New Jersey Enacts Increased Penalties for Counterfeit Drug Crimes

The Governor of New Jersey has just signed A-5037, a new law designed to increase penalties for counterfeit drug crimes committed in the state, reports the New Jersey Patch.

 According to the text of the law, A-5037 “enhances penalties related to counterfeit drugs.” The new law classifies counterfeit drug crimes as crimes of the second degree.  Civil penalties upon conviction have been increased. At minimum, anyone convicted will be required to pay a $1,000 per charge, and the fines can be increased up to $10,000 per charge where warranted. 

 Additionally, any person convicted of counterfeit drug crimes in New Jersey will be prohibited entering into public contracts with the State of New Jersey, the Department of Public Safety will create a website that lists the names of people convicted of counterfeit drug crimes, all professional certifications granted by the State must be revoked after conviction, and the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy will be required to post a list of names of any individuals licensed by the board who have been convicted of counterfeit drug crimes.

 A-5037 was originally passed by the New Jersey Legislature in June 2019.  At the time of passage, Representative Eliana Pintor Marin told InsiderNJ “Anyone who knowingly creates or distributes a counterfeit medical product is willfully putting the health and wellbeing of patients on the line. This legislation emphasizes just how serious this issue is by establishing appropriately significant penalties for violators.”