Welcome

Cutting the cost of medicines in Europe 


A word of welcome from the EAEPC President

Dear Visitor,

Welcome to the home page of the EAEPC, the European Association of Euro-Pharmaceutical Companies.

 

Our association represents Europe’s licensed parallel distribution industry, an integral part of the European pharmaceutical market that adds value to society by introducing price competition and a supplementary layer of product safety.

 

If you like the idea of saving money when purchasing pharmaceuticals while being assured that they are legally and reliably sourced from within the EU, we invite you to find out more about the EAEPC and the licensed companies it represents.

 

The free movement of goods, including medicines, within the EU Single Market is a fundamental principle enshrined in EU law, giving European citizens the right to access medicines from where they are priced lowest within Europe. The EAEPC will continue to defend free movement, despite the obstacles increasingly put up by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

 

With a view to maximising profits by charging the highest possible price in each country, multinational pharmaceutical companies are increasingly limiting intra-Community trade by means of supply restrictions and other forms of anti-competitive behaviour. In addition, some in the industry have launched a smear campaign against parallel trade, falsely suggesting that the free movement of medicines compromises patient safety by facilitating the entry of counterfeit medicines.

 

The medicines we provide are those of the original manufacturers, sourced exclusively from inside Europe, and checked thoroughly according to the same EU and national regulations that apply to manufacturers like Pfizer or GlaxoSmithKline. The medicines are often produced in the same manufacturing plants and are sold through the same channels, are essentially identical products marketed by the domestic trademark owner – but they are cheaper.

 

For over 30 years, payers of prescription medicines have received guaranteed savings from parallel trade, which brings competition to an otherwise closed pharmaceutical market, and provides improved access to less common medicines. 

 

The EAEPC, which represents parallel traders in medicines from over 70 firms from 20 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), welcomes you to its website. I invite you to find out more about our exciting industry. 

 

 

Best wishes