GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Pharmaceutical Cargo Authentication Technologies

Pharmaceutical cargo authentication technologies are the methods and systems used to uniquely identify medicinal packaging and verify its authenticity.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011L0062

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Pharmaceutical cargo authentication technologies are the methods and systems used to uniquely identify medicinal packaging and verify its authenticity. They include serialization with machine-readable codes, RFID tags, holographic security features, and cryptographic techniques that together detect counterfeit products at every point in the supply chain. Manufacturers and wholesalers are legally required in many markets to assign a unique identifier to each pack and operate track-and-trace systems; in the EU, Directive 2011/62/EU – the Falsified Medicines Directive – establishes this framework. At border crossings and during warehouse intake, customs officers and logistics staff can query the underlying databases to validate a consignment's legitimacy on the spot. These technologies are distinct from condition monitoring, which records transport parameters such as temperature: authentication focuses on product identity and provenance.

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Pharmaceutical Cargo Authentication Technologies

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