Turkey has now adopted the Council of Europe Convention on the Counterfeiting of Medical Products and Similar Crimes Involving Threats to Public Health ("Convention") into local legislation (more). The Convention criminalizes certain acts, protects victims' rights, as well as encourages national and international co-operation.
After long-running discussions, the Convention was ratified by Law numbered 6964 on 8 March 2017. The process was concluded by publication of a Council of Ministers' decision on 29 May 2017 and the Convention was finally adopted on 2 August 2017.
The Convention requires signatory countries to adopt domestic legislation and other measures. Accordingly, Turkey is now required to amend legislation to criminalize manufacturing, procuring and smuggling counterfeit medical products, along with forging documents and similar acts, if such act poses a threat to public health.
The Convention will enter into effect on the first day of the fourth month after the accession instrument is deposited with the Council of Europe's Secretary General.
Please see this link for the full text of the Convention (both English and Turkish)
Information first published in the MA | Gazette, a fortnightly legal update newsletter produced by Moroğlu Arseven.
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