European Parliament votes in favour of harmonising criminal sanctions
The European Parliament has voted in favour of harmonised criminal sanctions in the EU to combat counterfeits, including pharmaceutical products.
The European Parliament has voted in favour of harmonised criminal sanctions in the EU to combat counterfeits, including pharmaceutical products.
In a plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs voted by 374 votes in favour to 278 against with 17 abstentions, for a draft directive establishing criminal penalties aimed at ensuring respect for intellectual property rights. Patents do not come under the scope of the directive.
According to these new measures, which have still to be submitted to the Council, the counterfeiters will be liable for penalties of up to four years of imprisonment in addition to fines that could amount to e300,000.
The new legislation, which will complete the criminal sanctions already in existence in several Member States, should not be aimed solely at the manufacturers of counterfeit products, but also at all those who are involved in the different stages leading to the distribution of these products in Europe.
More than 500,000 counterfeit drugs were seized by EU customs services, according to 2005 data, with Pfizer's Viagra (sildenafil) being the counterfeiters' favourite drug.