35th meeting of the Committee of Experts on Minimising Public Health Risks Posed by Falsification of Medical Products and Similar Crimes (CD-P-PH/CMED)

On March 19-20, 2025, representatives of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control participated in the 35th meeting of the Committee of Experts on Minimising Public Health Risks Posed by Falsification of Medical Products and Similar Crimes (CD-P-PH/CMED).

The meeting was held in a video conference format, in accordance with the invitation from the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC), with the participation of such organizations and states:

• Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;
• Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe;
• European Court of Human Rights;
• Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights;
• Committees or other bodies of the Council of Europe engaged in related work, as appropriate;

• World Health Organization (WHO);
• Council of Europe member States and other States with observer status to the European Pharmacopoeia Commission;

• European Union member States;
• Observer States to the Council of Europe: Canada, Japan, Mexico, United States of America.

The meeting was also attended as observers by non-member States with which the Council of Europe has a Neighbourhood Partnership including relevant cooperation activities, and international professional societies, intergovernmental organisations (IGOs), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on topics related to the tasks of the CD-P-PH/CMED.

During the meeting, the participants discussed in detail real examples of negative consequences caused by falsified medical products entering markets in various countries, including the impact of such crimes on public health, the economy and the reputation of the pharmaceutical sector.

Contemporary challenges in combating counterfeit medicines and medical devices were discussed along with best practices aimed at minimizing risks and strengthening control mechanisms, specifically the “Guidance to Disseminate the Deliverables Related to Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Care”, prepared by the Committee of Experts on Quality and Safety Standards in Pharmaceutical Practices and Pharmaceutical Care (CD-P-PH/PC).

The meeting also reviewed the work of CD-P-PH/CMED in the following areas:

• safety of medical devices and falsification of veterinary medicines;

• Know-X database (provides a basis for exchange of information in the field of falsified medical products and similar crimes;
• theft of medicines (recommendations and guidelines);
• illicit online activities;
• disposal of medicinal products;
• research activities of the Oxford Medical Sciences Division;
• Borderline Products Network;
• traceability of medicines in hospital settings.