Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority - ZAMRA

03/08/2026

02/08/2026

The official opening of the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show was extra special with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority Director-General Mr. Makomani Siyanga gracing our exhibition with his presence.

Fostering trade and investment begins with a trusted regulatory system that assures the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines and allied substances.

By providing transparent, predictable and internationally aligned regulatory services, ZAMRA facilitates market access, promotes investor confidence, supports local manufacturing, and safeguards the health of people and animals.

Facilitating trade:
ZAMRA is an efficient, strong and credible regulatory system which enables the lawful import, export, manufacture and distribution of medicines and allied substances.

Promoting investment:
A transparent and predictable regulatory framework which encourages investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical products and allied industries.

Supporting local industry:
ZAMRA works with manufacturers to meet quality standards, making locally produced medicines more competitive in domestic and regional markets.

Protecting public health:
Sustainable trade can only flourish when consumers have confidence that medicines and allied substances are safe, effective and of assured quality.

Regional competitiveness:
Harmonisation of regulatory standards with regional and international frameworks supports cross-border trade within SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

By ensuring regulatory certainty, reducing barriers through efficient processes, and aligning with international best practices, the Authority contributes to:

1. Increased investment in the pharmaceutical sector
2. Growth of local manufacturing
3. Expansion of regional and international trade
4. Protection of public and animal health
5. National economic development.

This interpretation aligns well with Zambia's aspirations to strengthen its pharmaceutical sector, promote local production, and enhance trade while maintaining robust public health safeguards.

01/08/2026

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), in strategic collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), has successfully hosted an in-country capacity strengthening workshop aimed at enhancing the technical competencies of local Qualified Persons for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) and pharmaceutical industry representatives.

The intensive stakeholder engagement focused on elevating national medicine safety surveillance, streamlining adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting, and aligning local industry operations with evolving continental and global regulatory frameworks.

The workshop was intended to upgrade safety skills for local drug safety officers, in line with national and African Union rules, and building teamwork between regulators and drug companies to protect public health.

Speaking during the program, ZAMRA DG pointed out that robust post-market surveillance and competent local QPPV oversight remain essential pillars in guaranteeing that medical products circulating on the Zambian market are safe, effective, and of the highest quality.

The initiative, which further drives Zambia's ongoing journey toward attaining advanced World Health Organization (WHO) regulatory milestones took place from the 27th to the 29th of July, followed by a courtesy call on ZAMRA Director-General, Mr. Makomani Siyanga on the 30th of July 2026.

31/07/2026

Great conversations, sharing insights about medicine and allied substances regulation, highlighting ZAMRA's role in the promotion of trade and investment

Come to the ZAMRA stand inside Jubilee Hall at the show grounds and learn more about your national medicines and allied substances regulator. We are here for you.

29/07/2026

Visit ZAMRA at the 98th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show!

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) is showcasing its services at this year’s Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka, taking place from 29th July to 3rd August 2026 under the theme “Fostering Trade and Investment.”

We invite all show patrons to visit the ZAMRA Exhibition Stand No. 21 in Jubilee Hall to learn more about our role in ensuring access to safe, quality and effective medicines and allied substances, and how our regulatory services are contributing to trade, investment, and public health protection in Zambia.

📍Find us at Stand No. 21, Jubilee Hall
29th July – 3rd August 2026

Come through and engage with our team!


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27/07/2026

ZAMRA ENGAGES STAKHOLDERS TO REVIEW GUIDELINES ON ESTABLISHMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALE, RETAIL
PHARMACY AND HEALTH SHOP BUSINESSES IN ZAMBIA

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) convened a stakeholder consultative meeting from 20th to 24th July 2026 at M’kango Golf View Hotel to review the Guidelines on the Establishment of Wholesale, Retail and Health Shop Businesses in Zambia.

The meeting formed part of ZAMRA’s continued efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework governing the pharmaceutical supply chain and to ensure that the guidelines remain responsive to current sector needs.

The meeting brought together representatives from Government institutions, industry associations, professional bodies and other key stakeholders involved in the regulation, operation and oversight of wholesale, retail and health shop businesses.

Participants shared practical experiences from the implementation of the existing guidelines and highlighted areas requiring clarification, improvement or further alignment with regulatory expectations.

During the discussions, stakeholders considered a range of issues affecting the establishment and operation of regulated businesses, including licensing requirements, compliance obligations, premises standards, storage conditions, supervision, record keeping and inspection processes.

The deliberations provided an opportunity to identify practical challenges faced by operators while also reinforcing the importance of maintaining standards that protect public health.

The consultation also focused on improving access to quality-assured medicines and health products, particularly within communities served by retail pharmacies and health shops.

Stakeholders emphasized the need for clear, practical and enforceable guidelines that promote responsible business practices, support fair participation in the sector, and reduce risks associated with poor handling, inappropriate storage or non-compliant operations.

Key recommendations arising from the consultations will guide the revision of the guidelines to make them more comprehensive, practical and aligned with current regulatory priorities.

The revised guidelines are expected to strengthen compliance, improve service delivery, and support sustainable growth within the wholesale, retail and health shop sectors.

26/07/2026

INSPIRING COMPLIANCE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF VETERINARY MEDICINES AND ALLIED SUBSTANCES

The ZAMRA Veterinary Department team, working together with the Public Relations officer and Eastern Regional Office inspectors has visited Agro-veterinary shops in Chipata town and shared regulatory information for Veterinary Medicines and Allied Substances.

They also guided clients on their role in ensuring safe veterinary medical products, how to register an Agro-veterinary shop, how to identify substandard and falsified products, as well the benefit of buying veterinary medical products from registered dealers.

This activity took place on the 23rd of July 2026 as part of the weeklong awareness programme undertaken in Eastern Province.

25/07/2026

ZAMRA STRENGTHENS COLLABORATION WITH VETERINARY SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS IN EASTERN PROVINCE

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has engaged over 40 stakeholders in the veterinary sector in Chipata, Eastern Province, in a continued effort to strengthen collaboration and address the needs and concerns surrounding the regulation of veterinary medicines and allied substances.

The engagement brought together agro-veterinary business owners, farmers, agricultural extension workers and key partners, including representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Zambia Police Service and the Chipata Municipal Council.

Speaking during the engagement, Provincial Veterinary Officer at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Martha Sinzala, commended participants for taking an interest in understanding the regulatory requirements for operating agro-veterinary businesses and handling veterinary medicinal products.

The highly interactive meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, raise concerns, seek clarification and contribute to strengthening the veterinary medicines regulatory system.

Closing the engagement, Eastern Regional Office Principal Regulatory Officer, Mr Wesley Mwambazi, thanked participants for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed ZAMRA’s commitment to safeguarding animal health through a strong, effective and responsive regulatory system.

As Zambia works towards positioning itself as a competitive international exporter of livestock and livestock products, collaboration, compliance and a robust regulatory system will be critical to building confidence in the country’s livestock sector and meeting national, regional and international standards.

The meeting took place on Friday, 24th July 2026, at Protea Hotel in chipata, Eastern Province.

24/07/2026

Katete College of Agriculture and Marketing, in Eastern Province is one of the institutions of learning hosting future producers of food, agribusiness and livestock managers, agricultural extension officers and veterinary medical product users.

The ZAMRA Vet officers visited the college and educated the students on their role in ensuring the safety of veterinary medical products, and the need to buy veterinary medicines from registered facilities.

The learners were also enlightened on how to register an Agro-veterinary business and how to look out for substandard and falsified veterinary medicines and allied substances.

23/07/2026

Officers from the ZAMRA Veterinary Department are in Eastern Province this week, and so far have managed to conduct engagement meetings with Fisheries and Livestock workers, as well as Veterinary officers in Nyimba, Katete and Petauke districts.

They have also taken advantage of this activity to visit Agro-veterinary shop owners to check if they are complying with regulatory requirements and to share guidance on how to conduct Agro-veterinary businesses legally.

Stakeholders and clients are being encouraged to ensure:

1.They buy registered veterinary medicines and allied substances
2. They buy medicines and allied substances from registered facilities
3. They register their facilities
4. They look out for substandard and falsified medical products
5. They get in touch with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority and report all medicine or allied substances quality problems.

The awareness programme also includes educational meetings with students, public sensitisation through Radio and a Veterinary stakeholder meeting in Chipata.

The team is working with support from the Public Relations Office and the Eastern Province Regional Office.