MEDICINES : EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FINALLY GETS SATISFACTION ON TRIPS.

Europe Environment, November, 2007

After postponing their vote three times, members of the European Parliament finally obtained satisfaction on the amendment to the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement aimed at improving access to drugs in developing countries. A last-minute declaration by the Portuguese EU Presidency paved the way to their acceptance of the amendment. In the declaration, the EU makes a commitment to act both bilaterally and multilaterally to facilitate access to drugs used to treat malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis. The EP issued its assent on 24 October, in Strasbourg.

In practice, this amendment to Article 31 of the TRIPS agreement authorises countries that lack production capacity to import generic versions of still-patented drugs and enables...

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