A national body to oversee the safety of pharmaceuticals, the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), was created in 2019. However, the following requirements pose obstacles for manufactures:
- The requirement that manufacturers obtain an import approval for each consignment of imported raw materials; the additional fees associated with this requirement result in raising the price of the final.
- The extreme processing delays in obtaining certificates of Free Sale and certificates of GMP negatively affects the exportation of products.
- The Central Administration for Pharmaceutical Affairs refuses to accept the trading certificates for non-sterile products, which are issued by the IDA and sent by express mail.
- Exporters must fulfill additional requirements to be able to export their products, including a commitment to provide production materials for a period of 6 months; receiving visits for verification; and obtaining the approval of the Public Authority for Unified Procurement.