Guide, 5 minute read
Four checks to spot a fake pack
Falsified medicines are made to look real. These four checks take less than a minute at the counter.
By the Verde Pharma team. Example article for this demo.
1. The print
Genuine cartons are printed sharply, with even colour and straight edges. Blurred text, spelling mistakes or colours that do not match the rest of your stock are warning signs.
2. The batch and expiry
Batch and expiry are printed together, in the same ink, on the carton and on the blister or label inside. They must match. On Verde packs, the batch starts with VP and the first four digits are the year and month it was made.
3. The seal and the pack code
Our cartons have a tamper seal and a silver panel. Under the panel is an eight digit code that belongs to that one pack. If the batch check says the code was used before, ask questions.
4. The source
Buy from licensed distributors and keep invoices that show batch numbers. A price far below the usual trade price is the oldest warning sign of all.
If in doubt, do not sell or use the product. Keep it and report it. You protect your customers and your licence.
The four checks
- Print and colour
- Batch and expiry match
- Seal and pack code
- Licensed source
What should I do with a suspect pack?
Keep it, note where it came from and report it on our batch check page.
Do all manufacturers use pack codes?
Not all. Ours are on every carton and tub made since 2023.
Can a customer check a pack themselves?
Yes, on our website or by WhatsApp, with the batch number and code.
Questions about a pack?
Our quality pharmacists answer on the phone and on WhatsApp during working hours.
Check a batch