Conference to examine traceability issues

EAN Ireland is inviting more than 1,000 delegates from Ireland's pharmaceutical industry to a conference in Dublin to discuss issues surrounding product traceability.

The event, which takes place on 3 November, is being hosted by EAN Ireland in conjunction with leading coding and marking systems manufacturer Markem Systems and is sponsored by Manufacturing Chemist.

Entitled 'Track It Ireland', the conference will delve into all areas surrounding the tracking and tracing of pharmaceutical products, from the point of manufacture to the distribution and delivery of the product to hospitals and pharmacies.

Of primary concern will be the meeting of global standards and requirements using technologies such as bar coding and RFID. Delegates will be invited from across the industry, including those involved in the manufacturing and distributing of medical supplies and drugs.

Patient protection is a key item on the agenda, with Markem and key speakers proposing methods to ensure the safety and legality of production and distribution of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and medical supplies.

The new FDA regulations imposed in the US will also be a topic of discussion, as will the new EU regulations currently being finalised, with a view to being implemented in the New Year.

Speakers at the conference will include chairman Jim Bracken, director of EAN Ireland, a senior executive of the Department of Health in Ireland and key figures within the major international pharmaceutical companies.