WORLD TRADE WT/DS79/1
IP/D/7
ORGANIZATION 6May1997
(97-1951)
Original: English
INDIA -PATENT PROTECTION FOR PHARMACEUTICAL
AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
Request forConsultations bytheEuropean Communities
Thefollowing communication, dated 28April 1997, from thePermanent Delegation ofthe
European Commission tothePermanent Mission ofIndia andtotheDispute Settlement Body, is
circulated inaccordance withArticle 4.4oftheDSU.
__________________
Pursuant toArticle 4oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing theSettlement
ofDisputes (DSU), Article 64oftheAgreement onTrade-Related Aspects ofIntellectual Property
Rights (TRIPs Agreement) inconjunction withArticle XXII oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs and
Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), Irequest consultations onbehalf oftheEuropean Communities andtheir
Member States with theGovernment ofIndia regarding theabsence ofpatent protection for
pharmaceutical andagricultural chemical products ortheabsence offormal systems thatpermit the
filing ofpatent applications ofandprovide exclusive marketing rights forsuchproducts.
Under Article 70,paragraphs 8and9,oftheTRIPs Agreement, allWTO Members which
donotprovide forpatent protection forpharmaceuticals andagricultural chemicals onthedateofentry
intoforce oftheWTO Agreement pursuant toArticle 27TRIPs Agreement areobliged toestablish
ameans bywhich applications forpatents ofsuchinventions canbefiledandasystem whereby exclusive
marketing rights willbegranted forsuchproducts.
India'slawdoesnotcurrently contain anyprovision toprotect pharmaceutical andagricultural
chemical products bypatents nordoesitprovide forapermanent system thatconforms withArticle
70,paragraphs 8and9,TRIPs Agreement. IntheviewoftheEuropean Communities andtheirMember
States, theIndian legislation istherefore notcompatible withIndia'sobligation under theTRIPs
Agreement.
Ilookforward toreceiving yourreply tothepresent request forconsultations andtoagreeing
onamutually acceptable dateonwhich these consultations canbeheld.