US Senate backs Bill to increase penalties for counterfeit drugs

The US Senate this week unanimously approved a bill authored by US Senators Patrick Leahy (Democrat, Vermont) and Chuck Grassley (Republican, Iowa) to increase penalties for trafficking counterfeit drugs. The legislation responds to recommendations made by the US Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator and the administration’s Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Inter-agency Working Group.

The Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act will increase penalties for the trafficking of counterfeit drugs to reflect the severity of the crime and the harm to the public. While it is currently illegal to introduce counterfeit drugs into interstate commerce, the penalties are no different than those for the trafficking of other products, such as electronics or clothing. The Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act will target violators that knowingly manufacture, sell or traffic counterfeit medicines to the USA.

It has been reported that counterfeit drugs result in 100,000 fatalities globally each year, and account for an estimated $75 billion in annual revenue for criminal enterprises.