Karnataka pharmaceutical companies are adopting international packaging methods like non-contact printing, use of barcode and holograms as measures to safeguard their products from imitation.

Sources from the trade sector representing Bangalore District Druggists and Chemists Association and the Karnataka Druggists and Chemists Association informed that over 40 per cent of the companies have changed their packaging methods in recent months. Most companies have allocated 5 per cent of the total turnover for innovative packaging methods. Companies do not adopt different packaging methods for the domestic and international market.

The acknowledged international packaging methods are holograms, bar codes and cold forming blister packs, stated pharma industry officials representing quality assurance departments.

The leading packaging companies in the state include SMI Technologies, CVC Technologies, Inter labels, Great Eastern Impex, Associated Capsules, Benaka Mudrin, Halo Security Technologies, Bangalore. Companies are also approached by Laser Security, New Delhi and Holotech, Mumbai with novel packaging technology options.

Only a bare 10 per cent of the firms were known to have been using innovative packaging methods till a year ago. Most of the firms generally used only blister packaging which was not allowed for easy imitation.

"The new trends in a packaging will benefit the consumer who is now assured of superior quality drugs. Not only these measures can prevent imitation, but better packaging standards will also ensure the quality of drugs till the expiry date," informed Dr K Suresh K Muhammed, Karnataka drugs controller.

The Lok Ayukta raid on the state drugs control department on March 26, 2003, unearthed irregularities in the department and the officials' inaction had allegedly led to large-scale supply of spurious drugs into the market. The raids have also revealed that drugs were being sold at inflated rates.

After the scam, several alert manufacturers in the state went in for holograms, colour branding and bar coding the manufacturing dates and other particulars of the drugs on the packages.

Some of the common painkillers and other drugs are now sold in standard packaging with holograms, bar codes and silver foils.

Multinational companies like AstraZeneca Pharma India have also planned holograms and barcodes on all its products.