Domestic Generic Exports Get A Boost With Bar-Coding.

Domestic generic exports are expected to get a further boost once bar-coding is implemented in phases over the next year, as a result of which drug consignments would be better tracked and monitored. With consignments carrying a unique identification code, origin of exports can now be traced. This would also help in establishing India as a quality supplier of drugs, industry experts say-. The government recently decided to stagger the implementation of bar-coding on export consignments, with barcodes on 'primary level' packaging such as medicine strips, vials or bottles becoming mandatory from July 2012. Complete bar-coding on medicine strips, packs and cartons—part of all export consigments—was to be implemented from July 1 for better tracking following concerns of "fake" drugs raised by certain countries. As per the new schedule, barcodes on 'primary level' packaging, which includes medicine strips, vials or bottles, will be mandatory from July 2012.

"The proposed system would establish the origin (of the consignment), ruling out incidents where fake drugs were shipped from other countries like China, but under a domestic company's name," an expert added. India's drug exports are estimated to be around Rs 50,000 crore to countries in Latin America, southeast Asia, the Gulf and Africa. The barcode includes a unique identification code and a serial number which is proposed to be encoded on all—primary packs (strips/vials), secondary packs (carton) and tertiary packs (outer carton) so that these can be tracked down. The government wants exporters of pharmaceutical products to adopt a trace and track system using barcode technology as per global standards. The ministry has said that bar codes on secondary level packaging would be implemented from January next year.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com