Source: O Barriga Verde - Taio / SC - HEALTH - 05/12/2009

The illegal trade in medicines, including counterfeiting and theft, is today a challenge for the authorities of the entire chain of companies working in this activity. Currently, counterfeiting accounts for ten percent of the world's volume of medicines. In Europe, according to information from the WHO - World Health Organization, this crime can reach about 45 million euros. In Brazil, according to data from the Ministry of Justice, adulteration of drugs generates ten billion dollars a year. In order to have an idea of ​​the seriousness of the problem, from January to March 2009, Anvisa - Health Surveillance Agency withdrew from the market more than 170 tons of medicines, without records, forged or with expired date.

According to WHO data, ten thousand people in 2001 died worldwide as a result of counterfeit drugs. These frightening numbers demonstrate the importance of creating laws and continuously improving tools for traceability and authenticity of medicines. In this direction, at the beginning of 2009, Brazil created the National Medicines Control System, instituted by Law 11.903 / 2009. The purpose of the measure is to increase safety around the sale of medicines by forcing the manufacturing laboratories to implement a tracking system, so that the entire path taken by the product, until the purchase by the consumer is easily identified. Thereafter, all information about the product must be stored in a single database, controlled by Anvisa. Pharmaceutical companies will have three years to adjust to the new rules.