§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has on the import, production and sale of counterfeit medicines in the United Kingdom;
(2) what steps he is taking to eradicate the import, production and sale of counterfeit medicines in the United Kingdom;
(3) what assessment he has made of the damage being done to British pharmaceutical companies by the import, manufacture or sale of counterfeit medicines.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySection 118 of the Medicines Act 1968 restricts the disclosure of information regarding any alleged importation, sale or production of counterfeit medicines. Any reports of alleged import, production or sale of counterfeit medicines in the United Kingdom are urgently investigated by the enforcement unit of the Medicines Control Agency. The United Kingdom licensing system covering the import, sale and production of medicinal products is continually kept under review to ensure appropriate safeguards against counterfeit products are maintained. No information is available about any damage being done to pharmaceutical companies arising from alleged trade in such products.