In order to continuously maintain the security of the Latvian medicines verification system, it is necessary to renew the initially installed safety certificates every 2 years for all users connected to it.
For a large number of system users who have connected to Latvian medicines verification system at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, the 2-year validity period of the security certificate has already expired or is coming to an end. Therefore, system-generated informative e-mails are sent to end-user’s contact persons about the need to reinstall security certificates. If the user does not renew the certificate within the specified period of time, access to the Latvian medicines verification system will be terminated and it will not be possible to verify the medicines.
In order to connect to the Latvian medicines verification system, two-stage authentication is provided, i.e., a username and password issued by the Latvian Medicines Verification Organisation must be entered, as well as a certificate for additional security must be installed so that an unauthenticated user cannot access the system. The password must be renewed every 90 days, but the certificate – every 2 years. 60 days before the expiry of the certificate, a TAN number is sent to each end-user's contact person for the installation of a new certificate. From the 30th day before the certificate expires, the end user receives a reminder e-mail every day, which also contains the required TAN number to renew the certificate.
The basis for the establishment of the verification system is the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (2011/62/EU) and the delegated regulation which defines detailed rules for the safety features appearing on the packaging of medicinal products for human use (EU 2016/161). In Latvia, the system is maintained by the Latvian Medicines Verification Organisation, and its aim is to prevent the possibility of falsified medicines from reaching consumers. The system has been implemented and since 9 February 2019 has been operating in more than 30 European countries.