Just a couple of years ago the FDA expected that the adoption of radio-frequency identification technology for prescription drug tracking would take off. Although a few pharmaceutical companies have instituted electronic track-and-trace technology, including RFID, for securing drug supply chains, the pace is too slow for the FDA. Industry-wide adoption was anticipated by 2007. 

Now the FDA and state lawmakers are putting on the pressure. In Florida, come July 1, pharmaceuticals shipped within that state will need to be tracked. The Florida law doesn't mandate the use of RFID or bar codes, however. Starting January 1, California will require that prescription drugs distributed within the state to be accompanied by an electronic pedigree.

The FDA's preferred tracking tool is RFID, but in its latest report the agency concedes that in the short term, hybrid pedigree systems incorporating paper and technology, either RFID or bar codes, might be the way to go.