PHM-Exch> EU seizure of Indian drugs improper: WHO

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Gopal Dabade drdabade at gmail.com



http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article436130.ece

*EU seizure of Indian drugs improper: WHO    excerpt*

*THE HINDU, 23rd May 2010*

Sujay Mehdudia

India's complaint against the European Union on the unjust seizure of cheap
generic drug consignments meant for Latin America and African nations has
received a boost, with the World Health Organisation terming such action
“misuse of rules” against counterfeit medicines.

In a statement issued in Geneva, the WHO on Thursday rapped the EU for
seizing the Indian generic drugs in transit for patent violation. “Let me be
very clear. WHO deplores such things. WHO deplores that this has happened,”
said Hendrick Hogerzeil, who heads the essential medicines programme at the
United Nations health agency.

In the last more than one year, EU member-countries, especially the
Netherlands, had seized or halted several shipments of Indian-made generic
medicines bound for Latin America and Africa.

Under the WHO dispute settlement provisions, the EU will have to enter into
consultations with India and Brazil as a first step and amicably resolve the
issue within two months. If they fail to reach an agreement through Article
4 consultations, the two countries can call for the establishment of a
dispute settlement panel to adjudicate the alleged violations of trade rules
by Brussels.

According to Indian officials, Dutch customs seized at least 19 consignments
of generic drugs in 2008 and 2009; of these 16 originated in the
Netherlands.
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