ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) on Wednesday directed pharmaceutical companies to introduce barcodes on the packing of their products in a fortnight.

“Pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers must print 2D barcoding on the packaging of their products. Putting such measures as a 2D barcode matrix for the identification of medicinal products helps in the eradication of spurious and falsified drugs that pose a serious threat to the health of citizens. Over the next two weeks, printing of barcodes as per rules, must be ensured,” a statement issued by Drap’s policy board said.

“Drap will immediately issue warning letters to all those pharmaceutical companies that have not registered their barcode data with Drap and are not printing 2D barcodes on packing of their products,” the statement warned.

An official of the health ministry said that the barcode system was proposed in 2017 and approved by the federal cabinet the same year.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2023