[Ip-health] India to fight for more CLIMATE FUNDs + Patent Regime + Proposed India-EU FTA

Sun Nov 30 22:57:49 2008

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
  NEWS Bulletin from Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture And Rural D=
evelopment
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  1. India to pitch for more funds to combat climate change
  2. Govt plans to smoothen patent procedures
  3. Proposed India-EU FTA draws flak
  --------------------------------

  India to pitch for more funds to combat climate change

  http://www.financialexpress.com/news/india-to-pitch-for-more-funds-to-com=
bat-climate-change/390954/

ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted: 2008-11-26 20:58:19+05:30 IST
Updated: Nov 26, 2008 at 2058 hrs IST

  New Delhi, Nov 26 : In the upcoming UNFCC meet in Poland, India has decid=
ed to raise the issue of effective technology transfer and funds amounting =
to about $ 80 billion for developing economies for meeting their adaptation=
 and mitigation costs.

  The forthcoming Conference of Parties to United Nations Framework Convent=
ion on Climate Change (UNFCC) is scheduled next week in Poznan in Poland fr=
om December 1, 2008.

  "As climate change is set to have severe adverse impact on India, we will=
 demand for strengthening the technology and financial architecture under t=
he aegis of UNFCC," the Indian Environment Secretary, Vijai Sharma said.
  He said that Annex I Parties (developed nations) were obliged to provide =
for new, additional, adequate and predictable financing to developing count=
ry parties to implement the proposals to arrest and adapt to climate change=
.

  "The financial resources committed under the convention cannot be new and=
 additional if they merely divert any existing or likely resources, includi=
ng Overseas Development Assistance," Sharma said quoting the paper that Ind=
ia will present at the CoP meeting.

  India has decided to ask for more fund to meet the mitigation and adaptat=
ion steps 'since the magnitude of fund needed is enormous compared to what =
is available under the current financial mechanism of the Convention.

  Sharma said that India, which had virtually taken lead in taking up the p=
roblems being faced by the developing economies due to global warming, had =
decided to make it clear that the proposed funding sources cannot be volunt=
ary as it would be unpredictable and not binding.

  "As per the UNFCC, at least $60-80 billion is needed to take adaptation a=
nd mitigation requirement fund, hence we would negotiate for creating a fun=
d under the governance of the parties to ensure that it is stable," he said
-----------------------------------------

    Govt plans to smoothen patent procedures

  http://www.financialexpress.com/news/govt-plans-to-smoothen-patent-proced=
ures/390943/

ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted: 2008-11-26 20:21:25+05:30 IST
Updated: Nov 26, 2008 at 2021 hrs IST

  New Delhi, Nov 26 : Government is planning to release a new detailed manu=
al for processing applications for patent rights by January, 2009. Full com=
puterisation of records are expected to be completed by March, 2009.

  "We are now in the process of discussing with stakeholders in preparation=
 of the manual. We expect the manual would be ready by January, 2009," said=
 the joint secretary in the department of industrial policy and promotion, =
NN Prasad while speaking at the WIPO Inter-Regional Forum in Delhi on Wedne=
sday.

  The forum meeting was hosted jointly by the Indian government, the apex i=
ndustry body, FICCI and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

  Prasad said that with the present level of modernisation of infrastructur=
e and computerisation of records, the WIPO has recognized India among 15 co=
untries as one of the international searching authority.

  He said that about 200 patent examiners would be recruited in 2008-09 whi=
ch would add up to the existing manpower of 1400.The government has felt th=
e need for generating awareness on patent rights and this reason it has pla=
nned to set up an Institute of Intellectual Property Management, he said.

  Speaking on the occasion the DIPP secretary, Ajay Shanker said that India=
 had switched over to product patent regime which was TRIPS consistent. The=
 patent regime was being implemented smoothly in the country and there was =
no apprehension of any adverse effect, he said.
------------------------------------------

  Proposed India-EU FTA draws flak

  http://www.financialexpress.com/news/proposed-indiaeu-fta-draws-flak/3911=
07/0

ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted: 2008-11-27 21:46:31+05:30 IST
Updated: Nov 27, 2008 at 2146 hrs IST

  New Delhi, Nov 26 : A group of Indian trade unionists, farmers, fishworke=
rs and intelligentsia have criticised the secret negotiation which are unde=
rway between India and the European Union to strike a free trade agreement =
(FTA). They have demanded a halt to the ongoing negotiations till transpare=
ncy is achieved in the process.

  Negotiations for a FTA between India and EU began in 2006 and since then =
there had been six rounds of discussions between the two parties. It is exp=
ected that the final negotiations would be completed in early 2009.

  In a memorandum to the leader visiting delegation of the European Parliam=
ent, Ignasi Guardans Cambo, the trade unionists, farmers and fishworkers wh=
o have grouped themselves under the banner =E2=80=93 forum on FTAs =E2=80=
=93 said, "As is evident from various official documents pertaining to the =
proposed FTA, it is being negotiated with a view to conclude a new generati=
on FTA that will cover many areas other than trade in goods like trade in s=
ervices, investment proposals, intellectual property rights, competition po=
licy and government procurement. Hence, the proposed FTA will have far reac=
hing consequences both for policy space of the Indian state and on the live=
s and livelihood of Indian citizens. In the context of the present global e=
conomic crisis it is even more imperative that these consequences are bette=
r understood and addressed."

  Quoting the report of the High Level Trade Group (HLTG) the memorandum sa=
id that India would be required to reduce tariff lines by 90% with the rema=
ining 10% to be negotiated or completely excluded. This would cause an infl=
ux of imports to India, affecting farmers, fisherfolks and leading to closu=
re of infant industries. As the difference existed between Indian and Europ=
ean process and product standards it was not clear whether the interests of=
 micro and small processors in the country would be served, the memorandum =
said.

  "The EU is deliberately trying to impose a TRIPS plus regime on India," s=
aid a noted intellectual property analyst BK Kaeyala.

  The chairperson of National Fishworkers' Forum, Harekrishna Debnath said,=
 "There is a possibility of European fishing vessels making entry into Indi=
an water in a big way, imperiling the livelihood of local fishermen."

  The Forum on FTA, constituted by 75 organisations, apprehended that the p=
roposed FTA would cause major impact on food security, healthcare and livel=
ihood. The opening up of the financial sector would invite a crisis similar=
 to the present global financial crisis. European companies entry into the =
area of government procurement would create problems.
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