Industry has key role to play in COE anti-counterfeiting treaty

The role of the pharma industry in supporting the COE anti-counterfeiting treaty, which aims to criminalise activities, “cannot be underestimated”, according to a directorate member.

Sabine Walser, a member of the Council of Europe’s directorate for the quality and safety of medicines and health, told in-PharmaTechnologist that cooperation between industry and authorities is important.

Industry has vast product knowledge, can raise awareness and ensure good practices in distribution, said Walser. These qualities give it a very important role in the fight against counterfeit drugs and the adoption and implementation of the Medicrime Convention.

The Medicrime Convention aims to promote cross-border cooperation between authorities and drive the criminalisation of activities relating to drug counterfeiting.