Manufacturers shall encode the unique identifier in a two-dimensional barcode.

The barcode shall be a machine-readable Data Matrix and have error detection and correction equivalent to or higher than those of the Data Matrix ECC200. Barcodes conforming to the International Organization for Standardisation/International Electrotechnical Commission standard (‘ISO/IEC’) 16022:2006 shall be presumed to fulfil the requirements set out in this paragraph.

Manufacturers shall print the barcode on the packaging on a smooth, uniform, low-reflecting surface.

When encoded in a Data Matrix, the structure of the unique identifier shall follow an internationally-recognised, standardised data syntax and semantics (‘coding scheme’) which allows the identification and accurate decoding of each data element of which the unique identifier is composed, using common scanning equipment. The coding scheme shall include data identifiers or application identifiers or other character sequences identifying the beginning and the end of the sequence of each individual data element of the unique identifier and defining the information contained in those data elements. Unique identifiers having a coding scheme conforming to ISO/IEC 15418:2009 shall be presumed to fulfil the requirements set out in this paragraph.

When encoded in a Data Matrix as data element of a unique identifier, the product code shall follow a coding scheme and begin with characters specific to the coding scheme used. It shall also contain characters or character sequences identifying the product as a medicinal product. The resulting code shall be less than 50 characters and be globally unique. Product codes which conform to the ISO/IEC 15459-3:2014 and ISO/IEC 15459-4:2014 shall be presumed to fulfil the requirements set out in this paragraph.

Where necessary, different coding schemes may be used within the same unique identifier provided that the decoding of the unique identifier is not hindered. In that case, the unique identifier shall contain standardised characters permitting the identification of the beginning and the end of the unique identifier as well as the beginning and the end of each coding scheme. Where containing multiple coding schemes, unique identifiers which conform to ISO/IEC 15434:2006 shall be presumed to fulfil the requirements set out in this paragraph.