Decommissioning Serial Numbers: A Strategic Imperative in the Post-DSCSA Era

At LSPedia, we’re committed to helping the pharmaceutical industry meet and exceed the standards set by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). As the industry advances into the fully interoperable, serialized environment mandated by DSCSA, one practice is emerging as a critical safeguard for product integrity: decommissioning serial numbers.

While not explicitly required by DSCSA, decommissioning has quickly become best practice for manufacturers and their DSCSA solution providers. This process formally records that a product has exited the supply chain—most often due to returns for destruction—thereby closing the loop on its lifecycle. Without decommissioning, unused serial numbers remain vulnerable to misuse, opening the door for counterfeit or expired products to re-enter the legitimate marketplace.

The risks are real. The World Health Organization reports that one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified, and counterfeit-related recalls occur even in the U.S. Decommissioning is a powerful countermeasure—by retiring a product’s serial number, it removes that product’s identity from circulation, significantly reducing the risk of fraud.

Why Decommissioning Matters
What sets decommissioning apart from basic tracking methods is its precision and adherence to global standards. Leveraging GS1’s EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services) format, decommissioning records not only the serial number and GTIN, but also key location data such as GLN and SGLN, plus timestamps and facility-level identifiers. This creates a robust, verifiable audit trail that supports regulatory inspections, protects brands, and delivers end-to-end transparency across the supply chain.

How LSPedia Supports Decommissioning
LSPedia’s OneScan makes decommissioning simple, secure, and compliant. Whether manufacturers choose to manage the process in-house or with a reverse distribution partner, our systems capture, validate, and transmit EPCIS-formatted data seamlessly. We integrate with existing operational workflows, ensuring data accuracy while streamlining compliance.

Our platform also facilitates coordination with partners like reverse distributors, enabling automated decommissioning that delivers secure daily EPCIS event feeds via encrypted file transfers. The result? Faster implementation, smoother audits, and stronger supply chain security.

Taking Action Now
The case for implementing decommissioning is clear:

• Prevent counterfeit and diverted products from re-entering the market.

• Enhance DSCSA compliance and audit readiness.

• Improve product disposition visibility for recalls, returns, and inventory reconciliation.

Getting started is straightforward with LSPedia:

1. Decide whether to manage decommissioning internally or with a trusted partner.

2. Ensure your systems can capture and exchange EPCIS-formatted data.

3. Coordinate with reverse distribution partners for testing and launch.

In today’s post-DSCSA environment, decommissioning isn’t just a technical step—it’s a strategic advantage. With LSPedia’s proven technology and expertise, manufacturers can retire serial numbers confidently, safeguarding the pharmaceutical supply chain and the patients it serves.

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