The SMDC participated in the 9th meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the MEDICRIME Convention

The regular plenary meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Counterfeiting of Medical Products and Similar Crimes Threatening Health (MEDICRIME) was held on 31 March – 1 April 2025 in Strasbourg, French Republic. The meeting was attended by representatives of countries that have ratified the Convention, signatories and independent observers, independent experts involved in the fight against the falsification of medical products from INTERPOL, ASOP-Europe and the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI).

Opening the meeting, Mr Denis HUBER, Head of the Department of Health, General Directorate of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, Executive Secretary of the Pompidou Group, stressed the need to synchronise international efforts to counteract the entry of substandard medical products into the markets of countries. The Chairman also noted the importance of many more countries joining the MEDICRIME Convention and recalled the benefits of common security provided by the ratification of the treaty.

It was reported that the Republic of Chile had signed the MEDICRIME Convention and became the 16th signatory state that is not a member of the Council of Europe and the second country on the South American continent.

The plenary session also presented strategic areas of work carried out in partnership with the European Pharmacopoeia, the Pompidou Group and the Anti-Doping Committee.

The participants spoke about legislative initiatives in the countries, made proposals for possible new initiatives of the Committee and identified the way forward for revising the monitoring process in the context of remote monitoring and country visits.

The SMDC ensures constant interaction with international institutions aimed at combating counterfeit medicines and, in accordance with the goal set by the MEDICRIME Convention, continues to work on the implementation of the Convention’s legal framework.

Representation of the SMDC at the meetings of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe MEDICRIME Convention meets the requirements for fulfilling international obligations and facilitates the establishment of cooperation in the fight against counterfeiting of medicines and medical products and similar crimes.