The mandatory adoption of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards in Georgia has reduced the number of local pharmaceutical manufacturers from 51 to just four, while the lack of international recognition of Georgian certificates is limiting export opportunities, according to Levan Gogiberidze, President of the Pharmaceutical Association.
Gogiberidze explained that before GMP became compulsory, 51 domestic manufacturers operated on the market, but currently only four fully comply with GMP standards. A few others are undergoing reconstruction to meet export requirements, as they are prohibited from selling on the local market without GMP certification.
A key issue, he notes, is that Georgia’s regulatory authority is not part of any international organizations, leaving the national GMP certificate valid only domestically. As a result, European markets, in particular, do not recognize the certificate, restricting access for Georgian pharmaceutical companies.
Gogiberidze emphasized that joining international bodies such as PIC/S should be the first step. “This would allow our manufacturers to access export markets more effectively, especially in Europe, while gradually meeting increasing GMP requirements in Asian markets,” he said.
