diff --git a/batch_notification_processor/batch_processor.py b/batch_notification_processor/batch_processor.py
index 9cef7fdd..9f7f36cc 100644
--- a/batch_notification_processor/batch_processor.py
+++ b/batch_notification_processor/batch_processor.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import logging
+import hashlib
+import time
 import uuid
 import oracledb
 from oracle_database import OracleDatabase, DatabaseConnectionError, DatabaseFetchError
@@ -48,4 +50,5 @@ def mark_batch_as_sent(self, recipients):
 
     @staticmethod
     def generate_message_reference():
-        return str(uuid.uuid4())
+        str_val = str(time.time())
+        return str(uuid.UUID(hashlib.md5(str_val.encode()).hexdigest()))
diff --git a/tests/unit/batch_notification_processor/test_batch_processor.py b/tests/unit/batch_notification_processor/test_batch_processor.py
index 32fe69ae..51d78ce5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/batch_notification_processor/test_batch_processor.py
+++ b/tests/unit/batch_notification_processor/test_batch_processor.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from oracle_database import OracleDatabase, DatabaseFetchError
 from recipient import Recipient
 import pytest
+import re
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 import uuid
 
@@ -103,3 +104,16 @@ def test_mark_batch_as_sent(self, mock_oracle_database, db_config, recipients):
             ((recipients[0],),),
             ((recipients[1],),),
         ]
+
+    def test_generate_message_reference(self, mock_oracle_database, db_config):
+        subject = BatchProcessor(batch_id, db_config)
+
+        message_reference = subject.generate_message_reference()
+
+        assert isinstance(message_reference, str)
+        assert len(message_reference) == 36
+        assert re.match(r"[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{4}-[0-9a-f]{12}", message_reference)
+        for _ in range(100):
+            assert message_reference != subject.generate_message_reference()
+
+