Context: Drugmakers have got another extension up to August 1, to implement the Track and Trace system for the export of pharmaceutical consignments.
Background:
- The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the world in terms of volume, accounting for 10 per cent of the world’s production.
- With exports to more than 200 countries, India is the world leader in the production of generic drugs and vaccines.
- Every third dose of vaccine administered anywhere in the world comes from an Indian manufacturing facility.
About the track and trace system
It is a system based on GS1 standards that
- gave the ability to accurately identify pharmaceuticals at various packaging levels
- provides the ability to collect and store product information on a real-time basis
This system is named DAVA (Drug Authentication and Verification Application)
What is GS1 standards?
GS1 is a not-for-profit organization that develops and maintains global standards for business communication.
How DAVA works?
- Manufacturers and exporters directly upload data to DAVA after production and before the consignment leaves their manufacturing facilities.
- The accuracy, completeness and timely upload of the data is their responsibility.
Advantages of Track and trace system
- Pharmaceutical consignments are expected to move through customs both in India and at the importing country much faster than it does today because consignments can be quickly inspected by scanning barcodes and validating them against the data available in DAVA.
- Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers will be able to improve the accuracy of their dispatch processes and enable efficient and automated FIFO (first in, first out) management.
- Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers will have a competitive edge in international markets by being able to comply with various global and national regulations and buyers’ requirements.
- Global confidence in India’s brand image as a safe producer of pharmaceuticals will be protected.
- Indian regulators will be able to fight any false counterfeit allegations, if and when required.
- Consumers will be empowered to authenticate and be protected against health and safety risks associated with counterfeits