Analyzing the sewage discharges in the Netherlands it is discovered that there is an amount higher than the legal prescriptions of Viagra.
There is too much Viagra in Dutch city sewage. Too much compared to the legal requirements. And in all likelihood many of the "blue pills" used against erectile dysfunction could arrive 
from the illegal market or be counterfeits of the famous Pfizer drug. This is one of the conclusions reached by researchers from RIVM, the Institute for Public Health and the Environment in Bilthoven, Holland. Researchers led by Bastiaan Venhuis they relied on an empirical and already known method for the analysis of the consumption of pharmacological and non-pharmacological substances: the analysis of the waters of the city sewers to search, by sample, for the concentration of molecules and active ingredients. The typology of studies is frequent, for example, for the evaluation of drug use in large cities. In this case the researchers measured the presence of Viagra's key active ingredient, the sildenafil, in the sewage of three Dutch cities, discovering that the quantities are much higher than those prescribed in the official channels. The solution to the mystery is quite simple: 2 out of 3 "blue pills" used in the cities examined would be "false", counterfeit products, or simply purchased on the illegal, physical and online market.
Here comes the EU directive
The topic of medicines purchased online and the danger of counterfeiting is very high. Mailboxes are clogged with tempting offers and monitoring is becoming increasingly difficult. Even against pharmaceutical "piracy" will officially come into force within the next 4-6 weeks safety logo of the European Community to be sure that the site you are dealing with is authorized to sell drugs online. The initiative, which is an integral part of the 2011/62/EU directive on falsified medicinal products, requires that authorized sites be distinguished by the presence of a specific logo. By clicking on the latter, it will also be possible to directly access the website of the national authority that regulates the marketing of medicines to view the general list of pharmacies and other authorized retailers. From the entry into force of the new legislation, each country of the Union will have one year to prepare its application and ask for specific conditions and limitations. Italy has already transposed the directive; on 14 February, in fact, the Council of Ministers approved the relative provision, limiting the possibility of online purchases from authorized pharmacies and parapharmacies and to over-the-counter medicines that do not require a prescription from a doctor
by Cosimo Colasanto and Silvia Soligon – 07/07/2014 – Il Sole24ORE Salute24
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