Brussels, 21/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 20 November, the European Commission sent a warning letter (first stage of the infringement procedure) to four member states - Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Finland - that have failed to transpose the directive on falsified medicines, adopted in 2011. The directive seeks to protect patients by preventing falsified medicines reaching them. It also lays down harmonised, pan-European safety and control measures, ensuring easier identification of falsified medicines, and improved checks and controls at EU borders and within the EU. These four EU countries have two months to inform the Commission of measures taken to ensure full compliance with EU law. (IL/transl.fl)