Spectacular rise in fake medicines seized in 2006 in EU
Five times as many counterfeit medicines were seized on entry to the European Union in 2006 as in 2005, according to the European Commission.
Five times as many counterfeit medicines were seized on entry to the European Union in 2006 as in 2005, according to the European Commission.
Customs officials in European member states seized 2.5 million medicines compared with 500,000 in 2005.
India was the primary source of these products, followed by the United Arab Emirates and China. More than 80% of the fake drugs came from these three countries. About 31% of the counterfeits came from India and 20% from China, said an official from the EU directorate-general for taxation and customs union.
The most widely counterfeited medicines were erectile dysfunction treatments: Pfizer's Viagra (sildenafil); Lilly's Cialis (tadalafil) and Bayer's Levitra (vardenafil).
However, counterfeits were not limited to 'lifestyle' drugs but also included other products such as lipid-lowerers, osteoporosis treatments, antihypertensives, obesity drugs and 'even a fake aspirin', the official said.
New practices by counterfeiters included the sending of small quantities of merchandise by post - due to booming internet sales, the Commission said.