The 10th plenary meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health (MEDICRIME Convention) was held in Strasbourg (French Republic) on 9-10 December 2025.
The meeting brought together representatives of the state parties to the Convention, countries that have not yet acceded to MEDICRIME, international organizations and observers. Such broad and diverse representation clearly confirmed the growing international interest and high relevance of the issue of combating counterfeit medicines and medical devices in the current environment.
Welcoming the participants of the meeting, Rafael Benitez, Director of the Directorate of Social Rights, Health and Environment of the Council of Europe, outlined the key messages of the 2025 Health Conference. These include the need to ensure the reliability and safety of medical products, the serious but often hidden impact of pharmaceutical crime on health systems and the Council of Europe's strong commitment to promoting the ratification and effective implementation of the MEDICRIME Convention. He also noted the intense and substantive program of the plenary session which included presentations by countries and international organizations and emphasized the importance of close interinstitutional cooperation within the Council of Europe.
During the meeting, representatives of participating countries discussed national efforts and achievements in combating counterfeit medical products, law enforcement strategies, high-profile cases of counterfeit product seizures and current challenges. Particular attention was paid to issues such as the illegal online sale of medicines, border vulnerability, the need to strengthen the technical capacity of competent authorities and the development of international cooperation.
Participants stressed the need for coordinated action in the fight against counterfeit and misused medicines, with a focus on the effective removal of dangerous products from circulation and the key role of cross-border cooperation in countering evolving pharmaceutical crime.
The participation of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control in the work of the MEDICRIME Committee confirms Ukraine's consistent position on protecting public health and its readiness for active international cooperation in the field of combating counterfeit medical products.