Tougher Anti-counterfeiting Laws Bitter Pill for Pharma

In an effort to curtail drug counterfeiting, some 21 states have passed "pedigree" legislation--laws that require the documentation of how drugs pass through the supply chain to the retailer. Much to the dismay of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers alike, California lawmakers will up the ante in January 2009 when one of the most stringent E-pedigree laws goes into effect.
According to Carol Rozwell, a vice president with consultancy Gartner Inc., the law's stipulation of an "interoperable" trail means systems must be able to exchange electronic records. And unlike some other states, which require tracking efforts to begin with wholesalers, California's law begins with the manufacturer and requires a unique identifier on the smallest package.
Source: CFO, http://cfo.com