New
service will help firms fight fake drugs
 |
| The World Health Organization
estimates that 10% of global pharmaceutical commerce is in fakes |
London,
8 November 2002 - The International Chamber of Commerce’s Counterfeiting
Intelligence Bureau is developing a new initiative to help pharmaceutical companies
fight the growing problem of counterfeit drugs.
The service, due to be launched
early next year, will include a facility for the confidential exchange of drug
counterfeiting information on an international level. Participants will include
pharmaceutical firms and regulators, experts in anti-counterfeiting technology
and law enforcement.
“Pharmaceutical counterfeiting
is a deadly international crime. Thousands of people have already died because
the drugs they were taking simply contained no active ingredients,” said
Peter Lowe of ICC’s Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau.
“Pharmaceutical companies
can do a lot to fight the problem.”
Recent fakes include eye
drops made from tap water, paracetamol syrup from industrial solvent and contraceptive
pills made from wheat flour. Investigations have revealed the widespread sale
of fake anti-malarial pills that contain no real drugs, particularly in South
East Asian countries such as Cambodia.
According to Mr Lowe, patients
in the developing world are most at risk – in some areas up to 60% of drugs
could be phoney. But counterfeit drugs are also appearing on shelves in Europe
and the United States through international crime networks, direct sales over
the Internet, and pharmacists looking for a c
heap alternative to trusted sources.
The World Health Organization
estimates that 10% of global pharmaceutical commerce is in fakes.
Health risks aside, CIB
say the fake drugs racket is causing pharmaceutical companies to lose tens of
billions of dollars every year.
CIB’s new service will
advise drug companies on techniques for making their products harder to copy.
These range from invisible chemical markers within the drug itself to high-tech
holograms and simple visible signs on the packaging that can be easily recognized
by the customer.
“Consumers should know
what danger signs to look out for,” said Mr Lowe. “In parallel with
the service for pharmaceutical companies, we’re planning to publicize existing
fakes on the Internet. People need to be aware of the problem.
“The high turnout to
the First Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting in Geneva this September
is testimony to the growing awareness of this dangerous international crime.
“Companies accept that
this is a serious issue – a bubble waiting to burst – and we are helping
them tackle it.”
The Counterfeiting Intelligence
Bureau is part of the ICC’s Commercial Crime Services, based in London.
Specific tasks of the CIB are to gather and evaluate intelligence, investigate
sources and distribution of fake products, provide expert advice and training
and to supply evidence to enable police to make arrests and seize counterfeit
goods.
For more information contact Click here to send a mail, at ICC Commercial Crime Services tel: +44 20 8591 3000
fax: +44 20 8594 2833
Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau