CSC Barcode Center and SFDA Organize GLN Workshop

The Saudi Barcode Center at the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) co-organized a workshop with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority to raise awareness on the Global Location Number (GLN) – an addition to SFDA’s traceability system, following the implementation of the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). Around 100 representatives attended the workshop from the sector.

The Saudi Barcode Center urged pharmaceutical companies in Saudi Arabia to register at the center and update their data and listed products, in line with the SFDA laws on product traceability, whose aim is to monitor the availability and feedback on drugs in the market. In addition to tracking the decline in sales of illegal products, and assisting patients in finding alternatives for their medical cases.

CSC Secretary General Dr. Saud Al Meshari elaborated that in order to obtain a GLN, all local pharmaceutical factories and warehouses must update their registration data at the Drug Establishment National Registry (DENR) and Establishment Licensing System (ELS). The deadline is Feb 28, 2018.

Dr. Al Meshari added that this step should enable direct access to drugs in the market through data survey, in which each data matrix will comprise of four codes, starting with GTIN, which indicates the country of origin, followed by the serial number, produced locally by the manufacturer, and the expiration date, and lastly, the operation number.

Each local factory or warehouse is GLN-identified to facilitate the traceability of products.