The Union Health Ministry has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, to make QR codes or barcodes mandatory on vaccines, antimicrobials, anticancer medicines, and narcotic and psychotropic substances by including them under Schedule H2. According to the notification, manufacturers must print or affix the QR code on the primary packaging label, or on the secondary packaging if there is inadequate space. The code must contain information including the unique product identification code, proper and generic names, brand name (if applicable), manufacturer details, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, manufacturing licence number, and any special storage conditions required.
If applicable, it should also include information on excipients, pharmacological classification, and a unique identification number or global trade item number. The notification states that the provisions will come…
