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When it comes to serialization, start now

A seminar held during interpack by Optel and Domino emphasizes the urgency of developing a serialization strategy now, and addresses the challenges of implementation.

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After closely following developing legislation for pharmaceutical serialization as well as partnering with customers to implement serialization strategies, Optel Vision and Domino Printing Sciences have witnessed firsthand the challenges of adapting packaging lines to ensure compliance. At interpack 2014, the two companies sponsored two half-day Serialization Seminars to advise pharmaceutical packagers on these hidden challenges.

“In talking to customers, there are many things they have not thought of,” Bart Vansteenkiste, EU Lifesciences Sector Manager for Domino, told Healthcare Packaging during an exclusive pre-seminar interview at the expo.

Both Vansteenkiste and colleague Michel Bullen, Manager of Track & Trace Solutions for Optel, told HCP that one of the most important messages of the seminar would be that pharma companies must start now to implement serialization.

“It can take up to three years to have everything ready for serialization and aggregation,” said Vansteenkiste. “Once you have a pilot line, how long will you want to test it before you roll it out to the rest of your lines? This could add another year. If you don’t plan ahead, it could be catastrophic—it could shut down your business.”

In Europe, the date for full compliance with the EU Falsified Medicines Directive is expected to be March 2018, necessitating the urgency for pharma companies to act now.

Challenges addressed
During the seminar, Bullen spoke on “Serialization Impacts on Packaging Lines,” while Vansteenkiste addressed “The Hidden Challenges of Serialization and Legislative Compliance,” based on two Domino white papers. In addition, Nicola Cadei, Director of Operations for Mipharm, a pharmaceutical co-packer based in Italy, shared his company’s experiences implementing serialization using technology solutions from Optel and Domino.

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