MOSCOW, September 28. /TASS/. Russia may launch a pilot QR code marking system for medicines similar to RFID marks for fur items starting in January 2017, the Minister of Industry Denis Manturov said on Wednesday.

"The key feature distinguishing fur item markings from drugs is that QR codes will be used instead of the RFID format. They are cheaper and will not affect the price. At the same time, they will keep out counterfeit and smuggled products and provide our consumers with high quality and legitimate products in all aspects. We will launch it under pilot conditions starting next year on January 1," Manturov said.

Fur items tagged with RFID chips were made mandatory in the Eurasian Economic Union as of August 2016.