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How To Set Up A Medicines Traceability System

Regulators Say Bar Coding And Common Standards Should Be Key Features

 
• By Ian Schofield

With falsified and substandard medicines still posing a major threat to populations around the world, two international organizations have set out guidance on the best way to design and implement tracing systems that work together at global level using common standards and technology.

qr-code under a magnifying glass, with isolated background
Bar matrix codes are a key part of medicine tracing systems • Source: Alamy

Countries that are thinking of implementing medicines traceability systems must make sure that they are based on internationally recognized standards such as GS1 so that they can interact with other systems that are either planned or already up and running at regional and international level.

The best way to ensure the traceability is for products to carry a unique product code and serial number, contained...

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