The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to advance and deepen the strengthening of cooperation and exchange of information on the subject of illicit trade in counterfeit medical products.
This was announced by the OMA after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU, in English) following the meeting held on Monday (05.09.2022) between the top leaders of both organizations.
"The updated MoU places particular emphasis on the exchange of information on illicit trade in falsified or substandard medical products, as well as on the WHO's global surveillance and monitoring system.", he explained in the note to the press.
He also stressed that the "participation of the WHO" is expected in the work to "classify" the new International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for substances designated under the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Convention).
“The new agreement will continue to align priority areas for both organizations in terms of their respective work programs and strategies,” he said.
The Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, He highlighted “the quality of cooperation between WHO and WCO, which has been reflected in particular, during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, in the work on the HS classification reference for vaccines and related supplies and equipment (HS 2022)”. He thanked “their support during the implementation of Operation STOP I and II”, which in his opinion “facilitated the seizure of more than 800 million units of substandard or falsified medicines, vaccines and medical equipment for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19”.
Also, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus He pointed out “the need to ensure fluidity in the cross-border movement of pharmaceutical and medical devices, especially during a pandemic such as COVID-19.” He also stressed “the importance of collaboration between customs and health authorities at national level.”
According to the WCO, this updated MoU has a broader scope than the one signed and implemented by the two entities in 2002. (WCO statement)
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