JOINT UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

http://www.polity.org.za/govdocs/pr/1999/pr0917b.html


JOINT UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry 

Over the past few months, officials of the Governments of South Africa
and the United States of America have been exchanging views with the aim
of reaching a common understanding on the matter of intellectual
property as it pertains to the pharmaceutical industry. 

We are pleased to announce that a resolution to this matter has now been
found. This is premised on the commitment of both Governments to the
Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) under
the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as well as an
appreciation of the South African Government's efforts to provide
affordable health care to its people. 

It is the express position of the South African Government that, in the
implementation of provisions of the Medicines Act - which permits
parallel importation and compulsory licensing of patents for
pharmaceuticals - it will honour its obligations under the TRIPS
Agreement. 

We strongly welcome the fact that this matter has now been clarified to
the satisfaction of both Governments. Indeed, our two countries can now
move forward to strengthen our co-operation on matters of common
interest, without the distraction that this issue had become. 

The Governments of the United States of America and South Africa hope
that the resolution of this matter will open the way for South Africa to
pursue its much-needed health reforms in the interest of its people. 

17 September 1999 

For further information, contact: 

Joel Netshitenzhe
082-900-0083 

Tshidiso Matona (Trade and Industry)
082-376-0448 

-- 
James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technology
I can be reached at love@cptech.org, by telephone 202.387.8030,
by fax at 202.234.5176. CPT web page is http://www.cptech.org