TRACK AND TRACE SYSTEM - ECONOMY
News: Drugmakers
get more time to join ‘Track and Trace system’ for exports
What's in the news?
● Drugmakers
have got another extension, this time up to August 1, to help implement the
Track and Trace system for export of pharmaceuticals consignments.
Track and Trace System:
● Track
& Trace system is a software-based
solution to track vehicles, loading units, shipments or products throughout
the entire supply chain from supplier to
consumer.
● This
system for the export of pharmaceuticals consignments is being implemented as a
measure to address counterfeit and
product recall challenges.
How will it trace and track?
● Under
this system, the manufacturer or the exporter of drug formulations would have
to print the barcode as per global
standards at different packaging levels - primary, secondary and tertiary
to facilitate tracking and tracing of their products.
● Barcoding
will help in tracking and tracing the origin of drugs, which minimizes the
chances of genuine medicines being considered spurious, sub-standard or
counterfeit.
The
latest extension was granted after the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council
of India (Pharmexcil) cited difficulty in adopting the system.
Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India:
● Pharmaceutical
Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is a promotion body set up by
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
Government of India.
● It
was set up to promote the Indian pharmaceutical industry.
● The
roles of the council are
○ To
advise the government.
○ To
organize seminars and meetings on export-related issues.
○ To
organize business meetings in India and abroad.
○ To
organize trade delegations.