Drugs And Medicines : Germany

The safety of medicines is accorded high priority in Germany. The Pharmaceuticals Act stipulates that medicines may be passed on to consumers only after their quality, effectiveness and harm-lessness have been tested in accordance with state marketing authorization procedure. Even after approval by the competent authorities, they are kept under constant observation for the consumers’ protection so that dangers are quickly recognized and remedial action can betaken.

The Pharmaceuticals Act also sets out detailed safety regulations for the production of pharmaceuticals, and it determines which substances may be sold only in pharmacies and which only on a doctor’s prescription. Ensuring the safety of blood products and overseeing the distribution of pharmaceuticals is the responsibility of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices in Berlin, the Paul Ehrlich Institute - Federal Agency Today, efforts to help achieve high health standards in the Member States are among the EU’s most important activities. Examples of these joint European activities are the health research program “Europe Against Cancer”, an action program to combat drug abuse involving an exchange of information between detoxification centers, and cooperation on measures to combat AIDS, alcohol abuse and drug addiction.