Malaysia Reaffirms Confidence in Hologram-Based Medicine Authentication

Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) recently moved to rebut claims that its hologram label verification system, known as FarmaTag™ for health products had become ineffective.

This response followed media reports raising concerns over the proliferation of unregistered health products, and claims questioned the effectiveness of hologram verification.

The MOH reiterated that authentication labels are a key element of the regulatory framework overseen by the Drug Control Authority and the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA). It stated that product safety depends on a multi-layered system comprising product registration, premises licensing, supply chain audits, and market surveillance. Optical security features remain a visible first line of defence against counterfeiting and support enforcement and digital verification.

© Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Malaysia’s pharmaceutical authentication programme has for years been regarded as one of the longest and most successful national initiatives globally. In 2004-05, the MOH introduced Meditag™, making Malaysia one of the first countries to implement a nationwide medicine authentication scheme.