3D Barcodes Usage against Counterfeiting
With the persisting problem on counterfeiting across the world, countless of countermeasures were already invented, developed and implemented. Yet, we cannot deny that in the passing of time, as technology becomes smarter, so are these fraudsters.
Each anti-counterfeiting method have been deflected with some strategies no one yet knows what and even with the latest and newest improvement in security tightened, scammers still find a way to penetrate the market. No one even knows how they are able to distribute millions of Viagra in both black markets and legitimate pharmacies in Jakarta, Indonesia nor were the authorities able to give clear definition on how the 14-year old Canadian-licensed pharmacy able to dispose $75 million worth of counterfeited drugs across the United States.
From expensive overt features which are exclusive for medicines with limited supplies and are used for more critical diseases to holograms which are inspired by the same protection as with credit cards for many years, there are a lot of available anti-counterfeiting technologies. Even the less developed Africa has developed its own technology – SMS code scanning which enables consumers to verify the validity of the drug’s serial number – to fight against the rampant distribution of fraud drugs for Malaria.
Just recently, one of the world’s most active nations in campaigning against counterfeiting medicines, the United Kingdom, has released its own technology.
In a review of BBC news, the development of 3D barcodes could help tackle counterfeiting of drugs. This new technology can also be used in other products such as watches and other devices.
According to a report by the Peterson Group, The codes consist of a series of small indentations with precise, slightly different depths, allowing for billions of different combinations. They are deciphered by a device that "reads" the dents using beams of light.
BBC further wrote, “The system was developed by Sofmat Ltd, a small Yorkshire company, in collaboration with engineers at the University of Bradford. The team has now been awarded £250,000 by the government technology body Innovate UK - the final of three stages of funding, intended to see the product through to market readiness.”
Because many pills are produced by injection molding, the 3D barcodes could be incorporated into that process relatively easily. Hospitals or pharmacies could also purchase a scanner to verify medication. The group hopes to launch this system by 2016.
The cost is still not confirmed.