India pharma Archives - rfxcel.com

India iVEDA Deadline Delayed for Track and Trace, Reporting

Our team in India just let us know that the iVEDA deadline for track and trace and reporting has been delayed. Here are the details.

As we wrote in early March, the Indian government had stipulated March 31 as the deadline for full track and trace and reporting to the Integrated Validation of Exports of Drugs from India and its Authentication (iVEDA) portal. The rules were to apply to both small-scale industry (SSI)- and non-SSI-manufactured drugs.

Today, however, the government extended the iVEDA deadline to August 1, 2023. The announcement was made through Public Notice 3/2023, which was signed by signed by Director General of Foreign Trade Santosh Kumar Sarangi.

As of today, the August deadline for barcoding the Top 300 domestic pharma brands is still valid. This requires eight data points to be incorporated into a bar code or QR code, including a unique product identification code (e.g., GTIN), the brand name, and manufacturing and expiry dates. The codes must be printed on or affixed to the primary packaging.

Final thoughts about the iVEDA deadline and requirements

We will of course continue to monitor these regulations and post news when necessary. Bookmark our blog and check back often to make sure you’re keeping up to date. And contact us today if you have any questions about this delay or compliance in any other country where you do you business.

For a good overview of India’s pharma regulations, read our update from September 2022. If we may say, our “Final thoughts” section in that article was prescient. We wrote that “India’s track and trace requirements are obviously evolving” and the pharma industry should “expect more changes as the deadlines for APIs [active pharmaceutical ingredients], iVEDA reporting, and barcoding get nearer.”

That post also cited some statistics from India’s Department of Pharmaceuticals’ 2020-21 Annual Report. Check those out and compare them with the highlights from the 2021-2022 Annual Report below. India remains one of largest and most important pharma markets in the world — and we can help ensure you stay compliant as its regulations evolve.

India pharma stats, 2021-2022

• India provides generic medicines to more than 200 countries.
• India is home to 8 of the world’s 20 largest manufacturers of generic medicines.
• More than 55 percent of its pharma exports to go to “highly regulated markets.”
• Ninety percent of World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualified APIs are sourced from India.
• Sixty-five to 70 percent of the WHO’s vaccine requirements are sourced from India.
• As of August 2021, there were 741 U.S. FDA-compliant manufacturing sites in India.
• As of December 2020, Indian companies had secured nearly 4,400 abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) market authorizations.

 

India Track and Trace Requirements Update: APIs, iVEDA, and Barcoding

It’s been a busy year with India track and trace requirements. The Ministry of Health has extended a deadline, announced a new deadline, and released new draft rules concerning key areas of the country’s pharmaceutical regulations.

There are deadlines coming up in the next 6 months, so let’s take a look at what’s happening with these India track and trace requirements..

India track and trace requirements for 2023

The upcoming India track and trace requirements affect three areas of manufacturing: labeling active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), reporting, and product labeling for the Top 300 brands. We’ll go in chronological order:

Labeling APIs: January 2023 deadline

Starting January 1, 2023, all imported and domestically manufactured APIs must be labeled with QR codes “at each level packaging that store data or information.” The government says this will help combat falsified drugs.

This is the culmination of a process that began in June 2019, when the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) approved a proposal mandating QR codes on APIs. At that time, DTAB estimated that the regulation would affect approximately 2,500 APIs.

The QR codes must contain 11 data points:

      1. Unique product identification code
      2. Name of the API
      3. Brand name (if any)
      4. Name and address of the manufacturer
      5. Batch number
      6. Batch size
      7. Date of manufacturing
      8. Date of expiry or retesting
      9. Serial shipping container code
      10. Manufacturing license number or import license number
      11. Special storage conditions required (if any)

QR codes will also link to a national database with pricing data from the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.

Companies are required to get a GS1 Company Prefix, a unique number that identifies a company as the owner a barcode and the product to which it’s affixed, and a GS1 Global Location Number. GS1 Global Trade Item Numbers will serve as the “unique identification code.”

Reporting to the iVEDA Portal: March 2023 deadline

On April 4, 2022, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) released a public notice that extended to March 31, 2023, the deadline for export reporting to the Integrated Validation of Exports of Drugs from India and its Authentication (iVEDA) portal. The change applies to both small-scale industry (SSI)- and non-SSI-manufactured drugs.

The deadline for this requirement has been postponed at least four times, starting in 2018, when India track and trace requirements centered around another reporting portal, the Drugs Authentication and Verification Application (DAVA). As we reported when iVEDA was launched, the deadline was changed from April 1, 2020, to October 1, 2020. It was changed again in April 2021 and, as we’re discussing now, in April 2022.

Draft regulations for barcoding pharma products: May 2023 deadline

On September 5, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published draft guidelines for barcoding the Top 300 brands in the country, all of which are named in “Schedule H2” of the announcement. The rules will come into force on May 1, 2023.

The goal of these India track and trace requirements — like so many other regulations around the world — is to combat counterfeiting, diversion, and unauthorized sales. The rules stipulate that eight data points must be incorporated into a “Bar Code or Quick Response Code” to be printed on or affixed to the primary packaging:

      • Unique product identification code (e.g., GTIN)
      • Proper and generic drug name
      • Brand name
      • Batch number
      • Expire date
      • Manufacturer name and address
      • Manufacture date
      • Manufacturing license number

If there is “inadequate space in primary package label,” the codes must be placed on the secondary packaging.

Industry observers have noted concerns with the guidelines, including:

      • QR codes may not be practical for data-dense pharmaceutical labeling.
      • The guidelines may not actually help fight counterfeits, diversion, and unauthorized sales.
      • In order for the eight mandated data points to be readable, labels would have to be unrealistically large — too big to fit on most packages.
      • It’s not clear if 2D DataMatrix codes would meet the requirements for a “Bar Code” in the guidelines.
      • GS1 standards are not required; in fact, they’re not mentioned at all.

To this last point, the initial response seems to point toward a call for GS1 standards: DataMatrix for barcoding, GTINs to identify products, use of two-digit Authentication Identifiers.

Final thoughts

India track and trace requirements are obviously evolving. Expect more changes as the deadlines for APIs, iVEDA reporting, and barcoding get nearer.

But one thing won’t change: India will continue to cultivate its position in the global pharmaceutical industry. Consider these statistics from its Department of Pharmaceuticals 2020-21 Annual Report:

      • The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the world’s third largest by volume and 14th largest in terms of value.
      • It has the second-most FDA-approved plants for generic drug manufacturing outside the United States.
      • It accounts for 60% of global vaccine production.
      • It is the world’s third-largest API market (8% share of global API industry, 500+ APIs manufactured in India, and it contributes 57% of APIs on the World Health Organization’s Prequalified List of APIs).

Our team has worked in the India pharma market for many years and understand its complexities, challenges, and benefits. We have offices and experienced staff in the country. And our signature Traceability System and Compliance Management solution have helped our customers keep up with India track and trace requirements and remain competitive.

Contact us today to lean more about the India track and trace requirements and to arrange a demo. In about 15 minutes, one of our supply chain experts can show you how we can maximize your impact in India.

Uzbekistan Pharma Serialization Update: September 1 Deadline & More

We’ve been following the Uzbekistan pharma serialization rollout as part of our ongoing survey of global pharmaceutical regulations and compliance.

As we wrote in mid-February 2022, the country’s State Tax Committee “extend[ed] the timeframe for the phased introduction of mandatory digital markings” of pharmaceutical products. That announcement, however, didn’t stipulate a new deadline.

So, what’s the latest with Uzbekistan pharma serialization? Let’s take a look.

Uzbekistan pharma serialization and Resolution No. 149

On April 2 of this year, Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 149, “On the introduction of a system of mandatory digital labeling of medicines and medical devices.” This established the following labeling deadlines for medicinal products and medical devices:

      • September 1, 2022: products produced with secondary (external) packaging (except for orphan drugs)
      • November 1, 2022: products produced with primary (internal) packaging (provided there is no secondary packaging) and medical agricultural products (except for orphan drugs)
      • March 1, 2023: products and medical products to treat orphan diseases as designated by the Ministry of Health
      • March 1, 2023: drugs included in the register of drugs with foreign registrations, the results of which are recognized in Uzbekistan
      • February 1, 2025: medical products on a list approved by tax authorities and the Ministry of Health

Additionally, there seems to be a grace period for the mandatory labeling in two circumstances:

      • Products that were produced domestically within 90 days of these deadlines do not have to be labeled and may be circulated.
      • Products that were imported within 180 days of these deadlines do not have to be labeled and may be circulated.

More about the labeling requirements

The Uzbekistan traceability system is called ASL BELGISI. It’s managed by CRPT Turon, the equivalent of Russia’s Center for Research in Perspective Technologies (CRPT), which manages Russia’s National Track and Trace Digital System (Chestny ZNAK).

The regulations currently apply to five product categories other than medicines and medical devices: tobacco; alcohol, including wine and wine products; beer and brewing products; appliances; and water and soft drinks.

Products in every regulated industry must be labeled with DataMatrix codes that include four data points:

      • A 14-digit product code (i.e., Global Trade Item Number, or GTIN)
      • A 13-character randomized serial number generated by CRPT Turon or a supply chain participant
      • A four-character verification key generated by CRPT Turon
      • A 44-character verification code (i.e., crypto code) generated by CRPT Turon

To learn more about Uzbekistan pharma serialization, how ASL BELGISI works, and labeling requirements, read our “Uzbekistan Traceability Update” from earlier this year. Keep in mind that we wrote this before the first deadline delay and adoption of Resolution No. 149.

Final thoughts

The Uzbekistan pharma serialization deadlines are upon us — about three weeks away. Since its inception, ASL BELGISI has been a hot topic in the industry, especially in key pharma-producing countries.

India, for example, has taken a keen interest in the requirements. One recent article reported that Indian pharma companies are “looking for more clarity over regulations and technical standards … and looking for a transition period to migrate to digital labeling.” The same article noted several other interesting points:

      • India’s pharma exports to Uzbekistan more than doubled in fiscal year 2020-21.
      • India’s export of pharma products to Uzbekistan totaled $137 million in 2021.
      • Uzbekistan’s pharma market is valued at $1.5 billion.
      • There are opportunities for investment and exports in Uzbekistan’s oncology and dermatology sectors.

The good news is that we can help you navigate Uzbekistan pharma serialization requirements no matter where you’re based — India, Asia, the EU, the UK, Latin America, the United States. We have experts in all of these markets, and rfxcel and Antares Vision Group are committed to ensuring you’re compliant everywhere you do business. Contact us today and schedule a short demo of our award-winning Traceability System and our Compliance Management solution.

 

India Pharma News: FDA Recalls, COVID-19 Vaccine & Ideas Summit 2020

The last time we checked in on the India pharma supply chain, the country had announced restrictions on the export of active pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines, launched its national iVEDA portal for drug authentication and track and trace, and changed a deadline for regulations concerning drug exports.

There have been some India pharma headlines in the last week or two, so let’s do a summer roundup.

FDA Recall of India Pharma Products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Indian government work together on pharma supply chain issues. From January 28–30, 2020, for example, a joint action called Operation Broadsword prevented approximately 500 shipments of illegal and unapproved prescription drugs and medical devices from reaching U.S. consumers.

Now, two Indian pharma companies are voluntarily recalling lots of Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets because FDA analysis revealed they could contain nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a known carcinogen, above the acceptable limit. The recall affects both 500mg and 1000mg tablets. Metformin is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. A complete list of all metformin products being recalled is available on the FDA website.

There are two other FDA recalls affecting Indian pharma companies. About 1,500 bottles of Clozapine are being recalled after 50mg tablets were found in bottles of 100mg tablets, and one lot of Aripiprazole tablets are being recalled because bottles labeled as containing 30 2mg tablets actually contain 100 5mg tablets. Clozapine is used to treat mood/mental disorders and Aripiprazole is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

India pharma company anticipates COVID-19 vaccine early next year

The chairman of Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila says he expects phase 1 and phase 2 studies of its novel coronavirus vaccine to be completed in three months. It is currently testing the vaccine, ZyCoV-D, for safety and efficacy. It will be compared with placebo.

As reported in the Hindu Times, Chairman Pankaj Patel said the vaccine could be ready in “about seven or a little more than seven months … provided the data is encouraging and the vaccine is proven to be effective during the trials.” He said Cadila might be able to produce up to 100 million doses a year.

Zydus Cadila is also planning to produce remdesivir, which is being used worldwide to treat COVID-19. Patel the company could produce up to 400,000 doses of the medicine in the first month after it wins regulatory approval to manufacture it in India.

India Ideas Summit 2020

The United States India Business Council (USIBC) is holding its 45th annual meeting next week. Together with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it will host the Ideas Summit, also an annual event, from July 21-22. It will be a virtual gathering, naturally.

This year’s theme is “Building a Better Future.” Looking to a “post-COVID world,” diplomats, scholars, senior business executives, think tanks, and other thought leaders will discuss topics ranging from geopolitics and equitable growth to the future of healthcare and digitization and technology trends.

They will also focus on global supply chains. This month, the USIBC released a white paper entitled “Positioning India to Capture Global Supply Chains & Grow Economic Opportunity.” The 22-page paper is of interest to anyone who follows supply chains and recognizes India’s position in global markets. It touches on the work of the USIBC Task Force on Supply Chain Standards and Practices and how the country is working to attract new supply chains. Read the white paper here.

Final thoughts

India will undoubtedly continue to cultivate its position in the global pharmaceutical industry. It’s actively modernizing its supply chain. For example, in April it replaced its Drugs Authentication and Verification Application (DAVA) with the Integrated Validation of Exports of Drugs from India and its Authentication (iVEDA) portal.

We’ve worked in the India pharma market for many years and understand its complexities, challenges, and benefits. Our signature rfxcel Traceability System (rTS) and rfxcel Compliance Management (rCM) solution have helped our customers keep up with India’s regulations and remain competitive.

Contact us today to see how we can maximize your impact in India.