European Governments Negotiate Fake Drug Directive

The European Parliament and the Council are negotiating a directive on counterfeit medicines intended to strengthen law enforcement.

The agreement’s provisions are not yet public, but it is reported that sanctions and unified safety-mechanisms were on the table. In addition, the directive proposes the requirement of anti-counterfeiting technologies, like packaging serial numbers or seals upon legitimate medications, and the increase of security in the distribution chain. In addition, stricter inspection standards were discussed, reported Europolitics.

Marisa Matias, Portugese delegate, sought criminal sanctions against the fake “that should be at least equivalent to those usually applied to narcotics offences.”

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) also endorses establishment of a penal code for counterfeit drug crime.

When negotiations complete, Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) will deliver a verdict on December 21, 2010, reports Europolitics.