Between 10 and 30% of medicines used in many developing countries of Africa, parts of Asia and Latin America seem to be counterfeited according to WHO figures. For developed countries, the WHO estimates that less than 1% of the market value of medicines is counterfeited if effective regulatory systems and supervision exist. The risk gets higher when using illegal sources, such as Internet web sites which hide their address. In order to better understand the use of illegal channels, the Commission has launched a study to analyse current regulatory provisions for pharmaceuticals and the related practices in the EU. These studies will set out and develop policy options to bridge any remaining gaps. The studies will also address the crucial issue of awareness-raising campaigns.