Chinese protection deal extended
China has agreed to stop its pharmaceutical manufacturers from copying medicines patented in Austria, Finland and Sweden, extending administrative protection‚ enjoyed by the rest of the European Union to these countries. Beijing has been refusing to grant these rights — which are a form of patent protection — because when it agreed to stop its citizens copying European Union patented pharmaceuticals, Austria, Sweden Finland were not EU members.
As a result, manufacturers from these three countries have suffered an estimated Euro 25 million in losses since 1994, the date when the decision was taken to allow the three countries to join the EU.
Because of the deal struck by European trade commissioner Pascal Lamy, in talks on China's bid to join the World Trade Organisation, all EU drug manufacturers will now receive the same protection. Said M Lamy: 'This is good news for EU pharmaceutical producers. We have managed to eliminate differential treatment according to the applicant's nationality.'