Author: Fabiana Buzzo

Source: Correio Popular - SP - 10/11/2009

Fabiana Buzzo
ANHANGUERA AGENCY

The drugs sold in Brazil will gain, as of January, a kind of RG against counterfeits. The measure is foreseen in Federal Law 11.903, sanctioned at the beginning of this year, which determines that the manufacturers of medicines include in the packaging a safety device that allows the drug to be traced from its manufacture until it reaches the consumer and thereby allow the citizen to guarantee origin and authenticity of medicines. This device will start to be implanted in January 2010 and, in three years, all drugs must have the technology.

Through this device, which may be a bar code, a numerical series or even a chip implanted in the boxes, the data on the products, from their production, transport to their sale in pharmacies will be transmitted and stored electronically. Medication Control.

The registered information can be accessed by the inspection agencies, manufacturers, distributors, traders and even users. The purpose of the legislation is to combat counterfeiting, fraud, smuggling and theft of medicines.

According to the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the technology to be implemented has not yet been defined, but it is in the finalization phase. The agency explained that the criteria for security, implementation and the best cost-benefit are being considered in the choice.

In June of this year, the Brazilian Institute of Ethics in Competition (ETCO) carried out a pilot test of a two-dimensional code printed directly on the box that allows to store data about the producing company, batch, product, date of manufacture and the serial number.

This code is a kind of evolved barcode composed of dots and a numerical sequence already used internationally. “This code can be read by a newer generation optical reader. The idea would be to make the consultation available to the consumer as it happens today in supermarkets, when you want to see the price of a product ”, he explained. The test, authorized by Anvisa, was carried out with seven industries, three distributors, four pharmacy chains and 11 points of sale. The report was forwarded to the agency, but it has not yet been determined whether this technology will be applied.

For pharmacy assistant Jaime Bastilha, 47, the measure should bring more security to both establishments and consumers. "It's great. It will prevent counterfeiting and especially theft. Today we see many pharmacies announcing astronomical discounts, totally unviable, which generate suspicions about the origin of the drugs. I think that with this, the consumer will have a greater guarantee than what he is taking home ”, he said.

The painter Everton Magalhães Prado, 51, also liked the novelty. “Today, there are many drug thefts. We see news about it directly. It will guarantee safety and, especially, the origin of the products for those who are buying, ”he said. For dentist Thais Sperandeo, 29, the control of medicines by pharmacies and the State will become easier and thus prevent counterfeiting and smuggling. “It's super cool. We have seen these days the seizure of counterfeit and expired medicines that were normally sold. With that, it will be possible to have more control and avoid situations like these ”, he said.