What the number identifies
The authorisation number designates an authorisation: the combination of name, composition, pharmaceutical form and authorisation holder. Every strength and every pack size of a product share the same authorisation number. Only the two additional fields turn it into a unique trade item.
In the Swissmedic export and in this directory the authorisation number is always the first field of the facts table. Below it you see the strengths with their own number and the packs with their pack code. The same order appears on every detail page so the values can be compared by machine.
The structure: 5 plus 2 plus 3
The full identifier has three parts: a five-digit authorisation number, a two-digit strength number and a three-digit pack code. It is usually written as 57786 01 001. The first five digits are issued in ascending order; the two extra fields restart at 01 and 001 within each authorisation.
| Field | Length | Issued by | Identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authorisation number | 5 | Swissmedic | the authorisation, meaning the product |
| Strength number | 2 | Swissmedic | one strength inside the authorisation |
| Pack code | 3 | Swissmedic | one pack size of one strength |
| GTIN / EAN | 13 | GS1 through the company | the trade unit for logistics and scanning |
| Pharmacode | 7 | Refdata / HCI Solutions | one article in the Swiss article master |
GTIN and Pharmacode are not authorisation data. Refdata issues the Pharmacode for the flow of goods and it changes when an article is created anew. The authorisation number does not change. To evidence an authorisation you cite the authorisation number, not the Pharmacode.
Why there are low and high numbers
Numbers have been issued in ascending order since the start. Numbers below roughly 20000 date from the era of the Intercantonal Office for the Control of Medicines (IKS), the authority until 2001. Swissmedic was created in 2002 and continued the same number series instead of restarting it.
That is why the directory shows first authorisations from the 1930s next to authorisations from the current year. A low number says nothing about the quality or currency of a medicine, only that the authorisation is old. Product information and patient information are kept current regardless of the age of the number.
What happens on transfer and revocation
When an authorisation is transferred to a new holder the authorisation number stays the same. Only the name in the authorisation holder field changes. If an authorisation is revoked or not maintained, the entry disappears from the list and the number is not reissued.
- Transfer: same number, new authorisation holder, notified to Swissmedic, subject to a fee.
- Product name change: same number, new name, filed as a variation.
- New strength: same authorisation number, new strength number.
- Revocation or surrender: the number is retired and never reused.
For research that means the authorisation number is the most stable key to a Swiss medicine. It is therefore part of every detail page address in this directory and appears next to the name in every result list.
Where the number is printed
You will find the authorisation number in four places: on the pack, at the end of the product information on swissmedicinfo.ch, in the monthly Swissmedic list of authorised medicines, and in this directory in the first field of every facts table.
- Check the pack: the number is usually printed near the dispensing category.
- Type the number into the search of this directory: it searches names and authorisation numbers.
- On the detail page, reconcile the values with the product information on swissmedicinfo.ch.
Frequently asked questions
How many digits does a Swiss authorisation number have?
Five. The authorisation number is five digits long and identifies an authorised medicine. A single trade item adds a two-digit strength number and a three-digit pack code, written as 57786 01 001.
Is the authorisation number the same as the Pharmacode?
No. Swissmedic issues the authorisation number and it evidences the authorisation. The seven-digit Pharmacode comes from Refdata and serves the flow of goods in Switzerland. One medicine has one authorisation number and several Pharmacodes, one per article.
Does the authorisation number change when the company changes?
No. On transfer of an authorisation the number stays identical and only the authorisation holder changes. That makes the number the most reliable search key when a product has changed owner.
Why can I no longer find an authorisation number?
Because the authorisation was revoked, the holder surrendered it, or a temporary authorisation expired. Retired numbers are not reissued. The directory shows the state of the current Swissmedic export.