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European Parliament approves fake medicine directive | European Parliament approves fake medicine directive |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A new directive to protect patients from fake medicines has been approved by the European Parliament. | A new directive to protect patients from fake medicines has been approved by the European Parliament. |
It paves the way for new safeguards including extra safety features on drug packaging and new measures for internet pharmacies. | It paves the way for new safeguards including extra safety features on drug packaging and new measures for internet pharmacies. |
An estimated 1% of medicines sold to the public in Europe through legal channels are fake. | An estimated 1% of medicines sold to the public in Europe through legal channels are fake. |
Expert say they are "silent killers", either because they do not work or contain harmful substances. | Expert say they are "silent killers", either because they do not work or contain harmful substances. |
The 27 EU governments - the Council - will now study href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2010-0148&language=EN" title="European Parliament report on fake medicines directive" >the directive and they can still make amendments before it becomes law. The final text will then be incorporated into national laws EU-wide within two years. | |
The National Pharmacy Association, which represents community pharmacists in the UK, said the legislation aimed to reduce the risk of counterfeit medicines reaching patients by introducing a product authentication system and new safety features on packaging. | The National Pharmacy Association, which represents community pharmacists in the UK, said the legislation aimed to reduce the risk of counterfeit medicines reaching patients by introducing a product authentication system and new safety features on packaging. |
The key to the system is a two-dimensional barcode added to prescription medicines that can be read by a new scanner. | The key to the system is a two-dimensional barcode added to prescription medicines that can be read by a new scanner. |
Charles Willis of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said: "We believe that this is something that the UK Government must buy into and is good for every patient." | Charles Willis of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said: "We believe that this is something that the UK Government must buy into and is good for every patient." |