Labelling Committee Moots Country Wise Code For Drug Exports

The sub committee for labeling of drugs set up by DCGI is considering to incorporate a country wise code number on the labels of exporting products to ensure quality compliance and perfection in each consignment. The coding system will ensure proper delivery of consignment to the appropriate nation, for which the quality requirements of the product are to be met.

The sub committee has also stipulated other issues related to labeling of drugs for exports, including the list of documents to be enclosed with the product to clarify quality and mandating the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the manufacturers in the package to curb exporting of counterfeit products to overseas market, added sources related to the development.

The first meeting of the sub committee held at Maharashtra FDA office in February 15, 2007. The meeting was faced by the exporter and the authority in exports of drugs to various nations. The sub committee is constituted to look into methods to improve the current labeling system considering the issues in overseas and domestic markets. The objective includes verifying whether the current labeling process is sufficient to meet the quality requirements of the destination region, how to make the labeling simple and effective and the major domestic issues including the introduction of bilingual labeling.

"We will soon invite the opinion and suggestions of the industry associations including Indian Drug Manufacturers Association on the bilingual labeling issue. The body will have more discussions on the issues in the second meeting, planned to conduct by March, this year," a member from the sub committee told Pharmabiz.

(Ref : Chronicle Pharmabiz dated February 22, 2007)