MEPs approve new rules to stamp out fake drugs

A proposed new EU law to prevent fake medicines from entering the legal supply chain was approved at First Reading by the European Parliament on 16 February 2011. Internet sales will be covered by the law, which also introduces new safety and traceability measures, as well as sanctions against counterfeiters.

The proposed directive still needed to be formally approved by the Council of Ministers.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 16.2.11: MEPs approve laws to curb counterfeit drugs http://www.euractiv.com/health/parliament-vote-laws-curb-counterfeit-drugs-news-502192

Deutsche Welle, 16.2.11: EU steps up the fight against counterfeit drugmakers http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14845865,00.html

Wikipedia: Counterfeit medications http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterfeit_medications

WHO: Factsheet, No.275: Medicines: counterfeit medicines http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs275/en/index.html

European Parliament: Press Release, 16.2.11: Fake medicines: Parliament approves new rules to protect patients better http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20110215IPR13734/html/Fake-medicines-Parliament-approves-new-rules-to-protect-patients-better

ESO: Background Information: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2001/83/EC as regards the prevention of the entry into the legal supply chain of medicinal products which are falsified in relation to their identity, history or source http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-directive-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-amending-directive-2001-83-ec-as-regards-the-prevention-of-the-entry-into-the-legal-supply-chain-of-medicinal-products-which-are/

BBC News, 17.2.11: European Parliament approves fake medicine directive http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12478720

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/11/91: Q&A: Directive on falsified medicines http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/91&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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