http://www.gsnmagazine.com/cms/features/news-analysis/2878.html
*ICE on the lookout for counterfeit flu vaccines* By Louis Chunovic, Senior Editor Published October 29th, 2009 [image: pandemic] With the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic well underway in the U.S., DHS’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed what officials call a “significant emphasis on reducing the threat to health and safety posed by the trafficking of counterfeit, unapproved, and substandard pharmaceuticals,” particularly counterfeit anti-viral drugs and counterfeit H1N1 vaccines. That was what senior officials from ICE, FEMA and the Office of Health Affairs reported in written testimony last week to the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Emerging Threats,Cybersecurity and Science & Technology. ICE and its partners at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), which is the focal point of the anti-counterfeit-drug effort, have “projected a potential influx of counterfeit influenza products,” according to the testimony. And they have “proactively initiated undercover activity targeting individuals and websites that were offering potential counterfeit influenza treatment products for sale.” However, thus far ICE has found “no evidence of the illicit production or dissemination of counterfeit antiviral medications in the United States,” the officials noted, emphasizing that ICE will “remain diligent” and will “continue to conduct investigative and interdiction activity targeting counterfeit 2009 H1N1 vaccines and other associated pharmaceuticals.” In their testimony, the three officials noted that ICE “spearheaded” the establishment of the new IPR Center, which now includes representatives from all federal agencies with enforcement jurisdiction over intellectual property (IP)-related crime, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Justice Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). The IPR Center also includes Mexico Customs, “providing ICE and the IPR Center with the ability to more effectively address cross-border commercial fraud issues,” the officials wrote. The IPR Center allows for a “more focused approach to addressing pharmaceutical-related IP crime,” according to the officials. “The IPR Center develops and receives actionable leads; generates intelligence, seizures, investigations and initiatives; and conducts outreach and training. One of the primary missions of the IPR Center is the analysis, deconfliction, and coordination of leads received from private industry, counterpart law enforcement agencies, and public avenues.” The officials -- Alex Garza, of the Office of Health Affairs; Richard Serino, of FEMA; and Marcy Forman, of ICE -- concluded their general comments about the federal government’s pandemic plans by observing that “we have strengthened our plans and our response capacity as we have learned more about 2009 H1N1, and we have built a strong, coordinated, and effective response.” --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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