[Ip-health] Written declaration on international penalties for counterfeiting medicines

[Alexandra HEUMBER]

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Here below a written declaration submitted by Theirry Cornillet (Member of=
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the Europen Parliament EP- PSE-FR) on 3 July 2006 related to international=
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penalties for counterfeiting medicines.=0D
The declaration will lapse on 3 November 2006  if it has not been signed=0D
by at least half the MEPs.=0D
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=0D
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Written declaration on international penalties for counterfeiting=0D
medicines=0D
The European Parliament,=0D
=E2=80=93       having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,=0D
A.      whereas the counterfeiting of medicines is the most serious and=0D
amoral of all forms of counterfeiting, and whereas it is a growing problem=
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endangering the lives of millions of people,=0D
B.      whereas these =E2=80=98medicines=E2=80=99, which can be too strong,=
 too weak, with=0D
no active ingredient or even poisonous, circulate mainly in developing=0D
countries and are used to treat fatal conditions such as malaria,=0D
tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS,=0D
C.      whereas counterfeit medicines account for 6-10% of the world=0D
market and whereas 25% of the medicines consumed in Africa are believed to=
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be counterfeit,=0D
1.      Calls on the Commission to go beyond its =E2=80=98Strategy for the=
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enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries=E2=80=99;=0D
2.      Encourages the European Union to take measures to combat this=0D
problem on its territory;=0D
3.      Calls on the European institutions to take steps to strengthen the=
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capacities of regulation and quality control of medical products and=0D
materials in countries with few resources;=0D
4.      Urges the European Union to take the lead in promoting a worldwide=
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convention aimed at creating in each country=E2=80=99s legislation a specif=
ic=0D
criminal offence (serious crime or other major offence) relating to the=0D
counterfeiting or illegal possession of medicines;=0D
5.      Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with=
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the names of the signatories, to the Council and the Commission.=0D
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Alexandra Heumber=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
Access to Medicines Campaign=0D
EU Advocacy Liaison Officer=0D
C/O MSF-B=0D
Rue Dupr=C3=A9, 94=0D
1090 Brussels=0D
++32 (0) 2 474 75 09 (Dir off)=0D
++ 32 (0) 479 514 900 (Mob)=0D
++ 32 (0) 2 474 75 75 (Fax)=0D
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