§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) negotiations on access to generic drugs for developing countries; and if she will make a statement on the Government's position on current TRIPS negotiations. [104850]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 25 March 2003]: The Government is working, with its EU partners, towards agreement in the WTO on an effective solution to the problems faced by developing countries with no or insufficient manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector in making effective use of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement.
Within the EU, we have taken a flexible and constructive approach to the current TRIPS negotiations and public health. Our aim has always been to find a solution that responds to the need for countries to have recourse when necessary to compulsory licensing, while not undermining the wider intellectual property framework that is essential for research into new medicines. Discussions came close to agreement late last year on the basis of a compromise text circulated before Christmas. We are working to secure agreement before the next WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun in September.