Table of contents
Overview
The EPCIS 1.2 – SOM Decommission transaction is an XML-based message used to record and communicate the decommissioning of serialized pharmaceutical products. This transaction supports GS1 EPCIS 1.2 standards and ensures that decommissioned items are properly removed from the traceable supply chain, supporting accurate inventory management and compliance related to DSCSA, DEA, and other regulations.
With TraceLink’s OPUS Platform and B2N Integrate-Once™ architecture, the SOM Decommission transaction enables secure, real-time documentation of product deactivation events, triggered by Serialized Operations Manager, ensuring regulatory compliance, traceability, and operational control over serialized inventory.
Key Use Cases
- Remove serialized units from the active supply chain that have been flagged in quality sampling or other operational processes.
- Document the decommissioning of flagged or quarantined products.
- Support DSCSA, DEA, or other global track and trace compliance requirements by ensuring traceability of product lifecycle events.
- Provide an auditable record of product deactivation for regulatory inspections.
- Communicate decommissioning events to trading partners and internal systems.
- Prevent sale, shipment, or verification of decommissioned serialized units.
Data Elements Included
An EPCIS 1.2 – SOM Decommission transaction includes:
- Event Type: ObjectEvent representing decommissioning of serialized items.
- EPCs (Electronic Product Codes): Serialized identifiers (SGTINs) being decommissioned.
- Event Time and Time Zone: Timestamp of the decommissioning action.
- Read Point and Business Location: Where the decommissioning occurred.
- Business Step: Typically “decommissioning” or “disposal”.
- Disposition: Indicates the status (e.g., “disposed”, “recalled”, “quarantined”).
- Reason Code: Explains why the EPCs were decommissioned (e.g., “SOM flag”, “investigation outcome”).
- Digital Signature (optional): For regulatory-grade data integrity.
- Sender/Receiver Identifiers: GLNs or internal partner codes for traceability.
Benefits of EPCIS 1.2 – SOM Decommission
- Ensures compliance with track and trace regulations by formally deactivating flagged serialized units.
- Provides an auditable record of all decommissioned products for inspections and internal controls.
- Prevents unauthorized resale or shipment of flagged inventory.
- Supports secure, standards-based data exchange using EPCIS 1.2 XML.
- Improves traceability and inventory accuracy by updating product status in real time.
How TraceLink Supports EPCIS 1.2 SOM Decommission
TraceLink’s OPUS Platform, powered by B2N Integrate-Once™, enables secure and compliant decommissioning of serialized products by:
- Integrating with WMS, SCM, and ERP systems to trigger decommission events.
- Capturing EPCIS 1.2-compliant decommissioning events in real time.
- Transmitting updates to downstream systems and trading partners to ensure global visibility.
- Maintaining dashboards and audit trails for decommissioned units and their associated reasons.
- Ensuring all data is securely exchanged and fully traceable for regulatory compliance.
Explore More Serialization & Compliance Capabilities
- EPCIS Serialization: Record and share commissioning events at unit, case, or pallet level for regulatory compliance.
- SOM Receipt: Confirm receipt and SOM evaluation of serialized shipments.
- DSCSA ASN: Send serialized shipment data for downstream verification.
- SOM Void Shipment: Reverse shipments that are invalidated, often decommissioning units as part of the workflow.
- SOM Aggregation Update: Correct packaging relationships when decommissioned units are removed from cases/pallets.
Need Help Implementing EPCIS 1.2?
Contact us to learn how our OPUS Platform and B2N Integrate-Once™ model can help you automate decommissioning of flagged products, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain secure traceability across your pharmaceutical supply chain.
