The course from CEPOL, the European Police College on identifying and fighting counterfeit medicine and pharmaceutical crime and organised by the Central Office for Coordinating Environment and Health Crime in France on 26-30 March, attracted fourteen participants from eleven different Member States. Participants enjoyed of a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of this kind of organised crime.

CEPOL, the European Police College together with the Central Office for Coordinating Environment and Health Crime (“Office central de lutte contre les atteintes à l'environnement et la santé publique” - OCLAESP), organised a course that had focused on identifying and fighting counterfeit medicine and pharmaceutical crime. At the course, fourteen participants from eleven different Member States had the opportunity to obtain a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of this kind of organised crime thanks to the conferences of trainers and experts from Germany, Italy, Spain, the European Commission, Europol and private sectors. Among other courses offered by CEPOL this year was the one-to-one exchanges to police officers.

Trafficking in medicines is foreseen to be a prosperous illegal activity in the coming years. In Europe, the issue is more an economic one than a social one. The protection of public health along with the protection of intellectual property right should also be taken into account at the same time. Colonel Bruno MANIN, Course Manager from OCLAESP, encouraged participants to share their national best practices and experience, to present possible police response to operationally tackle this form of criminality and to underline possible areas that could benefit from cooperation with EU agencies.

Counterfeit medicine and pharmaceutical crime are an important and increasing criminal phenomenon. It impacts hundreds of thousands of victims all over the world and in recent years, appears to be the deadliest of illegal activities. As are other parts of the world, Europe is also a victim but only to a limited extent: thanks to a stringent legal framework and to the social protection of consumers, European patients are well protected. Nevertheless, Europe is often used as a rebound platform between Asia (the continent of production) and Africa (the continent of consumption).