Europe Assesses “Changed World” In Trade Politics 11/11/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European Union trade politicians in several meetings this week in Brussels reflected on the future of trade policy, also impacted by the US elections. “It is a changed world, period,” Iuliu Winkler, vice-chair of the parliamentary International Trade (INTA) Committee (European People’s Party) said at the opening of the EU Trade Policy Day, expressing the general sentiment. While many members of INTA committee underlined the need of Europe to press ahead with their trade negotiations internationally, those critical of an aggressive trade agenda were eager to have their arguments not to be mixed with what was criticised as populist fear-mongering against globalisation.
WTO Members Discuss UN High-Level Report On Medicines Access That WHO Declined To Discuss 10/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee this week discussed the report of United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on access to medicines which offered recommendations regarding the use of intellectual property in international trade. Developing countries taking the floor accentuated the use of flexibilities under trade rules, and the World Health Organization gave an overview of how its activities follow the panel’s recommendations, and its future projects. Civil society meanwhile criticised the WHO’s decision to dismiss a request by some developing countries to include discussions on the UN report at the next Executive Board Meeting.
Six Candidates For WHO Director General Lay Out Their Views 10/11/2016 by Peter Kenny for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 3 Comments Funding, universal health, multisectoral work and access to medicines were among the issues addressed at the recent candidates’ forum of the World Health Organization in Geneva as part of the process to choose the next director general of the UN health agency. Candidates spoke on how to fund the organisation in its quest for universal health care and response to emergencies.
Union Calls “Flash Demo” After EPO Fires Another Union Representative 07/11/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO) called a 7 November “flash” demonstration in Munich after the office fired Laurent Prunier, SUEPO secretary in The Hague. The move dismayed employees encouraged after the Administrative Council (AC), made up of the office’s member states, last month pressured President Benoît Battistelli into backing off from two unpopular proposals for investigating and disciplining staff.
WHO Makes Headway In Hepatitis C Treatment Access Campaign 07/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Daniele Dionisio writes: It is morally mandatory to ensure that lifesaving direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C treatment become accessible to all those who need them. This requires commitment and coordination by all interested parties to overcome barriers to access.
East African Nations Agree Declaration Promoting Regional Pharma Sector Investment 07/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Senior officials from East African nations last week agreed on a declaration on promoting investment in the region’s pharmaceutical sector, spelling out terms aimed at boosting investment in ways that are locally relevant and responsible. The declaration includes: steps to standardise and improve product quality and registration, boosting government procurement of local products, setting up research centres, adopting domestic laws on intellectual property and international trade flexibilities to IP, actions against counterfeit and substandard medical products, and increasing exports. The meeting comes as local pharmaceutical production is seen to be in decline in the region.
Indian Generic Pharma Warns Against Government Caving To US Pressure On Data Exclusivity 06/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Indian Drug Technical Advisory Board meeting on 7 November is expected to discuss a measure that could lead to opening the way to a 10-year data exclusivity period for originator pharmaceutical companies in India, according to the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. The alliance submitted a letter to the advisory board to warn against consequences on public health of data exclusivity if the Indian government “succumbs to” pressure by the United States.
Reader Alert: EU-Canada Trade Agreement (CETA) Signed In Brussels 29/10/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments With a delay of mere days, CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the European Union and Canada, will be signed Sunday in Brussels by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker. This follows two weeks of uncertainty over the deal that includes not only tariff reduction, but also an attempt to harmonise regulation and set up a reformed investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism.
Standards Symposium Highlights Security, Privacy On Eve Of World Telecom Standardization Assembly 28/10/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The 2016 Global Standards Symposium (GSS2016) organised by the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Hammamet, Tunisia, this week in its conclusions heavily supported privacy by design and collaboration on privacy issues. The consensus of participants was a little shaky though, with some representatives like the United Kingdom and United States questioning the procedure to approve conclusions immediately after the one day event on 24 October.
Protecting Online Access To Safe And Affordable Medication 27/10/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment High drug prices are a global public health crisis. This is mostly the case among lower income countries but also for citizens and residents in the US, where tens of millions are not filling prescriptions due to cost. The international online marketplace is a much-needed lifeline for consumers who cannot afford prescription medication where they live. People deserve the widest possible access to safe and affordable medication, including online access, and the Internet community can help, says Gabriel Levitt.