E-DRUG: MSF Workshop 30 Sept 2009 "..medicines in transit at customs.."
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To confirm attendance, please send an email to Ms Mai Do: mdo@msf.org,
You will need to register before 23 September 2009 to attend the WTO
Public Forum at:
https://meetings.wto.org/Forums/Registrant/SymposiumRegistration.aspx?Language=E
INVITATION
Medecins Sans Frontieres workshop at the World Trade Organization Public
Forum
Controversy at customs - the detention of medicines in transit:
what impact on access to medicines?
Wednesday 30 September 2009, 14:15 to 16:15
WTO building, Room A
Recent detainments by European Union countries' customs authorities of
legitimate generic medicines transiting through the EU on their way to
developing countries, have attracted the criticism of WTO Member States
and civil society alike. Conducted on the grounds of suspected patent or
trademark infringements, the detentions intercept legitimate trade, and
could impact the affordability and availability of generic medicines in
developing countries.
The incidents highlight questions about the compatibility of EC customs
Regulation 1383/2003 and proposed provisions in free trade agreements with
WTO Member States obligations under the TRIPS Agreement, in particular
the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, and in
relation to GATT.
MSF will explore the legal and practical effect of these issues for
access to medicines in developing countries, in a roundtable with
academics, member states, suppliers of medicines, civil society
organisations and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry.
Introduction
Chair : Michelle Childs, Policy & Advocacy Director, MSF Campaign for
Access to Essential Medicines
Panel of speakers
Prof Carlos Correa, University of Buenos Aires
Sunjay Sudhir, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of India to WTO
Sergio Balibrea, Counsellor, Delegation of the European Commission to the
International Organisations in Geneva
Amb. Dr. Tom Mboya Okeyo, Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of
Kenya
Jose Estanislau do Amaral Souza Neto, Counsellor, Permanent mission of
Brazil to WTO
Panel of respondents
Arnout Gieske, Lawyer
Edwin de Voogd, Managing Director, IDA Foundation
Representative of the pharmaceutical industry, tbc
Niccolo Rinaldi, Member of the European Parliament
Antony Taubman, Director, Intellectual Property Division, World Trade
Organization
Discussion & questions open to the floor
To confirm attendance, please send an email to Ms Mai Do: mdo@msf.org,
You will need to register before 23 September 2009 to attend the WTO
Public Forum at:
https://meetings.wto.org/Forums/Registrant/SymposiumRegistration.aspx?Language=E
Alexandra HEUMBER <Alexandra.HEUMBER@brussels.msf.org>