EVOTEQ has announced a strategic alignment with GS1 UAE, marking a new chapter in the evolution of Track and Trace technology across diverse industries. By leveraging GS1 UAE’s globally recognised standards within EVOTEQ’s advanced traq platform, this collaboration will enhance transparency, traceability, and efficiency across supply chains.
With the increasing adoption of serialisation and traceability requirements across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the collaboration between EVOTEQ and GS1 UAE is expected to serve as a guiding force for regulatory agencies, providing them with the necessary frameworks and technological support to enforce end-to-end pharmaceutical traceability. The collaboration is set to propel EVOTEQ into new markets and industries across the region – including food, logistics, automotive parts and luxury goods – leveraging GS1’s global standards to ensure the highest levels of efficiency and innovation.
“Our collaboration with GS1 is a pivotal move towards expanding our traq traceability platform,” said Jihad Tayara, CEO of EVOTEQ. “As regulatory authorities across the GCC tighten their focus on pharmaceutical safety and supply chain integrity, EVOTEQ and GS1 are taking a decisive step to establish a unified standard for Track and Trace compliance in the region. This collaboration aims to align GCC countries with globally recognised traceability frameworks, ensuring enhanced patient safety, counterfeit prevention, and seamless cross-border pharmaceutical trade.”
Rami Habbal, CEO of GS1, commented: “As the leading provider of supply chain standards, GS1 UAE is dedicated to advancing transparency, interoperability, and efficiency across all industries. Our collaboration with EVOTEQ is a major step towards ensuring businesses have the right tools to meet evolving regulatory and market demands. We are not only enhancing traceability but also setting new benchmarks for how industries operate in an increasingly digital and connected world.”
The global market for counterfeit goods is estimated to reach $1.79 trillion – and grow to 5% of global trade – by 2030[1]. The pharmaceutical industry is among the most impacted by counterfeiting; according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the diversion and counterfeiting of medicines generates €400 billion annually[2], severely impacting government revenues while undermining innovation by disincentivizing investment in research and development. Beyond the economic damage they cause, counterfeit medicines pose a significant threat to public health and safety, leading to severe and often fatal consequences.
Estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that as much as 35 per cent of the entire pharmaceutical market in the Middle East may be illicit[3]. In the UAE, the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (DoH) announced in June 2024 that it had detected 116 counterfeit pharmaceutical products since the beginning of the year[4], while Dubai Customs seized approximately 4.36 million counterfeit items valued at more than AED 5.43 million during the first quarter of 2024[5].
To respond effectively to this ever-evolving threat, countries across the GCC have been continuously improving their regulatory structures and embracing new technologies to reduce the spread of illicit drugs and protect citizens’ health. The UAE, for instance, has taken several measures to address the problem of counterfeit pharmaceutical products, including the launch of the ‘Tatmeen’ track-and-trace platform in partnership with EVOTEQ to fortify the country’s healthcare supply chain[6]. EVOTEQ’s collaboration with GSI represents a pivotal next step in the region’s journey towards ensuring pharmaceutical safety and supply chain integrity, and follows the recent announcement of the company’s partnership with DAF Egypt, the organization managing the implementation and operation of the Egyptian Drug Authority’s national track-and-trace system.
Vision for the Future: Building on traqpharma’s success in the pharma industry, the aim is to set new global industry standards through EVOTEQ and GS1 UAE’s joint initiative. It will help shape a future where every product is traceable, every supply chain is secure, and every organisation thrives through transparency and trust.
