09/12/2005

European Union. Closer to the adoption of a Regulation to enable copies of patented medicines to be exported in developing countries

The European Parliament recently voted on the Commission's proposal for a Regulation that would enable European companies to fabricate copies of patented medicines to be exported to developing countries without the authorisation of the patent holder.

The Commission's proposal implements the relevant decision taken by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) General Council in August 2003, which provided for the possibility of such compulsory licensing of medicines in order to lower their price and address public health issues in some of the poorest countries of the world.

The delicate issue of compulsory licensing has been long discussed in the WTO and the adoption of this new Regulation is expected to play a key role in the relations between the EU and the developing countries during negotiations at the forthcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong.

Related Links:
Related press release from the European Commission

IPR-Helpdesk related news item:
2004/11/02 "European Union. The Commission proposes a Regulation to enable the export of pharmaceutical products to poor countries"