LZVO Newsletter

A recent Europol report reveals that criminals are actively using digital platforms to trade counterfeit medicines across Europe. The Latvian Medicines Verification Organisation (LZVO) urges the public to purchase medicines only from registered pharmacies and medical institutions and to remain vigilant when shopping online.

On 30 January 2025, Arvato Systems held a webinar for IT developers to inform them about the planned updates to the LZVS. Updates will be introduced with the release of Core NMVS 6.0.

The Latvian Medicines Verification Organisation (LZVO – Latvijas Zāļu verifikācijas organizācija) releases newsletter No. 12.

9 February 2025 will mark the sixth year of the Medicines Verification System across Europe and in Latvia. During these years, the number of checked and decommissioned medicines packages in the Latvian Medicines Verification System has increased by 37% compared to the first year of operation, the proportion of alerts has significantly decreased, and the LZVS end user registration system has been fully sorted.

Medicines verification has already become a routine process in Apotheka pharmacies, and we fully support the idea of doing everything possible to prevent any potential risks to the safety of medicines.

In line with the deployment of EU Hub Release 1.16, which will take effect on 25 January 2025, the European Medicines Verification Organisation is introducing critical changes to the structure of Product Master Data (PMD) and Product Pack Data (PPD). Additional existing fields will now become mandatory and require action to ensure compliance.

The patent system provides incentives for enterprising inventors to invest in costly but socially important research. However, alongside the development of innovative goods, medicines included, the ambitions of counterfeiters are growing. The Patent Office has a public education function in the fight against counterfeiting.

The main mission of the Romanian Medicines Serialisation Organisation (OSMR) is to manage the National Medicines Verification System (NMVS), through which we ensure that every medicine put into circulation on the national market is authentic. As General Manager, I have had the privilege of overseeing the implementation and operation of Romania’s NMVS, a cornerstone in the fight against falsified medicines.

The turn of the year reminds us to look back at the steps taken by the Latvian Medicines Verification Organisation and other members of the European Medicines Verification Organisation throughout this year. Next year, the ecosystem of national medicines verification organisations will undergo a change in membership, while the Latvian Medicines Verification System will see improvements in processes that have already started to be reviewed this year.