UANI

"Novartis AG, Europe's biggest drugmaker by sales, said its Alcon eye-care unit is under U.S. government investigation related to the export of products to Iran and other countries subject to trade sanctions. Alcon was notified last year that the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Texas is conducting an investigation into its sales, Novartis said in a regulatory filing today. The unit, run from Fort Worth, Texas, received a grand jury subpoena for documents dating back to 2005. Alcon is cooperating with the investigation, according to the filing. The U.S. government has programs that prohibit or limit products made or held in the U.S. from being sold to certain countries, including Iran, Syria and North Korea. Novartis, based in Basel, Switzerland, took full control of Alcon in 2010 after an 11 month dispute with minority shareholders. Alcon was based in Huenenberg, Switzerland, with U.S. headquarters in Texas. It generated $2.6 billion in sales during the fourth quarter, Novartis said today." (Bloomberg, "Novartis Draws U.S. Investigation Into Sales to Iran," 1/23/12)

Iranian company Tamine Ehtiyajet-e Dam (TED) displays Lohmann's products on its home screen and advertises itself to have a contract with Lohmann to be the exclusive importer of their products in Iran.  

Lohmann lists its Iran office under its Contact Us page.  

Over the last three presidential administrations, the United States government has granted Mallinckrodt Pharmaceutical Company 11 special licenses to do business in Iran. (New York Times, "Companies with Permission to Bypass Sanctions," 12/24/10)

"This license authorized the company to export a variety of its vitamin products to Iran. The names of the Iranian importers have been redacted by OFAC." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

Over the last three presidential administrations, the United States government has granted Sportika Export 16 special licenses to do business in Iran. (New York Times, "Companies with Permission to Bypass Sanctions," 12/24/10)

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"This license was to export food supplements for building muscles, like protein powder, to Iran. Richard White, Sportika Export's chief executive, said Iran is a very good market for companies like his. 'It appears there must be an upper class there because these items are fairly high priced by the time you import then and pay all the duty there,' he said, adding that he is comfortable selling his products in Iran 'because the government is comfortable with our doing it.'" (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

"This license is to sell a Hollywood USA weight loss supplement called NatureFit. 'Iranians absolutely love American products,' said the company's owner, Rocky Hadzovic, adding that he had no compunction against selling his products in Iran. 'If we don't sell to them, someobody else will - they're going to get product from Canada, Europe, or China.'" (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

The IBR group lists Iran as being within its "operating area." (Company Website)

Apotex is Canada's largest pharmaceutical company, with "5,800 employees, 85 million prescriptions, and over $1 billion in annual sales." (Company Website). Apotex sells its products in Iran through a regional distributor, the pharmaceutical import company Neda-e-Mahya Co. (Company Website).

EMD USA is the North American affiliate of the German chemicals and pharmaceuticals company, Merck.

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Like on Merck's website, EMD lists chemical distributors in Iran. (Company website. "Worldwide")

"Germany’s multi-billion euro bilateral trade relationship with Iran continues unabated, even as evidence mounts that the Islamic Republic is determined to build a nuclear weapons capability. The Jerusalem Post has obtained an uncensored list from late 2011, showing hundreds of German and Iranian enterprises in a flourishing trade relationship . . . The list showed that Merck KGaA, the giant Hesse-based chemical and pharmaceutical company, has long been active in Iran. Merck spokesman Steffen Mueller remained largely tight-lipped about its work with Iran, writing in an email that the company adheres to all existing trade conditions." (Jerusalem Post, "German firms still ship dual-use goods to Iran Jerusalem," 7/9/12) 

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"In Iran, Merck has a representative office engaged in the marketing of engaged in the marketing of laboratory and specialty chemicals. Until the two divisions Merck Serono and Consumer Health Care as well as the business sector Chemicals have specific information on this site the offices are your point of contact for Merck products."

Listed are the Merck's chemicals distributors in Iran.  (Company Website)

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Over the last three presidential administrations, the United States government has granted Merck 10 special licenses to do business in Iran. (New York Times, "Companies with Permission to Bypass Sanctions," 12/24/10)