Author: André Borges

Source: Valor Econômico - São Paulo / SP - 17/03/2010

André Borges, from São Paulo

By the first half of 2011, the more than 2 billion boxes of medicine consumed each year in the country should have an authenticity seal - a label attached to the packaging similar to that used on cigarette packs and whiskey bottles. The measure applies to all types of medication, from a simple antacid to highly complex drugs.

With the system, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) wants to harden the fight against smuggling and counterfeiting. The technology will allow the agency to track each medicine box, checking its authenticity and the path taken, from production to reaching the consumer - a kind of "RG" of the medicine, with data on its manufacturer, distributor and logistics.

The Mint will be responsible for the manufacture of the stamps. A 13-digit code with two-dimensional printing will be inserted in each one. The label is rendered useless in any attempt to remove it. To store and manage the data collected by manual readers, the industry will create an independent consortium, which will be supervised by Anvisa.