EU and Switzerland detail anticounterfeiting pact

The European Union has published a pact with Switzerland that could clampdown on counterfeit medicines coming into Europe.

The agreement, signed in 2004 but only now published, will come into force in April. It aims to prevent counterfeit medicines and other products from crossing from Switzerland into the EU.

Switzerland topped a list of countries importing fake drugs into Europe published last May. EU Taxation and Customs Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs said at the time he was "shocked" as Switzerland was thought of as a by-word for consumer quality.

The EU and Switzerland signed the agreement in Luxembourg in October 2004 "to combat fraud and any other illegal activity to the detriment of their financial interests".

The deal contains provisions relating to administrative assistance and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters for the protection of financial interests. It also addresses indirect tax (VAT and excise duties) and customs offences (including smuggling), corruption and money laundering, as well as the smuggling of pharmaceutical drugs.

According to the agreement, the provisional application takes effect on 8 April, 2009 for Poland, Sweden, Romania, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Finland and the UK. In Germany, Finland and the UK, the effective date will be 9, 15 and 20 April respectively. The binding application will become effective after ratification by all 27 EU member states.

Recently the European Commission threatened China with trade sanctions if it failed to comply with a recently signed anticounterfeiting agreement.