§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to ensure that the interests of African farmers are being secured with regard to intellectual property rights. [53370]
§ Clare ShortA number of international agencies, supported by DFID, have assisted developing countries to introduce intellectual property rights regimes for improved crop varieties, which take account of their particular socio-economic circumstances, for example protecting farmers' rights to save seed from one crop to the next. We will continue to support such initiatives and to help ensure that any future developments in international agreements on intellectual property rights regimes, including in the WTO, continue to take account of the needs of developing countries.
Furthermore, the UK Government has established the UK Commission on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), to look at how international intellectual property agreements can best take account of the needs of poor people in developing countries (for further information see http://www.iprcommission.org or telephone +44(0) 2077637162). The Commission will look at many of the 915W issues relating to the developmental impact of intellectual property rights, including the effect of intellectual property rights on poor farmers in developing countries. We expect the Commission to report its recommendations by summer 2002.