The invention relates to a control device (10) comprising a radiation source (17) which is embodied, in particular, as an X-ray source for irradiating a pharmaceutical product (1) embodied, in particular as a capsule, a detector (18) for detecting radiation after irradiating the pharmaceutical product (1), a tube or shaft-shaped supply device (15) which is preferably arranged vertically at least in the region of the beam path (16) of the radiation source (17) for feeding the pharmaceutical product (1) into the beam path (16) of the radiation source (17), and means (25) for positioning and releasing the pharmaceutical product (1) in the region of the radiation beam (16) of the radiation source (17). According to the invention, the tube or shaft-shaped supply device (15) has a cross-section in the region of the beam path (16) which is greater than the cross-section of the pharmaceutical product (1), and that during irradiation, respectively only one pharmaceutical product (1) is arranged in the region of the beam path (16) of the radiation source (17).