TRIPS Agreement was entered into by WTO members as a means to create a unified Intellectual Property regime across the world. The provisions of TRIPS act as a minimum standard which has to be followed by the member countries. TRIPS provisions had forced the developing and least developed countries to create and follow an IP regime which was not suitable for their technology and needs. One of the severe impacts of following such a regime was on the public health sector. Before TRIPS came into being, a large number of countries had refused to grant
patents for pharmaceutical products and even if the same was granted the countries provided for a flexible compulsory licensing procedure, enabling the growth of generic drug industries, thus allowing the manufacture of essential drugs at a cheaper cost. This flexibility was taken away by the TRIPS agreement which hampered the capability of the developing and least developed countries to provide for an effective public healthcare system. This disparity led to the Doha Declaration and WTO Para.6 decision in 2003, allowing more flexible provisions regarding
compulsory licensing and thereby to some extends resolving the issues. While these measures were being adopted which were lauded by organs of UN and WHO, the developed countries went on with TRIPS plus provisions in their countries. Recent years have shown the world a new trend amongst the developed countries, wherein they, through the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the developing countries, impose TRIPS Plus Intellectual Property Standards. The Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and Bilateral Trade Agreements envisaged under GATT
Agreement, had been negotiated mainly for favourable tariff rates and lower customs barriers in the initial stage acting as an exception for the MFN Rule. But recently as mentioned earlier these Agreements are including within them Intellectual Property chapters involving TRIPS Plus provisions. Unlike the GATT and GATS Agreements, TRIPS Agreement does not include any provisions which exempt the application of MFN principle for the Intellectual Property provisions in FTAs. Thus the inclusion of IP chapters in these FTAs results in an increase of the
Intellectual Property standards prevailing around the globe. This practice is defeating all the efforts taken by the developing countries including India in Doha to ensure access to medicines for the people of the developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) and is nullifying the flexibilities under Doha Declaration. The European Union is trying to ink a free trade agreement with India which brings with it a shadow of threat to effective access to medicines for the people of India and to a majority of LDCs, as Indian is known as the pharmacy of the third world. If such a policy is allowed to be followed, the flexibilities and the safeguards under TRIPS will remain as a mere scarecrow.
patents for pharmaceutical products and even if the same was granted the countries provided for a flexible compulsory licensing procedure, enabling the growth of generic drug industries, thus allowing the manufacture of essential drugs at a cheaper cost. This flexibility was taken away by the TRIPS agreement which hampered the capability of the developing and least developed countries to provide for an effective public healthcare system. This disparity led to the Doha Declaration and WTO Para.6 decision in 2003, allowing more flexible provisions regarding
compulsory licensing and thereby to some extends resolving the issues. While these measures were being adopted which were lauded by organs of UN and WHO, the developed countries went on with TRIPS plus provisions in their countries. Recent years have shown the world a new trend amongst the developed countries, wherein they, through the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the developing countries, impose TRIPS Plus Intellectual Property Standards. The Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and Bilateral Trade Agreements envisaged under GATT
Agreement, had been negotiated mainly for favourable tariff rates and lower customs barriers in the initial stage acting as an exception for the MFN Rule. But recently as mentioned earlier these Agreements are including within them Intellectual Property chapters involving TRIPS Plus provisions. Unlike the GATT and GATS Agreements, TRIPS Agreement does not include any provisions which exempt the application of MFN principle for the Intellectual Property provisions in FTAs. Thus the inclusion of IP chapters in these FTAs results in an increase of the
Intellectual Property standards prevailing around the globe. This practice is defeating all the efforts taken by the developing countries including India in Doha to ensure access to medicines for the people of the developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) and is nullifying the flexibilities under Doha Declaration. The European Union is trying to ink a free trade agreement with India which brings with it a shadow of threat to effective access to medicines for the people of India and to a majority of LDCs, as Indian is known as the pharmacy of the third world. If such a policy is allowed to be followed, the flexibilities and the safeguards under TRIPS will remain as a mere scarecrow.
