Combiflam, Allegra, Calpol among top 300 brands to carry QR codes

The data or information stored will have to include the unique product identification code, proper and generic name of the drug, name and address of the manufacturer, batch number, date of manufacturing and expiry and licence number.

The notification is applicable to all companies, both domestic and foreign, who are marketing the drugs in question in India, or who want to voluntarily adhere to the notification. While the QR code is currently only mandatory for the top 300 drug formulation brands, if a company wants they can voluntarily affix, print a barcode or QR code for any brand they wish.

The industry has welcomed the government's move as it believes the QR codes will help track and trace the medicines, which in turn can help recall batches, if required.

More importantly, the codes will help identify counterfeit medicines, which are a problem for bigger brands. Hence, industry watchers believe such a step will help curtail the issue of substandard or spurious drugs in the country. The hope is that other companies, especially mid-sized ones, will start adhering to the norms irrespective of the marginally-higher packaging costs.