[Ip-health] WTO receives first notification under ‘paragraph 6’ system

[Alexandra HEUMBER]

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http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news07_e/public_health_july07_e.htm

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/public_health_notif_import_e
.htm


20 July 2007
TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Patents and health: WTO receives first notification under "paragraph 6
"system

Rwanda on 19 July 2007 became the first country to inform the WTO that it
is using the 30 August 2003 decision designed to ease the way for
countries with public health problems to import cheaper generics made
under compulsory licensing elsewhere when they are unable to manufacture
the medicines themselves (often referred to as the "paragraph 6 system",
i.e. implementing paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS
Agreement and Public Health).

The notification comes under paragraph 2(a) of the 30 August 2003 General
Council decision, which requires eligible importing countries to report
the details of the medicines they intend to import.

As a least-developed country, Rwanda does not have to notify that it wants
to be an "eligible importing member "under paragraph 1(b) of the 2003
decision (and 2005 amendment decision).