§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the likely impact on(a) indigenous and (b) local communities in developing countries of EU Patent Directive COM (95) 661 as it relates to intellectual property rights in genetic resources. [74494]
§ Clare ShortThe European Directive on the Legal Protection of Biological Inventions (98/44/EC) addresses which biotechnological inventions can be patented in Europe and does not affect national patent laws elsewhere.
In reaching a Common Position by the Council of Ministers in February 1998, the UK made a statement noting that there had been no consideration as to whether the provisions of the Directive would be appropriate for other countries outside the European Union, in particular developing countries.