On 6 March 2026, the EMVS Forum 2026 brought together around 200 in-person participants from across Europe, including regulators, policymakers, enforcement networks, public-health organisations, and supply chain stakeholders, to address evolving pharmaceutical crime threats and reinforce cooperation to protect patients.
Pharmaceutical crime is increasingly organised, cross-border and adaptive—leveraging digital channels and exploiting vulnerabilities across supply chains. The Forum served as a platform to align perspectives and identify practical ways to strengthen prevention, detection and response, supported by the European Medicines Verification System (EMVS).
Key themes:
- Understanding today’s pharmaceutical crime threat and how it is evolving
- Policy responses and the role of EMVS in a changing EU legislative landscape
- Counterfeiting sophistication and near-term innovations with the highest impact
- Operational cooperation between regulators, enforcement, WHO and supply chain actors
- How we strengthen early detection, intelligence sharing and rapid coordinated action
Program highlights:
Session 1 – Panel Discussion
Understanding Today’s Pharmaceutical Crime Threat
The session opened with a keynote by Davide D’Auria (Europol), drawing on Europol’s analysis and enforcement actions including Operation SHIELD. Commentators from INFARMED, the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) and ABDA reflected on impacts across national authorities and pharmacy practice, and discussed how systems such as EMVS can support earlier detection and stronger cross-border cooperation.
Speakers and contributors:
• Keynote: Davide D’Auria, Head of Economic Crime Unit, Europol
• Moderators: Adrian van den Hoven (EMVO) and Kristina von Sydow (e-Vis)
• Commentators: Carlos Penha Gonçalves (INFARMED), Niall McCarthy (PSI), Maximilian Wilms-Posen (ABDA)
Session 2 – Panel Discussion
Policy Responses with the EMVS at the Centre
This panel explored how EMVS supports the EU’s policy approach to patient protection through a shared responsibility model across the supply chain and consistent safeguards across national healthcare systems. Discussions also considered how medicines verification systems can remain adaptable as risks evolve, in the context of the ongoing revision of the EU pharmaceutical framework.
Speakers:
• Kai Mjaanes, General Manager, EMVO
• Agnès Mathieu-Mendes, Head of Unit (SANTE.D.2), European Commission
• Davide D’Auria, Head of Economic Crime Unit, Europol
• Răzvan Mihai Prisada, President, NAMMDR
Moderators:
• Nathalie Moll, Director General, EFPIA
• Christoph Lendl, General Manager, Austrian NMVO
Session 3 – Panel Discussion
Sophistication of Counterfeiting and Innovative Technologies
Speakers examined the growing “industrialisation” and professionalisation of falsifiers, including data-aware adversaries that adapt to known controls. The discussion focused on practical innovations and cooperation models with near-term impact—particularly improved anomaly detection and the effective use of NMVO/EMVO data and intelligence, while maintaining appropriate safeguards.
Speakers:
• Martin Bergen, General Manager, German NMVO (securPharm)
• Solveig de Rancourt, Detection & Investigations Lead Europe & KSA, Sanofi
• Oscar Alarcón-Jiménez, Executive Secretary, MEDICRIME Convention (Council of Europe)
Moderators:
• Kasper Ernest, Director General, GIRP
• Marie Louise Shee, General Manager, DMVO
Session 4 – Roundtable
Cooperation Between Regulators, Enforcement & Supply Chain
This roundtable explored how enforcement intelligence, public-health surveillance and supply chain systems can work together—effectively and proportionately—to protect patients. Participants discussed practical cooperation models, governance principles that enable reporting and action, and the critical first 24–48 hours after suspected falsified medicines are detected.
Speakers:
• Martin Burman, Chair, Working Group of Enforcement Officers (WGEO); Senior Investigator, Swedish Medical Products Agency
• Anita Sands, Technical Officer, World Health Organization (WHO)
• Niall McCarthy, Regional Director EMEA, Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI)
Moderators:
• Margriet Keijzer, EMVO Director & Secretary General, Affordable Medicines Europe
• Leonie Clarke, Chief Executive, IMVO
Key takeaways:
Across the Forum, participants reinforced that safeguarding patients requires:
• A prevention-first approach, supported by robust verification systems such as EMVS and strong governance across the medicines supply chain
• Proactive intelligence sharing and early-warning mechanisms, enabling regulators, NMVOs, law enforcement and industry to detect emerging threats and suspicious patterns earlier
• Stronger operational cooperation across borders, recognising that pharmaceutical crime is increasingly global, technology-enabled and organised
• Continuous evolution of systems and tools, allowing EMVS and related infrastructures to adapt to new risks, policy priorities and criminal methods
• Improved collaboration and feedback loops between stakeholders, strengthening trust, reporting mechanisms and investigative effectiveness
• Greater patient awareness and public trust, ensuring that medicines obtained through the legal supply chain remain the safest option and reducing reliance on illegal online channels
For further information, you can consult EMVS Forum 2026 | Pharmaceutical Crime and Safeguarding the Supply Chain – EMVO
Key Materials
Keynote Speaker Presentation
Presentation slides from the keynote speaker:
Event Gallery
Photos from the EMVS Reception & Forum 2026:
EMVS Reception & Forum 2026 Gallery – EMVO
Additional Resources
Contact
For questions about the EMVS Forum or EMVO’s work on medicines verification, please contact:
helpdesk@emvo-medicines.eu