Rabat – On April 19, Morocco formally approved the Council of Europe’s ‘MEDICRIME’ Convention, which outlaws the counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes threatening public health.
After 20 Council of Europe Parties, Morocco became the 7th external nation, and 5th in Africa, to ratify the MEDICRIME Convention.
The MEDICRIME Convention is a revolutionary international agreement designed by the Council of Europe to coordinate international efforts to fight medical crime. This new legally-binding instrument in the sphere of criminal law outlaws counterfeit medication as well as the manufacture and distribution of medical items without a license, or in violation of safety requirements, according to the Council of Europe.
The Convention – which will require a monitoring body to supervise its implementation by the Parties – is designed to safeguard public health by introducing criminal sanctions and measures for public protection.
The Convention also establishes a framework for international collaboration and measures to promote coordination between countries.
At the same time as signing the MEDICRIME Convention (CETS No. 211), Morocco ratified the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Laundering, Search, Seizure, and Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (CETS No. 198).
The Council of Europe revised this 1990 Convention to reflect the reality that terrorism is no longer primarily sponsored by money laundering, but can also be financed by lawful activity.
Both Council of Europe Conventions will enter into force for Morocco on August 1, 2022.
