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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ensure (a) respect for copyright, (b) compliance with regulations and (c) traceability for consumer protection on imports of ceramics from China to the United Kingdom under WTO agreements; and if she will make a statement. [28772] Nigel Griffiths: China became a member of the WTO on 11 December 2001, and is bound by the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ("TRIPS"). This requires all WTO members to provide certain minimum standards for the protection and enforcement of copyright and other intellectual property rights. The agreement is the first broadly-subscribed multilateral intellectual property agreement that is enforceable between Governments. An EU requirement to apply origin markings to ceramic imports from China would be incompatible with WTO rules. However, EC Regulation No. 3295/94 (as amended) allows a right holder to lodge an application with Customs to prohibit the entry into the Community of counterfeit and pirated goods. It also provides for Customs Officers to contact a right holder if they come across suspected infringing goods during the course of their checks. In this case the goods will be detained and the right holder will be invited to lodge an application within a specified period.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

28772; 378 c740W;378 c736W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Consumers Counterfeit manufacturing China Labelling Imports Protection Origin marking Ceramics

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk