PPN Code

PPN-Code

The PPN-Code is a Data Matrix symbol on the packs of pharmaceutical products that carries the Pharmacy Product Number (PPN), with the serial number, batch number and expiry date used to verify the pack, as data elements with ASC MH10 Data Identifiers in the ISO/IEC 15434 Format 06 envelope.

Uses:

• Packs of pharmaceutical products in Germany and other markets whose numbering agencies have a PRA Code, including verification under the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (securPharm).

Standards: IFA PPN-Code Specification for Retail Packaging; ISO/IEC 15434; ISO/IEC 15418; ISO/IEC 16022.

Data and Options

• The data field contains the data elements, each a Data Identifier followed by its data, separated by GS characters. The envelope is added by the encoder.
• The elements are in any order, and those of the specification are validated:
  • 9N - The Pharmacy Product Number, which is required: a PRA Code, the product number and two check digits. For PRA Code 11 the product number is a German PZN, whose check digit is also verified.
  • S - The serial number, up to 20 characters of the GS1 character set 82.
  • 1T - The batch number, up to 20 characters of the GS1 character set 82.
  • D - The expiry date, as YYMMDD, with day 00 for the month alone.
  • 8P - An additional GTIN or NTIN, which may be repeated.
• Other Data Identifiers may be included.
• When the parse option is specified, any instances of ^NNN in the data field are replaced with their equivalent ASCII value, useful for specifying the GS separators as ^029.
• The options of Data Matrix are available, such as format=rectangle or dmre for a rectangular symbol.
• The X-dimension of the specification is from 0.25mm to 0.99mm, typically 0.35mm.

Examples

Data:    9N112048163909^029\
         1TBATCH42^029\
         D281200^029\
         SA1B2C3D4E5
Options: parse
Encoder: ppncode