Avinash Mandale, VP, Bilcare Technologies, elaborates on the implementation of nCiD-enabled track and trace technology
What is the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) mandate?
The DGFT mandate for primary packaging that was to be implemented by July 1st 2012 has now been given extension till 2014 July. As per the mandate, exporters of pharmaceutical products will adopt a trace and track system and incorporate its features for exported medicines using barcode technology as per GS 1 global standards. While some futuristic pharmaceutical companies have adopted one or the other technology and complied with their primary pack requirement, others are yet to adopt or in a wait-n-watch mode.
How does Bilcare track-n-trace technology fit into DGFT norm and standard guidelines?
Bilcare has developed pre-printed non-clonable tags having GTIN and Unique Serial Number. These tags can be applied directly on primary packs and scanned on-line. This solution becomes quite useful especially due to the fact that online printing of barcode on blister foils followed by scanning the barcode on formed blister packs makes it difficult to scan due to the nerlings after sealing which makes the barcode ineffective for scanning. The company’s non-clonable tags are tamper-evident and can be applied on-line on blister lines using a specialised on-line application cum scanning system developed by us.
How is it different from barcode printing and other technology in place?
Bilcare provides pre-printed non-clonable tags which can be applied and scanned online. There is a built-in authentication feature which makes these tags non-duplicable and companies do not have to invest in additional authentication feature later along with track and trace. These tags are tamper-evident, which is yet another requirement by some importing countries.
Kindly share with us the challenges faced with your customer while implementing this technology to comply with the norm?
There are no challenges faced by customers with respect to this technology – rather it over comes the challenges of scanning faced with in-line printing solution for blister packs.
What are the various track and trace technologies and serialization methods implemented elsewhere in US and Europe? Has your technology factored those requirements as well to comply with the global standards?
The US and Europe have track and trace and serialisation mandates but the implementation time lines are later than that of India. We provide solutions to pharmacos by virtue of which they can comply with various country mandates.
Are existing track and trace technology secured, enabling authentication of genuine drugs? If not, how are you addressing this issue knowing counterfeit is a prevailing issue in pharma
sector, particularly in India?
Track and trace provides complete traceability of the product packs in the supply chain. However, it cannot prevent counterfeit of drugs as barcodes can be easily copied by simple zerox. It is therefore important to make the track and trace system secure with an additional authentication technology which is what we provide … ‘Secure – Track & Trace — Tamper Evident Technology Solution’ that gives total protection to pharma brands whilst complying with mandates of various countries.
With the experience of more than 10,000 supplied vertical machining centres, DMG MORI introduces the 3rd generation of this machine type. The new series convinces with a new machine concept and significantly improved technical data in all areas.
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