GS1 has launched a new messaging standard in collaboration with GS1 US to help meet the requirements of the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) for salable returns of serialized prescription drugs. Developed and vetted by a global GS1 workgroup comprised of manufacturers, distributors and solution providers, this new standard specifies a lightweight messaging framework for product verification request and response. With this development, supply chain partners will be able to verify that a product in their possession is suitable for forward distribution. Manufacturer verification of the product identifier and associated data will give supply chain stakeholders actionable information helping them to determine whether to accept, reject or quarantine a product.
Beginning November 27, 2019, the DSCSA will require wholesalers and distributors to verify the unique identifier of returned products before these can be placed into inventory for resale. A manufacturer that receives a verification request from a repackager, wholesale distributor or dispenser will be obliged to respond to that request within 24 hours. Against this backdrop, pharmaceutical supply chain trading partners asked GS1 to develop a verification messaging standard.
Although this standard was driven by pharmaceutical regulatory requirements in the US, it has been developed as a generic lightweight framework that will support re-use and extension for other product sectors, in all geographic regions.
