In the final installment of his interview with Pharmaceutical Commerce, Cencora's Ameer Ali outlines how supply chain stakeholders should prepare systems, processes and trading partners for the shift to NDC-12.
News|Articles|September 17, 2026
Q&A: Inside the NDC-12 Transition
Author(s)Liberty Dewey, Stephen Appezzato
Liberty Dewey of Cardinal Health breaks down the NDC-12 transition timeline, the four work streams driving it and why the biggest risk sits in trading partner handoffs.
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FDA's shift from a 10-digit to a 12-digit National Drug Code carries a longer runway than its headline date suggests. The final rule was published March 5, 2026, but the effective date isn't until March 7, 2033, and the labeling transition that follows doesn't close until March 7, 2036, meaning trading partners will need systems that can handle three NDC formats at once for years.
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