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Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health recently issued a circular requiring imported medicines to have at least two-thirds of their remaining shelf life upon entry into Qatar. The directive, issued by the Ministry's Department of Pharmacy and Drug Control, aims to strengthen the quality standards and ensure the safety of pharmaceutical products in Qatar.
Under the circular, licensed pharmaceutical agents and importers are instructed to refrain from importing medicines that do not meet the requirement, unless they obtain an official exemption approval is granted by the Department of Pharmacy and Drug Control in accordance with the provisions of the Exemptions Guide.
The Ministry also provided a detailed exemptions guide available on its website and Department of Pharmacy and Drug Control's electronic system.
The Ministry added that any misuse, misrepresentation, or non-compliance with this guideline may result in the following: suspension or revocation of exemption approvals, regulatory corrective actions, and enhanced inspections or audits. Further regulatory measures may be applied in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
The Ministry affirmed that this new directive takes immediate effect and overrides any previous instructions that conflict with its provisions.
