PVPA Chairman Leads Deliberations on 2-D Barcode & Serialization Requirements Ahead of Regulatory Engagement

Chairman's deliberations

Chairman PVPA Dr. Asim Mahmood Khan has emphasised the importance of understanding the practical implications of serialization requirements before and during institutional engagement with the relevant regulatory authorities. The deliberations considered the readiness of companies, international principals, technical systems, imported finished products and supply-chain processes required for compliance.

• Dr. Asim Mahmood Khan, Chairman PVPA
• Dr. Ghulam Mahboob
• Dr. Sajeel Das
• Mr. Zain Mahmood Randhawa
• Dr. Khurram Shafi Khan
• Dr. Khalid Naeem Khawaja

The official meeting material states that different opinions and views were shared regarding feasibility and practical implementation.

From regulatory requirement to practical implementation

Implementation is not simply the placement of a barcode. The discussion covered serialization infrastructure, unique product identification, data exchange, international manufacturers and principal companies, imported finished products, supply-chain processes, verification, system readiness and regulatory compliance. Areas considered included generation and management of unique serialised identifiers, product and pack-level data, integration with manufacturers and principals, import documentation, scanning and verification where applicable, IT and database readiness, coordination between Pakistani importers and international manufacturers, staff training, and technical support.

Implementation challenges

Participants reviewed the feasibility of implementation within the timeframe identified in the PVPA meeting material, together with operational and technical challenges, industry readiness, practical compliance requirements, and the need for continued institutional engagement.

Imported finished veterinary products

The meeting focused on imported finished veterinary pharmaceutical products and coordination with international principal companies. Effective implementation requires technical preparation, particularly where serialisation depends on arrangements with manufacturers outside Pakistan.

Engagement with the Ministry of Health and DRAP

PVPA seeks continued institutional dialogue with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination and DRAP to discuss the practical implementation of the requirements. PVPA intends to maintain constructive institutional dialogue with the Ministry and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), including engagement with Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal and DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr. Obaid Ullah Malik, so that the industry's documented technical and operational observations can be placed before the relevant authorities.

A subsequent Chairman's Activity records the 30 September 2026 dialogue with Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal and DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr Obaid Ullah, together with other DRAP officials. That report documents the discussion. It does not record an approval, exemption, extension, or change to the requirements.

Continuity of PVPA–DRAP dialogue

Serialization and traceability are intended to support product authenticity, supply-chain traceability, regulatory compliance, medicines quality, protection against counterfeit or falsified products, and accountability across the supply chain. Adequate technical preparation remains necessary, especially for imported finished products involving international manufacturers.

Looking ahead

PVPA will continue to engage with the relevant regulatory authorities and stakeholders on the practical aspects of implementation, with the objective of supporting regulatory compliance while ensuring that the veterinary pharmaceutical industry's technical and operational realities are appropriately communicated.

The meeting concluded with emphasis on continued engagement with regulatory authorities so that practical implementation considerations and industry concerns could be appropriately communicated.

Meeting photographs

Related PVPA regulatory articles

• PVPA–Ministry of Health dialogue, 30 September 2026

  Documented Chairman's Activity on veterinary drug traceability and the 2D barcode discussion with the Federal Minister for Health and DRAP leadership.

• Chairman PVPA meets CEO DRAP

  1 September 2026 meeting between Chairman Dr Asim Mahmood Khan and DRAP CEO Dr Obaid Ullah Malik on animal health, One Health and veterinary regulatory cooperation.

• 5th Central Executive Committee meeting

  11 September 2026 CEC review of DRAP 2-D barcode and serialization requirements.

• SPACE 2026 regulatory discussion

  PVPA discussion of serialization and 2-D barcodes with a French official. That exchange did not create or change Pakistani regulatory requirements.