UNODC Guide to Good Legislative Practices on Combating Falsified Medical Product-Related Crime
UNODC published in 2019 a Guide to Good Legislative Practices on Combating Falsified Medical
Product-Related Crime to support countries in enacting or strengthening domestic legislation in this area and in protecting
public health.
UNODC developed the guide with financial support of France and contributions of numerous experts
from all continents and of the Council of Europe, the Economic Community of West African States, the European Union, the International
Council of Nurses, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the New Partnership for Africa's Development,
the World Customs Organization and the World Health Organization. States can use the Guide as a practical tool as they draft,
amend or review relevant national legislation. The guide uses the definition of falsified medical products adopted in 2017
by the World Health Assembly and does not distinguish between generic and originator products. It does not in any way deal
with the protection of intellectual property rights but focuses on the protection of public health through a criminal justice
response. It is hoped that this Guide will contribute to an increased number of national and international investigations
and prosecutions of falsified medical product-related crime, which remains a "high profit low risk sector" for criminals.
