Just say "Nyet"

  • by: |
  • 04/27/2007
From the Moscow Times ...

The State Duma will examine plans to stiffen penalties for manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit pharmaceuticals Friday, one of the sponsors of the proposed bill said Thursday.

"It will be the first reading of a bill to create a new statute in the legal code covering the manufacture, intent to supply, supply, storage, transportation and importation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals," said Pyotr Shelishch, a member of the Duma's Legislation Committee.

Counterfeit medicine is a serious problem on the Russian market, Shelishch said.

"It's difficult to say what the amount of counterfeit drugs is, but estimates range from fractions of a percentage up to 10 percent," he said. The country's pharmaceutical market is worth around $10.7 billion, according to estimates by industry consultant Pharmexpert

According to the new proposals, the minimum penalty would rise to 500,000 rubles ($20,000) and the maximum penalty would be a 15-year prison term, Shelishch said.

"The maximum sentence would be applicable if it led to the deaths of two or more people," he said.

The new measures come as a result of glaring shortcomings in existing legislation, lawmakers and analysts said.

"I welcome this new move, as we still do not have any law to punish those people that produce counterfeit drugs in Russia," said Nikolai Demidov, general director of Pharmexpert.

In November, pharmaceuticals firm Bryntsalov-A was handed a 40,000 ruble fine after being found guilty of offenses including the improper storage of drugs.

Manufacturers welcomed the proposed legislation but said new laws needed to be backed up by tougher action. "Any changes in legislation should be followed by relevant enforcement measures. Legislative amendments are meaningless without strong support of control activities from executive authorities," a GlaxoSmithKline Russia spokesman said.

"We would like to see examples being made where those found to knowingly trade in counterfeit medicines are prosecuted and receive meaningful penalties," the spokesman said. "We would also like to see an increase in checks on pharmacies and warehouses."

With international standards such as the good manufacturing practices code as yet not obligatory in Russia, Demidov said overall production control needed to be sharpened.

The prevalence of counterfeit medicine in the country has consistently been one of the major factors hampering Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization.

"Of course we are thinking first of all about our citizens, but if these measures help facilitate Russia's entry into the WTO, then that is also positive," Shelishch said.

The urgency of these requirements makes it likely that the legislative changes will be passed by the end of the year, Demidov said.

"I hope that this law will be adopted not later than September. I am linking this with the WTO membership bid," he said.

It's a good start, but the Russian government can still Duma. (Get it.)
CMPI

Center for Medicine in the Public Interest is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization promoting innovative solutions that advance medical progress, reduce health disparities, extend life and make health care more affordable, preventive and patient-centered. CMPI also provides the public, policymakers and the media a reliable source of independent scientific analysis on issues ranging from personalized medicine, food and drug safety, health care reform and comparative effectiveness.

Blog Roll

Alliance for Patient Access Alternative Health Practice
AHRP
Better Health
BigGovHealth
Biotech Blog
BrandweekNRX
CA Medicine man
Cafe Pharma
Campaign for Modern Medicines
Carlat Psychiatry Blog
Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look
Conservative's Forum
Club For Growth
CNEhealth.org
Diabetes Mine
Disruptive Women
Doctors For Patient Care
Dr. Gov
Drug Channels
DTC Perspectives
eDrugSearch
Envisioning 2.0
EyeOnFDA
FDA Law Blog
Fierce Pharma
fightingdiseases.org
Fresh Air Fund
Furious Seasons
Gooznews
Gel Health News
Hands Off My Health
Health Business Blog
Health Care BS
Health Care for All
Healthy Skepticism
Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma
Hugh Hewitt
IgniteBlog
In the Pipeline
In Vivo
Instapundit
Internet Drug News
Jaz'd Healthcare
Jaz'd Pharmaceutical Industry
Jim Edwards' NRx
Kaus Files
KevinMD
Laffer Health Care Report
Little Green Footballs
Med Buzz
Media Research Center
Medrants
More than Medicine
National Review
Neuroethics & Law
Newsbusters
Nurses For Reform
Nurses For Reform Blog
Opinion Journal
Orange Book
PAL
Peter Rost
Pharm Aid
Pharma Blog Review
Pharma Blogsphere
Pharma Marketing Blog
Pharmablogger
Pharmacology Corner
Pharmagossip
Pharmamotion
Pharmalot
Pharmaceutical Business Review
Piper Report
Polipundit
Powerline
Prescription for a Cure
Public Plan Facts
Quackwatch
Real Clear Politics
Remedyhealthcare
Shark Report
Shearlings Got Plowed
StateHouseCall.org
Taking Back America
Terra Sigillata
The Cycle
The Catalyst
The Lonely Conservative
TortsProf
Town Hall
Washington Monthly
World of DTC Marketing
WSJ Health Blog