The European Union (EU) obliges its member states and the states of the European Economic Area (EEA) to verify certain prescription-only medicines via a Europe-wide networked database system.

Binding regulations have been in force in the EU since February 9, 2019: All prescription-only medicinal products for human use must bear safety features. These guarantee the uniqueness of each individual pack and serve to protect against counterfeit medicines in the legal supply chain.

Verification is carried out by scanning a DataMatrix code before the medicine is dispensed - for example in pharmacies, hospitals or doctors' surgeries with their own patient pharmacy.

For this purpose, a National Medicines Verification System (NMVS) must be set up in each participating country. These systems are connected to the central EU hub of the European Medicines Verification Organization (EMVO) and networked with each other throughout Europe.

Organization and responsibilities

The European Medicines Verification Organization (EMVO) and the National Medicines Verification Organizations (NMVOs) are non-profit institutions organized in the private sector.

In Switzerland, the Swiss Medicines Verification Organization (SMVO) has transferred operational responsibility to the specially founded SMVS Schweizerische Gesellschaft für die Verifizierung von Arzneimitteln GmbH (SMVS GmbH) .

SMVS GmbH provides comprehensive services relating to the national verification system for all relevant bodies and organizations in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Status of implementation

  • All EU and EEA member states concerned are connected to the productive system of the EU hub.

  • The CH-LIE system has been productive and connected to the EU hub since February 15, 2019.

  • Software service providers can connect their solutions in Switzerland to the database system.

  • Marketing authorization holders (MAHs) can upload the data for the target market "Switzerland", provided they have signed a contract with SMVS GmbH.

Further information on the European system can be found at www.emvo-medicines.eu.