5. Examples of the Traceability Department's work

5.1 Health sector (example of a drug application)

France's pre-marketing drug control system benefits from both efficient organization and respected pharmaceutical ethics.

Internet sales are the first threat to this system. Outside France, drug counterfeiting is a major scourge (according to statements made by French Foreign Trade Minister Mme Lagarde to the business press in 2006).

The percentage of counterfeit products is dramatically high:

• 10% in the United States ;

• 20% in Russia ;

• from 50% to 70% in some African countries (source: report on counterfeit medicines broadcast in 2006 on the France 5 television channel);...