Covert hologram offers protection against pharmaceutical tampering

02 Aug 2018 --- The Europe-wide Falsified Medicines Directive 2011/62/EU coming into force in February 2019 requires all pharmaceutical manufacturers to mark their prescription medicine packaging with a serial number and an additional tamper protection device. Schreiner MediPharm’s multifunctional Covert-Hologram Seal with an irreversible, holographic effect offers reliable first-opening indication and tamper evidence, plus counterfeiting protection, and complies with the requirements of the EU Directive.

The innovative Covert-Hologram Seal is transparent, inconspicuous and thus appears like a simple packaging seal, the company reports. However, the first time the seal is opened, an invisible effect becomes visible. A hologram emerges that shows various inscriptions and design elements in different colors depending on the viewing angle. The holographic effect is irreversible and the seal’s fully transparent original condition cannot be restored. Thus, manufacturers, suppliers, and patients can tell at first glance if the packaging has been previously opened or if the medicine is an originally packaged product.

Covert anti-counterfeiting features embedded in the specialty closure seal add extra security. Thus, the Covert-Hologram Seal effectively combines the reliable first-opening indication required by the EU Directive with additional counterfeiting protection in a single seal, enhancing security throughout the entire supply chain.

Schreiner MediPharm, a business unit of Schreiner Group GmbH & Co. KG based in Oberschleissheim near Munich, is a developer and manufacturer of innovative, multifunctional specialty labels and marking solutions with value-added benefits for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

PackagingInsights has recently reported on innovations in packaging for pharmaceuticals from Multivac.