WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS79/4
24 June 1998
(98-2535)
Original:  English
INDIA – PATENT PROTECTION FOR PHARMACEUTICAL AND
AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel
The following communication, dated 18 June 1998, addressed to the Dispute Settlement
Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the DSU.
_______________
Article 12.8 of the DSU stipulates that the period in which a panel shall conduct its
examination, from the date that the composition and terms of reference of the panel have been agreed
upon until the date the final report is issued to the parties shall, as a general rule, not exceed six
months.
Article 12.9 of the DSU states that when a panel considers that it cannot issue its report within
six months, it shall inform the Dispute Settlement B ody (DSB) in writing of the reasons for the delay
together with an estimate of the period within which it will issue its report.
The Panel on "India – Patent Protection for Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Chemical
Products" (WT/DS79) was established by the DSB on 16 October 1997 with standard terms ofreference.  Its composition was determined by the Director-General on 27 November 1997.  However,
at the request of the parties, the Panel did not commence its substantive work before the panel and
Appellate Body reports on "India – Patent Protection for Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Chemical
Products" (WT/DS50/R and WT/DS 50/AB/R) were adopted by the DSB on 16 January 1998.  As a
result, it was not until 28 May 1998 that the Panel was able to issue the descriptive part of its report tothe parties.  This has consequently led to so me delay in further steps in the proceedings.
The Panel expects to issue its final report to the parties by the end of July 1998.
__________