Qatar Pharmaceutical Traceability Requirements

Discover OneScan

Global Regulations

Icon graphic element
Labelling

Products are required to display information in writing.

Graphic element
Unit Level Traceability

Sellable units are uniquely identified enabling a more granular traceability.

Summary

Qatar does not have a publicly documented national pharmaceutical serialization and traceability system equivalent to Tatmeen, EMVS, or MDLP. The clearest published requirement identified is a GS1 based barcoding requirement tied to Hamad Medical Corporation, or HMC, tender and supply chain requirements, rather than a nationwide serial event reporting model managed by a central pharma traceability hub. (Hamad Medical Corporation)

Qatar has also established GS1 Qatar as the local GS1 member organization, which supports GTIN, GLN, and other GS1 identification standards used by companies operating in the market. (GS1 Qatar)

Labelling Requirements

For HMC tender driven compliance, the published requirement identified is:

  • Secondary pack: GS1 DataMatrix
  • Data elements: GTIN, Batch Number, Expiry Date
  • Tertiary pack: SSCC
  • Barcode symbology for tertiary level: GS1 128 or GS1 DataMatrix depending on pack level and supply chain design  

Based on the sources reviewed, serial number is not clearly published as a mandatory national requirement for all pharmaceutical packs in Qatar. The evidence located points more strongly to GTIN, batch, and expiry identification for HMC supply requirements

Labelling Requirements 

For HMC tender driven compliance, the published requirement identified is:

  • Secondary pack: GS1 DataMatrix
  • Data elements: GTIN, Batch Number, Expiry Date
  • Tertiary pack: SSCC
  • Barcode symbology for tertiary level: GS1 128 or GS1 DataMatrix depending on pack level and supply chain design  

Based on the sources reviewed, serial number is not clearly published as a mandatory national requirement for all pharmaceutical packs in Qatar. The evidence located points more strongly to GTIN, batch, and expiry identification for HMC supply requirements

Regulatory Timeline 

  • 27 July 2017: GS1 published that Hamad Medical Corporation released updated tender requirements for pharmaceutical products aligned to GS1 standards. (GS1)
  • 1 January 2018: HMC supplier documentation states that implementation of identification and barcoding for all products using GS1 standards would start from this date. (Hamad Medical Corporation)
  • 2021: GS1 Qatar was established to support adoption of GS1 standards in Qatar. (GS1 Qatar)

Reporting Requirements 

HMC Supply Chain Table
Operation
Data to Report
When to Report
Supplier Registration
Supplier and product information for HMC procurement participation
Before tender participation and supply onboarding
Product Identification
GTIN, Batch Number, Expiry Date on secondary pack
Before product release for HMC supply
Tertiary Pack Identification
SSCC on tertiary packaging
Before shipment to HMC or tender based supply chain destination
Shipment and Customs Documents
Standard shipment and commercial invoice details per Qatar customs and HMC supply terms
At shipment and import stage (Hamad Medical Corporation)

No official public source was found that requires routine national reporting of the following to a Qatar pharma traceability repository:

  • Commission events
  • Aggregation events
  • Serial shipment events
  • Receiving events
  • Returns events
  • Decommission events  
OperationData to ReportWhen to Report

Commission 
Aggregation 
Shipping 

GTIN, Serial, Batch, Expiry  
Parent SSCC, Child Serials  
Sender GLN, Receiver GLN, SSCC or Serial List
During packaging before shipment 
When creating cases or pallets 
Before dispatch 
ReceivingImport Clearance
Supply to Pharmacy
GTIN, Serial, Batch, Expiry  
Parent SSCC, Child Serials  
Sender GLN, Receiver GLN, SSCC or Serial List
During packaging before shipment 
When creating cases or pallets 
Before dispatch 
Returns 
Decommission 
Serial status and reference 
Reason and serials 
When return is approved 
When product is destroyed or removed 

Operational Timelines for Industry 

Obtain GTINs and other required GS1 identifiers through proper GS1 registration and governance before market supply or HMC tender participation. (GS1 Qatar)

Ensure secondary packaging carries the required GS1 DataMatrix with GTIN, batch, and expiry information for HMC aligned supply flows.  

Apply SSCC at tertiary level for logistics handling and shipment traceability.  

Complete supplier registration and tender onboarding documentation before bidding or product supply. (Hamad Medical Corporation)

Validate shipment documents, customs information, and packaging identification before dispatch to avoid tender rejection, customs delay, or warehouse receipt issues. (Hamad Medical Corporation)

Reporting Hub

No official public source was identified that establishes a national central pharmaceutical reporting hub in Qatar for commission, aggregation, shipping, receiving, returns, or decommission reporting at serial level. The available published material points to:

  • HMC procurement and tender requirements
  • GS1 based product identification and barcoding

As a result, current published requirements appear to be procurement and supply chain identification focused, not a publicly documented end to end national serial event repository. This is an evidence based conclusion from the sources reviewed. (Hamad Medical Corporation)

Aggregation Requirements 

The clearest published requirement identified is at tertiary packaging level, where SSCC is used for higher level logistics identification in the HMC supply chain context.  

However, no official public source was identified that mandates a national parent child aggregation reporting model for all pharmaceutical products across Qatar. In practice, companies supplying HMC should be prepared to support logistics level identification and traceability using SSCC.

Common Errors to Avoid 

Using non GS1 identifiers or barcode structures for products supplied through HMC tender channels. (Hamad Medical Corporation)

Printing secondary pack codes without matching GTIN, batch, and expiry content.  

Missing SSCC at tertiary level for logistics units.  

Assuming Qatar currently operates a publicly documented national serial reporting hub similar to UAE, EU, or CIS. The public evidence reviewed does not support that conclusion. (Hamad Medical Corporation)

Treating HMC tender requirements as optional when supplying into HMC governed procurement channels. (Hamad Medical Corporation)

Trusted by Industry Leaders

Smooth and Successful

LSPedia didn’t just provide software; they ensured we were fully compliant. Anytime we had questions, the LSPedia team knew DSCSA inside and out and guided us step by step. That level of expertise made a huge difference during audits. Thanks to their expert team our audit was smooth and successful

Hussein Salman
Lead Pharmacist, Pioneer Pharmacy Services

Constant Commitment

LSPedia shows a constant commitment to improvement; whether it's their support or their product...they're always leveling up. The support team provides consistently thorough follow-up and clear, articulate communication. the support we receive represents a meaningful step up in service and is genuinely appreciated.

Zac Sweeny
EPCIS Data Encoder,Capital Wholesale Drug
Read All TestimonialsView Our Customers

Fill in the form for latest updates

Get in Touch

We invite you to learn more about how LSPedia can support your compliance and supply chain needs. For more information about our solutions, partnership opportunities, or to speak with one of our experts.

Contact Us