Purchasing medicines online should soon be more secure after it was announced that containers will have to carry, as obligatory, a unique identifier and an anti-tampering device. Previous reports by Interpol have warned the majority of websites selling counterfeit medicines have Russian IP addresses and are re-routed through China to avoid detection — with the World Health Organisation recently putting a €70bn figure on the sector.
The same reports have also noted, in some cases, the fake versions of prescription drugs — which regularly have incorrect dosage levels — have been found in raids alongside weapons and narcotics, suggesting a significant criminal link.
The Conservative Consumer Affairs Spokesman and West Midlands MEP Daniel Dalton said, “Such safety features will protect British and West Midlands consumers against the health threat of falsified medicines. More and more people are buying medicines online and they need to have the knowledge that they are not being ripped off or putting their health at risk.”
Daniel added, “This will mean that drugs are now traceable which should be a significant blow to the despicable gangs that profit from peddling fake medicines.”
