Philippines: fake drugs make up 25% of counterfeits

The National Committee on IP Rights of the Philippines prevented more than PHP455 million ($8.7 million) worth of counterfeit medicines and personal care products from reaching consumers in the first seven months of this year.

In an announcement published last month, the IP office of the Philippines said the goods made up 25% of the total PHP 13.73 billion worth of fakes detained by officials.

The IP office said these figures showed a trend similar to that of 2018, when cigarettes, pharmaceuticals and personal care products made up the majority of counterfeit products.

Cigarettes and alcohol also made up a further 25% of the goods seized. The office said the total number of goods were detained by the National Bureau of Investigation (PHP9.3 billion), the country’s customs (PHP3.9billion) and the Food and Drug Administration (PHP2.8 billion).

Josephine Santiago, director-general of the IP office, said the office is readying itself for the possible rise of counterfeiting of products “by intensifying its exploration of new enforcement strategies to employ”.

On October 15, the deputy director general of the IP office, Ted Pascua, said that the government was drafting new legislation to crack down on the spread of online counterfeits.

In particular, it is looking at the possibility of making e-commerce sites based outside the country liable as “accessories to the crime,'' Pascua said.

Platforms such as Facebook have already been forewarned about the availability of counterfeit drugs on their platforms, he added.

Pascua also encouraged members of the public to be vigilant against fake pharmaceuticals.

“If you buy counterfeit bags and wearables and the like, your health isn’t necessarily affected,” he said, contrasting the significant public health risk posed by counterfeit drugs and supplement products.

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