The Russian Ministry of Health has floated a plan to broaden the experiment on drug labeling to reduce the risk of selling expired medicines. The proposal appears in a draft report presented by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko to President Vladimir Putin and is covered by TASS. The document suggests expanding the program to run across the country starting February 1, 2023 with the goal of preventing the sale of expired medicinal products while carefully excluding any considerations about the technical feasibility of certain sales scenarios. The aim is to identify and curb illegal circulation or distribution of products that fail to meet labeling requirements or have reached their expiry date.
The current plan outlines a limited duration for the trial, which is slated to continue through August 1 of the year in question. It covers a range of consumer items, notably certain dairy products including those intended for children, bottled drinking water and mineral water, as well as beer and a selection of low-alcohol beverages. The scope also includes goods that are not allowed for sale and are tracked through the state system and marking tools designed to ensure traceability, such as the Honest Mark program. In this context, tobacco products—including smoking and chewing tobaccos, hookah tobacco, tobacco-free smoking blends used in hookahs, and electronic tobacco heating systems—are participating in the experiment.
Officials indicate that the agency is prepared to implement the experiment if a formal decision is made, a stance informed by briefings at the Center for Advanced Technology Development, known by its acronym CRPT. The team overseeing this initiative emphasizes that the goal is not merely to test label technologies but to validate their effectiveness in deterring the circulation of expired or misbranded goods within the Russian market.
Last year, the Chestny Znak system registered a relatively small portion of violations related to the sale of expired medicines in pharmacies across the country. The figure stands at roughly 80 thousand packages per month nationwide, a statistic that the authorities acknowledge as a challenge but insist is not acceptable. While this amount represents a fraction of total pharmaceutical sales, officials argue that even a minor rate of noncompliance can create health risks and erode public trust, since expired drugs can pose real safety concerns for consumers.
Additionally, the ministry notes that ongoing market disruptions persist and that the enforcement of labeling requirements remains a crucial element in protecting public health. This perspective aligns with recent discussions about potential fines for selling over-the-counter medicines in Russia, a topic that has recurred in public and regulatory dialogues. Advocates of stricter labeling and stronger penalties argue that clear identifiers and reliable tracking systems are essential to safeguarding consumers and maintaining the integrity of healthcare channels.
Overall, the draft report positions labeling expansion as a strategic tool to combat improper sales, improve supply chain transparency, and reduce the risk of expired products reaching pharmacies and households. It signals a broader commitment to leveraging technology-based solutions to enhance drug safety and consumer protection while balancing practical considerations for businesses operating within the domestic market.
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