The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has revealed spurious QR codes on a well-known pharma brand's medicine, leading to a widescale investigation and enforcement crackdown to ensure drug supply chain integrity.

Key Highlights

Spurious QR Codes Found on Leading Brand's Medicine

• More than 900 spurious strips of a well-known branded drug seized from different places in Gujarat.

• QR codes were forged to make fake products look like authentic ones, compromising traceability and patient safety.

Stringent Crackdown and Forensic Probe Initiated

• Gujarat FDCA is carrying out raids and forensic examination to trace the origin and supply of the spurious products.

• Probe likely to gain momentum in next few weeks with increased inter-state collaboration.

Fresh Training Programme to Enhance Drug Enforcement
150 drug enforcement officers (assistant commissioners, joint commissioners, inspectors) for capacity-building workshops.
Areas of focus are:

• Authentication technologies

• Legal and regulatory frameworks

• Digital tracking tools

• Field inspection techniques

Public Safety and Industry Credibility at Risk

• Counterfeit medicines may include the wrong or toxic ingredients, posing danger to patient health.

• FDCA alerts pharma firms to improve verification systems and work in close cooperation with regulators.

Consumer Helpline and Digital Reporting Expected

• People are encouraged to report suspect drugs and scan QR codes on official websites.

• FDCA to step up efforts with central regulators, customs, and other state authorities to check spurious drug trade in the country.

Official Statements
Dr. H.G. Koshia, Commissioner, Gujarat FDCA, stated:
"We are determined to break illegal drug networks and ensure the integrity of India's pharmaceutical supply. The detection of spurious QR codes is a wake-up call for greater industry-regulator cooperation."The QR code fraud highlights an increasingly significant threat to even the highest-selling pharmaceutical brands and necessitates the chemist as well as consumer vigilance. Gujarat FDCA's prompt response and training campaign is a solid step toward the regaining of confidence and enforcer tightening. As it becomes standard procedure to scan the QR codes, Indian retail chemists must scrutinize their suppliers thoroughly and be digitally up to date with verificatory measures so that they don't get tricked into taking in fake supplies.