EMVS Barcode Scanner Tester
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Test your barcode scanner - European Medicines Verification System (EMVS)

 

Should I use this website?

My location
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I work in a country that uses the EMVS to verify and decommission medicinal product packs.

My role
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I am authorised or entitled to supply medicinal products to the public.

I distribute medicines within an EMVS country or export medicines beyond the EU.

My scanner
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I use a hand-held barcode scanner connected to a computer to verify or decommission medicinal product packs.

This website checks that your barcode scanner reads Unique Identifiers reliably and accurately.
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The Unique Identifier is a barcode printed on the outer packaging of medicinal packs of most prescription medicines and some over-the-counter medicines. It uniquely identifies the individual pack and also specifies the batch and expiry date.
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You must verify each pack of medicine that carries the EU Unique Identifier before you supply it, except in Switzerland where verification is optional. If you distribute medicines within an EMVS country, or if you export medicines beyond the EU, you may also need to scan packs.

 

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What does this website do?

You can use this website to do three things:

  • Assess the ability of your barcode scanner and computer to read Unique Identifiers accurately and reliably.
  • Run tests to discover the capabilities and limits of your barcode scanner.
  • Scan and view the contents of Unique Identifiers.
You cannot use this website to verify or decommission medicines.

 

Why is this important?

Most handheld barcode scanners connect to computers via USB ports or Bluetooth. They pretend to be keyboards. If there is any disagreement between the barcode scanner and your computer about your keyboard layout, the characters in a Unique Identifier may not be reported correctly.

The EMVS depends on accurate and reliable reporting of the data in each Unique Identifier. If anything goes wrong, the EMVS may decide this is suspicious and generate a 'false-positive' alert. Each alert has to be investigated by the drug manufacturer, causing unnecessary cost and effort.

False-positive alerts waste time and money and undermine confidence in the system. It is important that you ensure that your barcode scanner and computer can read Unique Identifiers reliably and accurately.

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What do I do next?

 

The Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) mandates the unique identification of medicinal product packs. EU Delegated Regulation 2016/161 mandates the uses of Data Matrix (DataMatrix) EC200 barcodes for serialised packs. Most European packs encode data using GS1 standards and AIs. However, some German packs are serialised using IFA standards (PPNs).

The following NMVO organisations support European national medicine verification

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