ZAMRA explicitly requires all pharmaceutical products to display critical information in human-readable text format alongside machine-readable barcodes. This dual-labeling approach ensures that essential product information—including product name, strength, batch/lot number, expiry date, and unique serial number—is legible without scanning equipment. The human-readable component is mandatory for all packaging levels, making critical safety information accessible to all stakeholders throughout the supply chain, from healthcare professionals to patients, even when electronic systems are unavailable.

ZAMRA mandates that each sellable unit must bear a unique identifier, enabling true item-level traceability. This granular approach allows individual units to be tracked from manufacture through distribution to dispensing, providing unprecedented visibility into the pharmaceutical supply chain. The unique serialization of each sellable unit facilitates precise verification, efficient recalls, and enhanced anti-counterfeiting measures. With complete serialization required by July 2028, Zambia's system will enable authorities to trace the exact journey of each individual medicine package throughout its lifecycle, significantly improving patient safety and supply chain security.

Pharmaceutical entities are obligated to submit detailed master data to ZAMRA's centralized traceability platform (WMS Expert). This includes 65 product attributes (13 mandatory) linked to GTINs and GLNs during product registration. Manufacturers, distributors, and service delivery points must maintain batch traceability in their electronic systems and share serialized data with the national repository before products enter the market. This comprehensive data reporting system empowers ZAMRA to effectively monitor pharmaceutical movement, detect irregularities promptly, and enforce regulatory compliance.

ZAMRA's regulations specify the use of GS1 DataMatrix barcodes for primary and secondary packaging, with either GS1-128 or DataMatrix for tertiary packaging, and GS1-128 (SSCC) for logistic units. All barcode symbols must meet print quality standards (Grade C or above), with human-readable information displayed alongside machine-readable barcodes. This standardization ensures interoperability with global systems and facilitates accurate data capture throughout the supply chain.