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EU-wide logo introduced to protect patients from falsified medicines online

Xinhua, July 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) introduced an EU-wide logo that would appear on the websites of online medicines retailers that are registered in an EU member state, said the EU medicine regulatory body in a press release on Wednesday.

The logo is intended to help patients identify trustworthy sites when buying medicines online, said the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the press release.

Patients in the EU would now be able to easily identify legally operating online medicine retailers, stressed the EMA.

The EMA explained that when clicking on the logo, patients would be taken to the online register of the national competent authority that lists all legally operating online retailers in that country. This system is currently being implemented across the EU member states.

"When buying medicines online, consumers must be aware that unless they buy from legally-operating online medicine suppliers, they run the risk of buying falsified medicines, which are usually ineffective, substandard and dangerous," said Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health & Food Safety.

Therefore, the EU "established a common logo for online medicines retailers so consumers can stay safe," added the commissioner. Endit