data carrier identifier

Explanation

Data carrier identifiers uniquely identify items that are traded (e.g. pharmaceuticals, medical devices) in the supply chain. The DCID is associated with predefined basic elements, e.g. product name, formulation, strength, net quantity, packaging, etc. A modification to any of these basic elements that characterise a trade item will usually lead to a change in the data carrier identifier. Additional data can be included with the data carrier such as batch number and expiration date.