How Pharmacies Can Prep Now for the 2023 DSCSA Requirements

When Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enacted the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) in 2013, it set a 10-year timeline for full implementation. Well, believe it or not, we are just a little more than a year away from that November 2023 deadline.

A significant portion of this last milestone requires the entire supply chain to become interoperable using secure and electronic means. One requirement that is included in Title II of the Act calls for product tracing at the package level, which had not been explored widely by the industry until recently. Our DSCSA State Regulator Pilot project tested a system for sharing this information between regulators and trading partners, including distributors, manufacturers, and others. You can learn more about the project and next steps in this report.

As we finalize this communication system and assist the boards of pharmacy, you might wonder what your pharmacy can do to prepare. Plenty, as you can see below!

What are your responsibilities today?

• Ensure you are only doing business with authorized trading partners (ie wholesalers that are properly licensed and registered to ship into your state).
• Receive, store, and provide product tracing information:
  • Only accept prescription drugs that are accompanied by the transaction information, transaction history, and transaction statement.

  How can you prepare for November 27, 2023?

  • Be ready to receive or exchange transaction information (with specific product identifiers for each package) and transaction statements electronically.
  • Implement systems/processes for package level verification when needed, such as in the case of investigating suspicious product.
  • Implement systems/processes to produce serialized transaction information if the FDA, a state regulator, or a trading partner requests information for an investigation.
  • Talk to your wholesaler(s) or any direct suppliers of drug product to see how they may be able to assist in storing transaction information.

  Learn All You Can About DSCSA Requirements

  Given the complexity of the DSCSA requirements, educate yourself now on how to comply. Stay up to date with these resources:

  • This list of FDA guidance.
  • NABP home study webinar:
    • Understanding New DSCSA Requirements and Common Diversion Schemes (expires on Feb 1, 2025)

    Also, feel free to reach out to NABP staff with questions. The new requirements will be here before you know it. Check out these resources, our website, and additional future communications for updates. We are eager to help your pharmacy reach compliance.