QR Code Made Must For Key Drugs: Centre

New Delhi: The Centre has expanded the QR code-based track-and-trace mechanism to cover antimicrobials, vaccines, anti-cancer medicines, and narcotic and psychotropic drugs to strengthen safeguards against counterfeit and substandard medicines.

The Union health ministry has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, bringing these categories under Schedule H2, which mandates barcodes or QR codes for product identification and verification.

Under the revised rules, manufacturers must print or affix QR codes on primary packaging, or on secondary packaging where space is limited, to enable authentication across the supply chain.

The ministry said the QR code will carry details such as product identification code, generic and brand names, manufacturer details, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, licence number and excipient information, where applicable. The requirement was earlier limited to the top 300 pharmaceutical brands.

With the amendment, coverage has been extended to all vaccines, antimicrobials, anti-cancer drugs and narcotic and psychotropic medicines regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

The measure is aimed at strengthening traceability, curbing the circulation of spurious medicines and supporting efforts to address antimicrobial resistance through improved identification of substandard products.

The government has prescribed phased timelines for implementation. Provisions for vaccines, anti-cancer medicines and narcotic and psychotropic drugs will come into effect from July 1, while those for antimicrobials will be implemented from July 1, 2028.