Narendra Modi’s government is ready to replicate QR codes on everything from medicines to fertilizers with the aim of weeding out counterfeit goods, News18.com has learned.
In November, the Drug Administration under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers issued a gazette notice requiring barcodes or quick response (QR) codes on the labels of the 300 top-selling brand formulations from 1 August 2023. bottom.
The move, which is backed by the pharmaceutical industry, aims to help identify counterfeit drugs and counterfeit drugs.
Now, mimicking a move to combat the problem of fake or contaminated fertilizers that lead to lost production and income opportunities for farmers, the government will start barcoding single superphosphate (SSP) fertilizers.
SSP is an important indigenous fertilizer containing proportions of the three major nutrients required by plants (phosphorus, sulfur and calcium) and many micronutrients.
The packet’s QR code contains a unique product identification code, brand name, manufacturer’s name and address, batch number, production date, expiration date, and manufacturing license number.
“The move is being driven by Minister of Health, Pharmaceuticals and Fertilizers Mansuf Mandaviya. ,” said a government official involved in the development.
Why SSP?
India produces over 5.6 million tonnes of SSP annually, which serves as a better alternative to DAP (diammonium phosphate) fertilizers, which rely heavily on imports.
An official from the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI) said, “We have found some counterfeit products where the amount of SSP essential products is well below the required percentage. Giving examples, he said: It does not benefit the plants and affects the income of the farmers.”
A pilot project has started and will soon be rolled out at the national level
In pharmaceuticals, the project will be run by the Indian Pharmaceuticals Alliance, which is a lobby of major Indian pharmaceutical companies. Similarly, in fertilizers, the FAI, the largest trade body, has been mandated to carry out the project.
“During the December 12th meeting, we discussed this idea with Minister Mandaviya and he was very happy to implement it. are beginning to identify,” an FAI official who wished to remain anonymous told News18.com.
The pilot was launched with products manufactured by Hyderabad-based Coromandel, one of the top names in the manufacture of fertilizers, pesticides and specialty nutrients in India.
Listed companies with gross revenues of over Rs 16,000 in the last financial year are working with vendors selected by FAI to implement track and trace barcode mechanisms.
“The pilot is likely to be finished by the end of March and will likely move on to a nationwide rollout soon,” said FAI officials, noting that one of the most common problems they face is getting barcodes out of packs. added that it should. of fertilizer due to rough handling of the product.
Officials say products are handled “discreetly” with pharmaceuticals, but with fertilizers everything is “thrown on the ground or in a warehouse”. It’s very rough,” he said.
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