Source: Ao Farmacêutico - SP - 17/08/2009

The document also shows that the highest rate is that charged in Rio, which reaches 19%. In São Paulo the rate is 18% and most states charge 17%. These and other points will be the highlights of the pharmaceutical sector during Expo Pharma 2009, which takes place between the 19th and 21st of this month at Riocentro.

Unlike Brazil, other countries have for many years considered the drug an essential asset. In the USA, Mexico, England and Japan the tax is zero. In Portugal it is 4,7%; in France, 2,1%; in Italy, 3,9% and in Spain, 3,8% - just to name a few examples. On veterinary drugs, treated as inputs, ICMS is not collected, that is, there are 15% less taxes.

The pharmaceutical sector has long pointed to tax cuts as a way to increase the population's access to healthcare. And in August, another step will be taken with the realization of the Expo Pharma 2009 Panel, which will bring together representatives of the segment and authorities for a wide debate that will result in a document to be forwarded to the Executive Branch.

Cases like Paraná and Pernambuco, which came out ahead, will be used as an example that it is possible to change. Another theme that will be addressed at the event concerns the counterfeiting of medicines. According to the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in the first quarter of this year alone, 170 tons of medicines were seized. There were thousands of boxes of counterfeit drugs, stolen or unregistered, nine times more than in 2008.

Anvisa's president, Dirceu Raposo de Melo, will participate in the event. He will give a lecture on “Drug counterfeiting: prevention and crime”, as a way to clarify to businessmen in the sector the ways to combat this problem, which can reach between R $ 5 billion and R $ 8 billion / year.

Source: Monitor Mercantil - RJ