Latvia’s Patent Board is launching a new public information campaign, “Be original: Fakes will cost you your life!” The campaign is to run until the end of July, focusing on how to protect intellectual property rights. This year the particular emphasis will be on fake medications and nutrition enhancers which have a negative effect on human health and safety.

During the past five years, increasing cases in the European Union have been found in which people buy fake pharmaceuticals without even knowing where they came from or what their components are. People in Latvia are not protected against fake medications and nutrition enhancers, and that is particularly due to the vast maw of E-commerce. Such products can be ineffective, toxic, or with untested and uncertified substances that can directly harm human health.

The aim of the campaign is to spread an understanding about such risks, emphasising the responsibility of each person to take care of his or her own health and that of others.  Justice Minister Inese Libina-Egnere:  “The protection of intellectual property is not just a matter of economics. It is closely linked to public health and safety, the rule of law and even people’s lives. Last year fake medications worth EUR 64 million were confiscated in Europe, and more than 50 criminal gangs were dismantled. These organised crime networks also operate in Latvia. They have a presence on social networks, logistics systems and even advertising. The state and the public have the joint responsibility of providing information and oversight so that people don’t choose the wrong thing. Each conscious decision against fakes is a step toward safer and healthier public health.”

People’s habits and normalisation of fakes

According to a survey conducted by the Patent Board in 2024, 41% of people in Latvia are prepared to buy fakes, and among the 18-29 cohort, the percentage of those who would do so is up to 54%, or more than one-half.

This suggests a serious problem. Fakes have become an acceptable alternative to legal products among some people. This leads to greater worries about the fact that fake products which people buy may contain fake medications, nutrition enhancers or medical equipment. True, this is not unique to Latvia. Similar problems with fakes and the demand and perception of same also exist elsewhere in Europe.

The director of the Patent Board, Agris Batalauskis, says that it is important to focus on young people who are most often subject to the market manipulation of sellers of fraudulent items on social networks, as well as on the public at large: “The use of fake medications or nutrition enhancers will endanger anyone’s health, and so the point to this campaign is to issue warnings about the dangerous consequences of fakes, as well as to educate people on how to protect themselves against these threats. I’m hoping that this campaign will improve public knowledge and everyday habits, making it easier to spot fakes and strengthening trust in actual manufacturers and official distributors. Our data about public views vis-à-vis fakes show a dangerous trend, because the fakes which 41% of people are prepared to purchase may well contain fake medications or nutrition enhancers.”

Networks of fakes and organised crime

The European Union Office of Intellectual Property and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have conducted studies to show that during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a substantial increase in demand for individual protections, tests and medications. Organised grime glommed onto this right away, actively manufacturing and distributing illegal goods via E-commerce platforms, postal services and the social media. This trend substantially overpowered supervisory institutions and customs services.

The OECD analysis shows that at the global level in 2021, the sale of fakes amounted to EUR 394 billion or so – 2.3% of total global imports. The proportion was 4.7% in the EU. This was facilitated by the Internet, by logistics companies, as well as small postal shipments that did not attract the attention of customs services. During 2020-2021, 79% of the confiscated packages contained fewer than ten objects.  Particularly dangerous are cases in which fake products are manufactured or assembled close to the target market. Such “localisation” is often aimed at avoiding mandatory checks or controls, thus hindering oversight and creating a need for new approaches in international co-operation and control.

During the “SHIELD IV” operation of Europol in 2023, there was a search for fake medications, and EUR 64 million worth of them were found, with more than 1,200 people from more than 50 criminal groups being arrested. Illegal laboratories were found, and dozens of Internet sites were shut down.

The deputy general director of the State Revenue Service for customs issues and director of the Customs Board, Raimonds Zukuls, has this to say: “When working on the external border of the European Union, the most important job in terms of customs control at this time has to do with avoidance of sanctions, but we are also continuing our endless fight against smuggling and other offences. We focus on shipments and cargoes which are linked to higher risks when they cross our border. The distribution of fake products is a key priority, because these products can involve serious risks for human health and safety, as well as honest business operations. The Customs Service, however, cannot operate alone. Of key important is co-operation among institutions, but also public understanding of the risks and threats which come with choosing to buy and consume fake products.”

Fake medications: Not just the risk of poor quality

Fake medications are often not just ineffective, but also dangerous. They can have unexpected side-effects, exacerbate existing medical problems, or not be compatible with other medications or active substances. The European Medicines Agency calls on people make sure that they know the origin of medications and to only rely on online pharmacies which have the EU-confirmed logo and the flag of their country of origin.

Rihards Burmistris, Head of the Pharmacy Department, Health Inspectorate of Latvia: “Fake medicines are not just ineffective, they can also be dangerous. It would be more precise to say that fake medications, at best, are ineffective. In the worst case, they will have unexpected effects and consequences. That is precisely why it is important to purchase medications only from legal pharmacies, including those on the Internet. Only licensed Internet pharmacies in the EU are allowed to sell medications online and for the most part these are over-the-counter medications.  Latvia’s State Agency of Medicines is the one which licenses these institutions.”

Protect yourself and others

Be careful and responsible to protect yourself. Only buy medications from registered pharmacies, including those that are online – only officially licensed platforms which are found on the list of the State Agency of Medicines. Before using medications, check the packaging to look for safety elements such as seals, expiration dates, and the name of the manufacturer.

If the medications look, smell or taste differently than usual, stop their use immediately and contact your pharmacist or doctor. All prescribed medicines in Latvia are tested in pharmacies via a national verification system, but when there are doubts, a pharmacist can test a specific package for a second time.

People are called upon to particularly avoid temptingly cheap offers on the Internet, particularly on social networks, where one finds all kinds of miracle offers “without a prescription,” or “100% natural” nutrition enhancers at a suspiciously low price. Before using any new medication or nutrition enhancer, it is mandatory to consult with your health care specialist.

If you should come across any suspicious products or sales venues, please alert your pharmacist, doctor or the State Agency of Medicines.

Find all information about protecting yourself against fakes and about how dangerous fakes can be can be found at www.viltotarealitate.lv.