According to Taipei Customs Office, they found an abnormal display on the X-ray machine while joint implementing the X-ray imaging reading with aviation police officers of National Police Agency of Ministry of the Interior for a batch of express goods imported from Hong Kong without tip-offs the other day. After the boxes were opened and inspected, the officers found suspected 2,883 counterfeit Viagra tablets with Pfizer’s logos. The estimated market value of the seized goods is about NT$1.15 million. Currently, the suspected infringing goods have been detained and are under investigation.
The Office indicated that not only the intellectual property rights of legitimate business but also the health of civilian has been severely attacked and threatened by counterfeit drugs which are widely pervading in the market. In order to promote social welfare and tax equality, cooperating with the task team responsible for clamping down on illegal drug producers and sellers of Executive Yuan, the Office will strengthen the inspection of smuggling drugs. On June 14, 2001, the Office held the Counterfeit Medicines Identification Seminar for promoting the customs officers’ identification capability of counterfeit drug. The representatives of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), PSI-USA, and major pharmaceutical factories were invited to participate in the seminar to share inspection experiences, identification skills and example cases.
The Office also said that the customs is a
crucial role of global trade and logistics hub, and the office reaffirmed
the determination to inspect and seize counterfeit drugs in order to provide
convenient and safe customs clearance services, and appealed business
operators to honestly declare imported goods and stop smuggling counterfeit
or prohibited drugs. According to Article 82 of Pharmaceutical Affairs Act,
any person who manufactures or imports counterfeit drugs or prohibited drugs
shall be subject to punishment with imprisonment for a period of not more
than ten (10) years and may in addition thereto, be imposed with a fine of
not more than NT$10,000,000. The Office also appealed civilians to call at
