DUSHANBE, April 23, Asia-Plus  -- The Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) considered and endorsed the amendment to the country’s law on medicines and pharmaceutical activity at an April 22 sitting, presided over by its speaker, Saydullo Khairulloyev.

Presenting the bill, Health Minister Nusratullo Salimov noted that the amendment penalizes production, export and import of counterfeit medicines. 

According to him, counterfeit medicines have become a global problem and the amendment, made to the law on medicines and pharmaceutical activity, is aimed at toughening efforts against this phenomenon.    

Speaking at the sitting, Jumaboy Sanginov, the member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Social Matters, Family, Health and Ecology, pointed to the necessity of making amendments concerning substandard medicines to the administrative code as well. 

The session also approved the amendment to the administrative code that toughens responsibility for trafficking in pyrotechnics as well as the law on commercial secret and some other laws in force.