World News
Counterfeit products pose a real danger to consumers
Whether it's adulterated medicine that can kill, bogus batteries that can burn or wannabe Guccis that simply wear out fast (though they may look stylish for a while), counterfeit merchandise is almost impossible to avoid. According to a recent investigation by Consumer Reports, 14,000 shipments of counterfeits were confiscated in 2006, a record year for…
[...]Pact on drugs, equipment safety inked
Chinese and US drug watchdogs have reached a consensus to be part of each other's inspection and investigation against counterfeits and substandard drugs, the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) said Wednesday. The first-ever Sino-US agreement on drug and medical equipment safety signed on Tuesday led to the consensus, marking a substantial step forward for…
[...]Hotline Part of New UK Anticounterfeit Strategy
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) unveiled an aggressive agenda Nov. 23 for combating the market in counterfeit medicines and medical devices. The plan targets both regulated and unregulated supply chains. The three-year anticounterfeit strategy calls for a complete assessment of current supply and distribution procedures in the UK and outlines the…
[...]List of Rogue Online Pharmacies Published by PharmacyChecker.com
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Thirty-six "rogue pharmacy" websites were listed today by PharmacyChecker.com. Consumers should be alerted that using these websites may put their health and money at risk. These pharmacies show no evidence of being licensed and may display unauthorized or altered verification seals from PharmacyChecker.com and other third-parties. The list…
[...]Generics Urged to Get Involved in Fight Against Counterfeiting
While counterfeiting is believed mainly to affect brand drugmakers, the practice, as well as various anticounterfeiting measures, has implications for generic companies, an industry expert says. In the U.S., political discussion of the pharmaceutical industry is focused on drug safety and the cost of healthcare, but in Europe a current hot-button issue is counterfeit medicines,…
[...]New drug scare
BEIJING – The medicine cabinet in the average U.S. home is filling with drugs made in China, and some experts say that could be a prescription for trouble. China's booming pharmaceutical industry has doubled exports to the United States in five years, undercutting competitors and making U.S. consumers reliant on the safety of Chinese factories…
[...]FDA proposes heavier fines for fake drug business
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to impose much higher fines on manufacturers, sellers and importers of fake drugs. The proposed amendment to the Drug Act of BE 2510 is seeking to fine fakedrug manufacturers up to Bt5 million, and sellers and importers up to Bt2 million. "Convicted offenders are also liable to…
[...]Guest opinion: Counterfeit drugs the most dangerous Chinese export
Legislation is yet again pending that will open America's borders to imported prescription drugs. But if proponents of importation have their way, the American market could be flooded with dangerous copycat and counterfeit drugs produced in China, Indonesia and other countries with a poor record on consumer safety. With this in mind, it's worth asking:…
[...]Fake Drugs Kill the Poor
Most Nigerians administer their own malaria treatment. They know the symptoms and they know the time-tested remedy–chloroquine, purchased from a local pharmacy or street trader. Unfortunately, chloroquine's effectiveness has deteriorated over the years as the malaria parasite has mutated and gained resistance to the drug. Chloroquine now fails most of the time it is administered.…
[...]Drug chief admits industry problems
A senior State Food and Drug Administration official admitted yesterday that quality problems existed with some exported pharmaceutical products, while highlighting the need for international co-operation in regulating the global drugs industry. "China is a huge drug-producing country, and the total value of output could reach 500 billion [yuan] each year," administration deputy head Wu…
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