By Elinor Blair - 28th October 2004
The EU is making proposals to allow the export of cheap medicines to the third world.
The Europen Commission is proposing a regulation allowing generic pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce patented medicines to “countries in need”.
The legislation would allow poor countries that do not have pharmaceutical production capacity to obtain the cheaper generic drugs from producers in the EU.
EU trade chief Pascal Lamy said adoption of the proposal by the EU would lead the way, “in ensuring access to affordable medicines for poor countries”.
The system would allow EU companies seeking to manufacture the medicines for export to apply to national authorities for the grant of a “compulsory licence” from the patent holder.
The country seeking the cheap medicine would have to notify the WTO that it is applying for the medicine covered by the licence.
Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein said that the proposed legislation “can help save lives by helping countries in need to acquire affordable medicines”.
He added that the patent system – the main incentive behind research and development of new medicines would not be undermined.
EU customs authorities will be able to prevent re-importation of the cheap medicines produced under the proposed system.
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