Strategizing for Safety from Counterfeit Drugs

On April 6, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released a summary of negotiations that have taken place since the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) was introduced in June 2008. Countries from across the world, including the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland, have joined the ACTA to help governments combat the harmful manufacture and distribution of fake goods, such as counterfeit drugs.

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LEADERs in the Fight Against Counterfeit Drugs

In the past two weeks, the Partnership for Safe Medicines issued two SafeMeds Alerts about counterfeit insulin pen needles and herbal medication adulterated with dangerously high levels of undeclared pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom. It is tempting to disregard these alerts since the drugs were found in England, not the United States. But in today’s global environment, we are all at risk when these unsafe products move through the drug supply chain undetected.

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