Self-certification for bar-coding for drug firms launched

The government has introduced self-certification for bar coding of secondary and tertiary level packaging of drugs in order to simply the export procedures.

A barcode helps in tracking and tracing the origin of drugs which in turn helps in minimising chances of genuine drugs being considered spurious, sub-standard or counterfeit.

"A self-certification process on compliance of bar-coding requirement on secondary and tertiary level packaging of pharmaceuticals and drugs has been introduced. This will be effective from April, 1 2014," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a public notice.

The government had asked pharmaceutical companies to build track and trace capability for their exported medicines using barcode technology at three levels of packaging, primary, secondary (like packets) and tertiary (shipper or carton).

Primary level packaging is the first-level product packaging such as bottle, can, jar, tube that contains the item sold.

DGFT said that in this process, an exporter would be required to furnish a written declaration to custom authorities at the time of export regarding compliance of the relevant provisions of bar-coding on secondary and tertiary level packaging on the consignment.

India exports over $10 billion worth of drugs annually. The government wants to increase that figure manifold in the next few years. There is a big market for generics in the developed world.

Industry experts say the only way Indian pharma firms can tap the market is by ensuring quality, and barcoding will help ensure that.