DRAP Introduces Barcodes and Unique Serial Numbers for Medicines

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has taken steps to improve medicine traceability by making barcode printing and unique serial numbers mandatory for pharmaceutical products.

Under the new system, unique serial numbers will be required on all pharmaceutical and biological medicines manufactured from October 19, 2026, according to the notification.

Barcodes and serial numbers will have to be printed on medicine packaging, and products without barcodes will not be allowed to be sold in the market after the deadline.

The new system will allow authorities to monitor medicines through a digital platform and maintain a record from manufacturing to patient use.

DRAP has directed the pharmaceutical industry to complete preparations for implementation of the new system. Training workshops will also be held for pharmaceutical manufacturers in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The workshops will be conducted on the directions of the DRAP chairman.

The serialization framework applies to allopathic medicines, including biological products for human and veterinary use, and does not cover categories such as alternative medicines, nutraceuticals, medical devices, medical gases and radiopharmaceuticals.