All news

Russia may usher in barcode system for all drugs within 18 months — Deputy PM

Since February 1, 2017 Russia initiated a pilot project on barcode marking of pharmaceuticals for protection against poor quality and counterfeit products

MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. A marking system for all pharmaceuticals may start operations in a pilot mode by the end of this year and may become fully operational in coming eighteen months, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said on Saturday.

"We are now dealing with introduction of the marking system. The system will go live for several dozens of positions in the pilot mode by the end of this year. Several pharmaceutical chains will participate in it, along with distributors and individual hospitals. I think we will be able to introduce the system across the country at large in eighteen months. The deadline is actually January 1, 2019," Dvorkovich said.

Since February 1, 2017 Russia initiated a pilot project on barcode marking of pharmaceuticals for protection against poor quality and counterfeit products. The marking is planned to become binding upon all producers and distributors of pharmaceuticals in Russia since 2018.