The CIP code is a numerical identifier assigned to each commercial presentation of a drug in France. It allows for the distinction between two different packaging of the same molecule (a box of 14 tablets vs a box of 28, for example). Quickly identifying it on a box or in a database saves time at the counter as well as in the back office.
Datamatrix on the box: the area to inspect first to find a CIP code
On recent packaging, the CIP13 is often only encoded in the Datamatrix, without being systematically printed in readable digits on the packaging. This change in the traceability chain alters search habits.
The Datamatrix is generally found on a side or back face of the box, near the linear barcode. This is the area that should be examined first. A simple 2D code reader (scanner, mobile scanning app) instantly decodes the CIP13, the batch number, and the expiration date contained in this black and white square.
When the code is still printed clearly, it most often appears below the linear barcode, preceded by the mention “CIP” or “ACL”. The transition from the 7-digit format to the 13-digit format has caused lasting confusion: both can coexist on the same packaging.
The CIP13 is the current reference for any dispensing and reimbursement operation. A pharmacist looking for where to find the pharmacy CIP code benefits from systematically scanning the Datamatrix rather than relying on visual reading.
ANSM E-CODex Database: finding a CIP without having the box in hand
The box is not always available. Stock shortages, a patient’s question over the phone, administrative verification: it is necessary to be able to find a CIP based on the name of the drug or its CIS code (specialty identifier).
The ANSM provides the E-CODex database, downloadable, which associates for each presentation:
- The 7-digit CIP code (old format, still used in some management software)
- The 13-digit CIP code (current format, essential for billing)
- The administrative status of the presentation (active authorization, suspended, withdrawn)
- The marketing status with the corresponding declaration date
This database is the official source. Pharmacy management software (LGO) draws from it, but with a variable update lag depending on the publisher. In case of doubt about a code, direct verification in E-CODex resolves issues faster than a call to the wholesaler.
CIP7 and CIP13: understanding the correspondence between the two formats
The CIP7 is the historical old format with 7 digits. The CIP13 has replaced it to align with international coding standards. Both identify the same presentation, but the CIP13 includes an additional prefix and a checksum.
The Inter Pharmaceutical Club (CIP), the organization that manages this coding, publishes a correspondence table between the two formats. This table is accessible from the cipmedicament.org website. It is particularly useful in three situations:
- Migration from an old management software that stored references in CIP7 to a recent system
- Reading old prescriptions or regulatory documents prior to the transition to CIP13
- Reconciliation of data between hospital databases (which sometimes use the UCD code) and pharmacy databases
The UCD code (Common Dispensing Unit), used in hospitals, is a distinct identifier from the CIP. Confusing the two causes traceability errors during returns. CIP for pharmacies, UCD for hospitals: this distinction remains the most reliable reference.
Pharmacy management software: utilizing CIP search daily
Most LGOs allow direct searching by CIP code in their main search bar. Typing the 13 digits (or the 7 of CIP7 depending on the software) immediately displays the product sheet with the price, stock, reimbursement rate, and generic equivalents.
This function advantageously replaces searching by brand name when it is confusing. Two specialties with similar names but different compositions can be clearly distinguished by their CIP. For dispensers, scanning the Datamatrix at the time of receiving orders automatically updates the stock with the correct CIP13, ensuring inventory reliability.
Recent software also displays the marketing status drawn from ANSM databases, which indicates presentations that have been withdrawn or declared out of stock. Checking this status at the time of dispensing prevents delivering a box whose presentation has been suspended in the meantime.
Difference between CIP, EAN barcode, and marketing authorization number
The CIP identifies a commercial presentation (a specific packaging). The marketing authorization number (AMM) identifies the authorization for marketing a specialty, regardless of its packaging. The same drug with a unique AMM can have multiple CIP codes if several box sizes exist.
The EAN barcode (European Article Number) visible on the packaging encodes the CIP13 in a format readable by commercial scanners. It is not an additional identifier but a reading medium. Scanning the EAN of a medicine box is equivalent to reading its CIP13.
This overlap of numbers creates confusion, especially for patients looking to identify their medication online. The CIP is the only code specific to the French pharmaceutical chain. Other identifiers (EAN, CIS, UCD, AMM) serve complementary purposes but do not replace it for pharmacy management.
The most effective reflex remains scanning the Datamatrix on the box for instant identification, and consulting the ANSM E-CODex database when the box is absent. These two access points cover almost all situations encountered at the counter.