§ Tony WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development in what circumstances she has supported developing countries seeking a compulsory licence to negotiate lower drug prices; and if she will make a statement on her policy in such circumstances. [16073]
§ Ms HewittI have been asked to reply.
The trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights agreement makes clear that any WTO member can issue a compulsory licence in certain circumstances. An individual WTO member itself determines the grounds upon which such a licence would be granted.
The declaration agreed at Doha last week on TRIPS and public health commits the TRIPS Council to finding a solution by end 2002 as to how WTO Members with insufficient or no manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector might make effective use of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS agreement. The UK (as part of the EU) intends to play a constructive role in those negotiations.