India's Commerce Ministry Decides to Extend 2nd Phase of Barcoding Implementation

The second phase of barcoding will become mandatory from July 1, 2012 along with the third phase of barcoding on primary level packaging.

Even as the Madras High Court has stayed till January 6, 2012 the second phase of mandatory implementation of barcoding for pharma exporters, the union commerce ministry has decided to extend the implementation of the second phase of barcoding by six months.

Now, the second phase of barcoding will become mandatory from July 1, 2012 along with the third phase of barcoding on primary level packaging.

According to sources, the ministry has taken an in-principle decision to extend by six months the second phase of barcoding on pharma exporters under which the trace and track technology has been made compulsory on secondary level packaging. However, a notification is yet to come in this regard.