It also makes it possible to fight against counterfeiting, fraud and unfair competition. However, Burundi does not yet have a drug and food regulatory authority (ABREMA), unlike the other countries of the East African Economic Community (EAC).
Quality control of veterinary products is another priority to guarantee animal and human health. It involves the performance of clinical trials, drug registration, inspection of manufacturing sites and pharmacovigilance. However, Burundi does not have efficient laboratories or a post-marketing surveillance system to carry out these checks.
Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS, in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the EAC, initiated an inter-ministerial meeting in December 2017 to set up ABREMA. The objective is to comply with the EAC standard which invites all member states to harmonize and cooperate on matters related to health.
ABREMA’s mission will be to protect public health by promoting the quality and safety of veterinary products. It will be responsible for regulating the import, manufacture, packaging, storage, sale, distribution and promotion of products. It will review, grant, issue, suspend, cancel and withdraw marketing authorizations. It will also assist the justice system and take legal measures in the event of complaints.
ABREMA will be a multidimensional body that will merge some departments of the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. It will generate revenue for the state and provide work for many people.
ABREMA will be inspired by the model of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which has set up a centralized marketing authorization system, a unique quality control system by implementing network of high-performance laboratories and a mechanism for the free movement of goods.
Trade in materials, equipment and veterinary drugs in Burundi is therefore a sector with a future that requires effective and harmonized regulation. If you are interested in this area or if you want to know more about the products we offer, do not hesitate to contact our company Navephar which is the distributor of equipment, laboratory consumables and veterinary drugs in Burundi.
Our phone is “(+257) 22 210 898” and our email address is “Info@navephar.bi”. We will be happy to inform you and support you in your projects.