The expert committee, set up by the commerce ministry for the implementation of the track and trace system for export of drug formulations, met the stakeholders from Mumbai on June 26 to deliberate and get their inputs on this matter. The meeting was aimed at finding feasible solution to the issues relating to the implementation of track and trace with authentication of system and suggest possible resolution, especially for the small and medium scale manufacturers.
 
The committee, consists of Sudhanshu Pandey, joint secretary, DoC as the chairman; Sudhansh Pant, joint secretary, DoP; K L Sharma, joint secretary, MoH&FW; Dr G N Singh, DCGI;  S Swaminathan, GM, GS1; A K Sinha, DDG, NIC as members and Dr P V Appaji, DG, Pharmexcil acting as member secretary along with president or his nominees of IPA, IDMA, ABLE, ADMA, BDMA, etc.
 
Interestingly, this is the second meeting after the constitution of this committee which was set up to study and submit report on evaluating the costing for the SME sector, assessing the capability of the vendors or service providers and suggest business process and re-engineering required at manufacturing level before its implementation to the government. The first meeting was held in Delhi early this month with committee members to formulate an agenda for the same.
 
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) through a notification recently, had issued the procedure for implementation of the track and trace system for exports of pharma and drug consignments. It also insists that all the relevant data as prescribed by DGFT should be uploaded on the central portal. It clearly directs all drug exporters to adhere to labeling of prescribed manufacturing data on various levels of packaging from October 1 while temporarily exempting barcode labeling on primary packaging.
 
It is understood that after its deliberative meet in Mumbai the committee is soon planning to have similar interaction with the stakeholders from Goa, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad in this month followed by other states. Pharmexcil informed that the commerce ministry is keen to sort out the logistical issues relating to track and trace system in the country especially in the wake of fast approaching date of implementation for barcoding for exports.
 
Dr Appaji director general of Pharmexcil informed that the meeting also focused upon reviewing available technologies, identifying appropriate printing technology, hardware, software system required for cost effective implementation of bar coding requirements as per the Centre's mandate. “While the government is keen on going ahead with the track and trace system for the exports, it wants to ensure that all possible measures are taken to support and help the exporters to adapt the changes. These measures are targeted to not only get their suggestions for making it industry friendly but also aimed at sensitizing them about the importance of this whole initiative for strengthening ‘brand India’,” informed Dr Appaji.