ASPA Advocates Multi-Layered Security for Pharmaceutical Supply Chains

Industry body says authentication and traceability solutions should complement supplier registration to strengthen pharmaceutical packaging security.

The Authentication Solution Providers’ Association (ASPA) has welcomed the Government of India’s initiative to enhance oversight and traceability within the pharmaceutical packaging ecosystem, describing it as a significant step toward improving patient safety and combating counterfeit medicines.

According to ASPA, strengthening accountability and transparency in pharmaceutical packaging is essential for building a secure and resilient pharmaceutical supply chain.

While supporting the proposed registration framework for packaging suppliers, the association noted that registration alone may not be sufficient to effectively address the growing risks associated with counterfeit products.

ASPA has recommended that Authentication and Traceability Solutions (ATS) be implemented alongside supplier registration to establish a more robust, secure and reliable pharmaceutical supply chain. The association believes that integrating advanced authentication technologies with regulatory oversight will improve product integrity and enhance traceability throughout the supply chain.

The association also emphasized that any future regulatory framework should strike a balance between stronger oversight and ease of compliance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). ASPA further called for the adoption of standardized security practices across the pharmaceutical packaging ecosystem to promote consistency, transparency and long-term supply chain resilience.

By combining regulatory registration with authentication and traceability technologies, ASPA believes India can further strengthen its efforts to protect patients, improve pharmaceutical packaging security and reduce the circulation of counterfeit medicines.