Commission measures to fight drug re-exports

Regulations have been proposed by the European Commission to prevent discounted AIDS, malaria and TB medicines supplied to developing countries under emergency medical programmes being re-exported to the EU. Brussels is worried existing laws might be insufficient 'after strongly discounted pharmaceuticals are sold to the poorest developing country markets (when) the economic interest in trade diversion into high priced markets therefore may increase significantly'.

The new proposals would require manufacturers to mark clearly on the package drugs destined for price-reduction programmes. They also set rules on prices and eligible destination countries. EU customs officials would be able to destroy these 'tiered' medicines found in an illicit cargo.