Limiting pharmaceutical parallel trade in the European Union: regulatory and economic justifications

Examines the economic and regulatory justifications for not finding limitations of parallel trade in the EU pharmaceutical industry unlawful in themselves.

Reviews the regulatory systems used by Member States, how such diversity increases parallel trade, and the scale of research and development costs in the pharmaceutical sector. Analyses the welfare effects of parallel trade, EU case law concerning limitations of such trade in the pharmaceutical industry, the economic justifications considered by the courts and whether market integration should be prioritised over consumer welfare.