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Indian packaging industry has asserted that anti-counterfeit measures are a critical strategy to address fake drug trade. These fake drugs often lack active ingredients, contain harmful substances, or are produced in unsanitary conditions.
The consequences can be dire: ineffective treatments, severe adverse reactions, or even fatalities. This reality underscores the need for advanced packaging solutions integrating overt and covert security features to safeguard public health and maintain consumer trust. Therefore, packaging plays a huge part in tackling counterfeiting crisis faced by the pharmaceutical industry.
According to Jeevaraj Gopal Pillai, director, sustainability, president, flexible packaging and new product development, UFlex, counterfeit pharmaceuticals pose a severe threat to public health, brand integrity, and regulatory frameworks. The illicit trade of fake drugs, which has grown in both scale and sophistication, demands robust countermeasures to protect consumers and secure the supply chain. Anti-counterfeit packaging has emerged as a critical strategy to address this challenge, ensuring pharmaceutical products remain authentic, safe, and compliant with regulatory standards.
The global pharmaceutical counterfeiting crisis is staggering. Counterfeit medications infiltrate markets across continents, jeopardizing the health of millions. Anti-counterfeit packaging plays a vital role in drug safety and regulatory compliance. Secure packaging solutions not only help identify authentic products but also ensure pharmaceutical companies meet stringent regulatory requirements. By leveraging advanced technologies, packaging serves as the first line of defence against counterfeiters, offering consumer’s the confidence in the medicines and maintain the integrity of the healthcare ecosystem, he pointed out.
To address these challenges, we have developed advanced solutions, including integrating overt and covert features in packaging. For instance, holographic films are employed at various levels of sophistication to enhance security. Overt features, visible to the naked eye, enable consumers to verify authenticity effortlessly. These include standard holographic films which is the Level 1. Customized holographic films with brand-specific patterns as Level 2 and advanced holographic films with Fresnel lenses for unique, replication-resistant designs as Level 3. Covert features, on the other hand, remain hidden and require specialized tools for verification, such as micro text, hidden text, and UV ink printing that reveals details under ultraviolet light. Together, these overt and covert features provide a robust, multi-layered solution to ensure product authenticity and combat counterfeiting effectively, added Pillai.
Additional measures like serialization, tamper-evident packaging, and smart authentication further strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain. Serialization enables unique identification of each product unit, while tamper-evident features provide visible signs of interference. Smart authentication methods, such as QR codes or NFC tags, allow consumers and regulators to verify product authenticity instantly, he noted.
Collaboration with regulatory bodies and industry groups is key to combating counterfeit drugs effectively. By aligning innovations with global standards and sharing best practices, scalable and secure packaging solutions can be implemented across markets. We have been actively spreading awareness about these solutions through exhibitions and seminars, driving industry-wide adoption of secure packaging practices. Through continued cooperation, we aim to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain and ensure product safety and authenticity worldwide.
Innovations in anti-counterfeit packaging will continue to evolve, offering hope for a safer and more reliable pharmaceutical landscape. By integrating advanced security features and fostering industry collaboration, we can significantly mitigate the risks of counterfeit drugs and protect public health worldwide, said Pillai.
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