§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to support the reform of the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights agreement to improve poor people's access to essential drugs and medicines. [155480]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 26 March 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 March 2001, Official Report, column 348W.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is on the proposed introduction of TRIPs plus laws; and if he will make a statement. [155482]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 26 March 2001]: The UK and EU have no intention of seeking to impose on other countries intellectual property rights regimes that are more stringent than the minimum standards of TRIPs. Standards higher than these are a matter of policy for individual governments to decide.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce compulsory licences to reduce the price of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections under the TRIPs proposals. [155479]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 26 March 2001]: Compulsory licences are a matter for national law. I have no plans to introduce compulsory licences to reduce the price of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections in the UK market. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 March 2001, Official Report, column 349W.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the introduction of compulsory licences to reduce the price of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections under the TRIPs proposals. [155478]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 26 March 2001]: None in respect of the UK which is the only market where the Government would have the right, in certain circumstances, to issue a compulsory licence. I also refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 March 2001, Official Report, columns 348–50W.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the use of World Trade Organisation-sponsored trade sanctions against
588Wdeveloping countries which produce and export cheap generic medicines used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. [1554811
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 26 March 2001]: Generic medicines are those which are off patent and are therefore not covered by the TRIPS Agreement. Copies of patented drugs can ire legitimately made under the TRIPS Agreement through voluntary or, in certain circumstances, compulsory licensing arrangements. There are no examples where, consequent upon the decision of a Dispute Settlement Panel, WTO sanctions have been imposed on intellectual property rights grounds.