FDA warns of fake anemia drug
THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public over the presence of counterfeit drugs for anemia saying its consumption may pose safety and health risks for patients. Based on FDA Advisory No. 2014-085, the FDA is warning the public over the presence in the market of counterfeit Epoetin Beta (Recormon) 5,000 IU/0.3mL Solution for Injection with Batch Number H0029H09. “The FDA was informed by Roche Philippines, Inc. of the confirmed counterfeits of Epoetin Beta (Recormon) 5,000 IU/0.3mL Solution for Injection with Batch Number H0029H09 found in Pampanga,” said the FDA.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2015/01/30/fda-warns-fake-anemia-drug-389328
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$19.5 Million Worth of Fake NFL Goods Was Seized in One of the Largest Sports-Related Counterfeit Operations
Government authorities shut down several counterfeit operations this year, seizing $19.5 million worth of fake sports merchandise, reports WWD. Dubbed “Operation Team Player,” the federal agency teamed up with the NFL for this project after last year’s Super Bowl.During the year-long project, authorities made 52 arrests and confiscated over 326,000 items, including fake jerseys, hats, T-shirts, and Super Bowl-themed merchandise. Counterfeit goods were found by identifying international shipments, which helped authorities track down the warehouses and flea markets where the goods were being held and hawked.
Police, taxmen impound smuggled cigarettes
POLICE in collaboration with trade and tax officials have arrested three people in unlawful possession of smuggled cigarettes worth billions shillings in Mbagala area, Dar es Salaam.
The trio was arrested by the police, TRA and Fair Competition Commission (FCC) officials at various places in Mbagala stocking and selling nontax paid cigarettes, said Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Simon Siro.He named the suspects and added that they would appear in court soon. They are EfesoTweve, OmaryMetson and Frank Mrema. Upon conviction the suspects could face up to 15 years in jail or 50m/- fine.
Acadiana Crime News: Acadia jailer accused of smuggling contraband
An Acadia Parish Detention Center employee was arrested Thursday on accusations he was smuggling drugs and tobacco products to inmates. Lester J. Landry, 25, of the 200 block of Mary Street, Iota, was booked on malfeasance in office and bringing contraband into a penal institution, said Maxine Trahan, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman. Authorities found drugs, tobacco products and cell phones during a search of the inmates, Trahan said. Landry, who remained in jail Thursday afternoon in lieu of $35,000 bail, is accused of bringing the drugs and tobacco into the jail.
http://theadvocate.com/news/police/11403324-123/acadiana-crime-news-acadia-jailer
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Navigating the online shopping minefield
Buying on the internet is the future but be wary of the fine print and make sure you get a genuine product.
The season of sale is on. It’s not uncommon to see online retailers announcing “minimum 90 per cent off” or “flat 70 per cent off”. Some deals are available for Rs 1 and coupons worth Rs 10,000 if you sign up. The discounts and pricing seem tempting, until you scratch beneath the surface.
Chetan Tandel was looking for furniture for his new home. Online retailer Pepperfry offered him a Rs 10,000 free coupon on a sign-up.
Anti-counterfeiting alliance formed in Beijing
A strategic alliance on copyright issues was set up in Beijing on Friday to further improve protection of intellectual property rights.
More than 100 members of the non-government China Anti-Infringement and Anti-Counterfeiting Innovation Strategic Alliance called for modernized data sharing, a common management mechanism and a civilian monitoring system for IPR protection.
In the internet era, IPR infringement needs a public service platform based on big data analysis and information sharing, said Hong Yunfeng, director of the alliance.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150125000026&cid=1102
Lear MoreSecond Sentenced for Smuggling Counterfeit Cancer Drugs
The U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri sentenced SabahhadinAkman, an owner of the Turkish firm Ozay Pharmaceuticals, to 30 months imprisonment and a $150,000 fine for smuggling counterfeit, misbranded and adulterated cancer treatment drugs into the U.S., including multiple shipments of Altuzan, the Turkish version of Avastin.
In August 2014, Akman pleaded guilty to the same charges. Akman’s sentencing follows that of his business partner, OzkanSemizoglu, who in October 2014 was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on similar charges.
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/60915/
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The cigarettes that worry tobacco firms
Tobacco companies are warning of an increase in smuggling if the UK passes a law removing branding from cigarette packets. This is what happened when Australia shifted to plain packaging in 2012, it’s been reported, and the biggest rise was found in sales of brands known as “illicit whites”. Elle Metz asks why.
The most popular illegally sold cigarette brand in Australia is called Manchester, according to a 2013 study by KPMG. It’s not a counterfeit – it’s not designed to resemble a cigarette manufactured by a different company – but the packet is made to look entirely traditional.
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-30949434
Lear MoreResearch and Markets: Anti-counterfeit and Brand Protection – Luxury Products, Beauty Products and Apparel: Potential Synergies in Shared Marketing and Distribution
The landscape for the brand protection business has been evolving substantially in the last few years and continues to do so. The scale and reach of the counterfeiting problem continues to grow dramatically to a significant extent due to two big drivers that in particular have been causing accelerated growth of counterfeit products finding their way in to global supply chains:
– China – Today the number one counterfeiter nation in the World – both for exports and for consumption within their own domestic market – Indeed up to some 80% of all counterfeit branded products are thought to originate in China according to the International Anti Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC)
http://www.sys-con.com/node/3281994
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DEA: Narco-drones not major smuggling concern, but could help set up attacks on agents
When Mexican authorities discovered a small, unmanned drone carrying about six pounds of methamphetamine that had crashed about two miles from the U.S. border, it raised a lot of concerns among observers of the drug trade that this new technology will make it more difficult to hunt down narco-traffickers and easier for smugglers to get their illicit products into the United States.
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