Fake Drugs: China Apologises to Nigeria

Apologies are not enough. Those factories should be put out of business. Nigeria should consider suspension of all imports fro China until China puts its act together

---------------------------------

Fake Drugs: China Apologises to Nigeria
•As NAFDAC’s drug war goes globa
From Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja, 09.21.2009

Following cases of importation of unwholesome drugs into Nigeria by Chinese companies, China has formally apologised for flooding the country with such harmful products.
The development followed intensified efforts and whistle stop campaigns by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in India, China and the United States among other countries to drum up support and seek strategic alliances for its campaign against unwholesome drugs.

Rendering his apology in Abuja, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Rong Yansong, who noted that Nigeria was the country’s most important trade partner in Africa, regretted the importation of fake drugs into the country by some Chinese nationals.
Speaking at a meeting of global coalition partners against fake drugs manufacture, importation and exportaion in Abuja, the envoy apologised for his country’s involvement in the illicit trade.
“I wish to use this opportunity to apologise to Nigeria for the importation of such products into the country by Chinese firms.

The Chinese government would ensure the punishment of fake drug exporters from China into Nigeria, just like those already in their custody would be dealt with according to the law”, he said. In June, the Dr Paul Orhii-led agency announced it had detected a large consignment of anti-malaria drugs from China, which had been labelled “Made in India”, being sold in the country.
The discovery had snowballed into a diplomatic row with the Indian government lodging a strong protest with the Chinese authorities.

“It was an unfortunate incident, but it has opened up a lot of opportunities in fight against counterfeits, with the Indian government involved as it has interests in the issue,” NAFDAC DG said.
Orhii had embarked on a five-day visit to hold talks with the Indian government and visit pharmaceutical factories in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Mumbai.

He said the suspect drugs were declared counterfeit only after laboratory tests.“The packaging was very sophisticated and on its physical scrutiny, it looked genuine. But after laboratory analysis we found there were no active ingredients. If it had remained undetected, it could have created resistant strains of malaria,” Ohri added.The Chinese government, he said, had reacted by asking for “more information” and “promised to conduct its own investigation”.“We have learnt that they have identified about 50 (Chinese) companies that are involved in this syndicate,” Orhii said.Orhii, however, maintained that there was still the need to conduct a public information campaign about Indian products coming to Nigeria.He also said his organisation had already taken steps to be more “vigilant” to detect counterfeit drugs at the ports of entry itself.Incidentally, China and India are the top exporters of drugs to Nigeria, where foreign-made pharmaceuticals account for 60 percent of drugs in the market.Going by a draft bill before the Indian parliament, exporters of unwholesome products risk life jail, should it be passed into law. Similarly, any Nigerian drug importer who connives with an Indian drug company to produce fake drugs would also be jailed for life upon conviction.NAFDAC on its own had also proposed stiffer penalties for fake drug exporters and manufacturers in Nigeria which would be presented to the National Assembly

The NAFDAC boss had said recently that the biggest problem facing the agency was the issue of counterfeiting which was reduced to 16 per cent during the reign of Professor Dora Akunyili as head of the agency.“One of our biggest problems is counterfeiting which was reduced to 16 per cent during the time of my predecessor. Even 16 per cent is not enough. We want to take it to international standard”, he said. The recently inaugurated Board of the National Agency for Food Drugs, Administration and Control also expressed its determination to reduce incidences of fake and substandard drugs within six months. Chairman of the board, Dr. Philip Emefo, said the agency was ready to partner with the National Assembly in strengthening the existing laws regulating the activities of the agency.