APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum
Anti-Counterfeiting Health Products Seminar
"Building International Cooperation to Protect Patients"
Singapore
January 13-15, 2008 and March 30 - April 2, 2008
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Life Sciences Innovation Forum along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, together with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority and the U.S. – ASEAN Business Council held a series of two seminars in Singapore to enhance international awareness of the dangers of trade in counterfeit medical products, and to maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical products and medical devices supply chain.
Objectives for the Seminars included:
- Assist in the detection and prevention of counterfeit medical products in APEC economies through improved training, coordination, and collaboration among key stakeholders.
- Encourage the development and implementation of government policies and regulations that combat and deter the production and trade of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
- Safeguard patient health and promote an environment that is conducive to innovation in the life sciences.
- Stimulate participant discussion through lower speaker to participant ratios and a case study approach to enhance and broaden practical skills.
The first two-day session was held January 13 through 15, 2008 provided introductory modules on counterfeit hazard, detection and prevention giving regulatory authorities and other stakeholders the tools both to perform training exercises in their local economies and regions throughout Asia and to enhance societal awareness of the hazards of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
The second two-day session was held March 30 through April 2, 2008 and built on the outcomes established during the first seminar focusing on more intensive modules on counterfeit avoidance and deterrence measures. In order to truly combat and prevent trade in counterfeit medical products, a wide variety of stakeholders were exposed to capacity-building activities, policymakers, regulators, customs officials, physicians and representatives from the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries.
This series of seminars complements the efforts of the World Health Organization’s International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) formed to develop international initiatives to fight counterfeiting of medical products. IMPACT is a partnership comprised of all major anti-counterfeiting players, including international organizations, non-governmental organizations, enforcement agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers associations, and drug regulatory authorities.
Activities at the first seminar included:
- An introductory module on the hazards of counterfeit medical products.
- A best practices training module on the detection of counterfeit medical products at selected stages in the supply chain.
- A module examining the unintended consequences of regulations and policies that may inadvertently contribute to the development or continuing existence of black markets.
- A module on the impact of counterfeit products on innovation and access to advanced medical technology.
For the presentations from the first seminar, please see under "Important Materials" below.
Activities at the second seminar included:
- Case studies by experts on best practices for preserving the integrity of the supply chain and combating counterfeiting.
- A module on best practices in deterring anti-counterfeiting at selected points in the supply chain.
- Agreement on follow-up activities and methods to continue cooperative efforts.
For presentations from the second seminar, please see under "Important Materials" below.
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