07/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Europe Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care, in cooperation with Swissmedic, is holding a conference to prepare for the implementation of the new MEDICRIME Convention, which seeks to tackle counterfeiting of medicines. This convention will be the first instrument requiring member states to make the manufacture of counterfeit medical products, the supply, offering to supply and trafficking the counterfeits, falsification of documents, and the manufacture or unauthorised supply of medical products which do not comply with norms a criminal offence. The convention provides a framework for international cooperation (it will be open for signature to states which are not members of the Council of Europe) and provides for national cooperation measures, preventive measures aimed at the public and private sectors and measures to protect victims and witnesses. It is expected to be adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 11 May and be opened for signature on 25 November 2010. (O.J./transl.rt)