Usha Sharma – Mumbai
Implementation of 2D technology in the secondary packaging requires advanced resources and is an economic burden to the industry. So, to discuss this issue and find a way out, the pharma industry and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) had a meeting with the Ministry of Commerce on November 23, which was set to continue on December 11.
Pharmexcil had issued a letter to the Ministry of Commerce a week back to consider 1D implementation in the secondary packaging line instead of 2D. The revised deadline of implementing track and trace technology in secondary level packaging is January 2013. Both, industry as well as the Government, are trying to do their best to meet the deadline and tackle this issue effectively.
NR Munjal, Vice-Chairman cum Managing Director, Ind Swift Laboratories and Vice Chairman of Pharmexcil said, “It is difficult to print 2D on ampule and many other medicines because it requires advanced technology which should be fully automated and to comply with all these features requires high end investment. Also printing 2D on ampule is difficult as already there is less space to print anything.”
He continued that all these requires huge investment which he believes would be difficult for small and medium size pharma companies. He also informed, “To address this issue in more detail, we are having series of meetings with the Ministry of Commerce. The Government is pressuring the industry to implement 2D in secondary packaging line and my suggestion to the ministry is to first give the green signal to 1D and later on, considering its pros and cons, take a step towards implementing 2D in the secondary level packaging line.“
The entire trace and track system implementation technology was introduced by the Government to detect and reduce the number of counterfeit medicines in the pharma supply chain. As per its directive issued on June 30, 2011, it is compulsory for the exporters of the pharma companies to adopt a trace and track system which have been set in three different phases of implementation. According to June 2011 directive, secondary level packaging line which was supposed to get implemented from January 1, 2012 got delayed and the deadline was pushed to January 1, 2013. Dr PV Appaji, Director General, Pharmexcil commented, “We are in continuous discussion with the Ministry and trying to find a solution as current uncertainty may trouble the pharma exports. To address the counterfeit issues more seriously we have already launched Brand India Pharma campaign and are spreading the message to the world that Indian pharma drugs are affordable without compromising on qualities.”