The illegal market of medicines

Issue 10/2020

Abstract. This work aims to underline the main features of the illegal trade in medicines, and medical devices in general, with particular attention on the appropriateness of using an international regulatory basis for the prevention and repression of this phenomenon, which reached a transnational dimension.

SUMMARY: 1. Counterfeiting of medicines. Definition and types. – 2. The illegal market. – 3. Prevention and law enforcement: the Medicrime Convention. – 4. Future perspectives.

«Counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals occurs worldwide.

It has increased substantially in recent years,

and international trading conditions are coming into place

which could lead to a further rapid increase in this criminal activity»^[1].

To read the Reflection, click on “open file”.

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^[1] WHO report, Counterfeit Drugs. A WHO/IFPMA Workshop, 1-3 aprile 1992, p. 1 («La contraffazione dei prodotti farmaceutici avviene in tutto il mondo. Negli ultimi anni è aumentata notevolmente, e gli accordi commerciali internazionali che stanno entrando in vigore potrebbero portare ad un ulteriore rapido aumento di questa attività criminale»).