Written question asked by Tony Worthington (Labour) on Friday, 1 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will seek to lift restrictions on the export of generic drugs within the TRIPS Agreement at the WTO mini-ministerial meeting in Sydney on 14th November.

Answer: Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will seek to lift restrictions on the export of generic drugs within the TRIPS Agreement at the WTO mini-ministerial meeting in Sydney on 14 November. [79726] Ms Hewitt: The Doha ``Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health'' made clear that the TRIPS Agreement should be interpreted and implemented in such a way as to protect public health and promote access to medicines for all. The EU is currently working with all WTO Members to find a solution to the issue of how WTO Members with insufficient manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector (mainly developing countries and Least Developed Countries) can make effective use of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement. We are hopeful that an effective and workable solution will be reached by the deadline of the end of the year.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 392 c730W;392 c758W; 79726
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Licensing Drugs Intellectual property Medical treatments Trade Trade agreements TRIPS Agreement
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk