In Africa, more than half of the veterinary medicines are fake or substandard saids an international veterinary organization. This threat would be primarily due to a lack of enforcement of existing laws on counterfeit goods and also because of counterfeiters who take advantage of low literacy rates explains Hameed Nuru, Senior Director for Policy and External Affairs of the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines.
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been lost this year whereas the livestock’s sector is vital for Africans. It is therefore urgent to find solutions.
Awareness campaigns have already been launched to help farmers to recognize fake drugs because the demand for livestock farming products is expected to double by 2050.
Measures will be taken to eliminate the availability of counterfeit medicines, including strengthening the law and increasing the penalty for counterfeiters of fake drugs, said the representative of the International Institute for Livestock Research (ILRI).
Source: Xinhua News Agency