Nadezda Murmakova
Brand owners may use a multitude of approaches to crack down effectively on fake drugs. Andy Leck and Ren Jun Lim discuss the challenges of anti-counterfeiting efforts in Singapore.
In May this year, as part of the annual Operation Pangea, an Interpol-led international internet week of action targeting the illegal online sale of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines, the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized more than 56,000 units of counterfeit health products, with a total estimated street value of more than US$320,000. More than 60% of the counterfeit health products seized were sexual enhancement drugs, some of which contained undeclared potent Western medicinal ingredients like tadalafil.
In light of this crackdown, we consider the existing legal framework in Singapore for drug anti-counterfeiting actions and set out the legal and practical challenges involved. To curb such activities effectively, right owners should consider alternative modes of enforcement and wield them in combination for effective brand protection.
Existing legal framework
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counterfeits; HSA; trademark infringement; IP enforcement
