Brussels, 12/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Indian Trade Secretary Rahul Khullar has denied the rumour that agreement has been reached with the EU over access to generic medicines, stating that, on the contrary, consultations are continuing at the WTO. “We are clear that the consultation process will continue. So far we have made good progress. We are reasonably optimistic that the consultation process will deliver a satisfactory outcome. If not, we reserve the right to take the case to the WTO,” Khullar told Indian press in comments reported on Tuesday 12 October. “What the (Indian) minister (Anand Sharma) said was that the (European trade commissioner) Karel De Gucht had assured him that the issue would be resolved, which is an indication that the changes needed will be brought to EU rules so that what happened will not happen again,” Khullar said, referring to the seizure by Dutch authorities in December 2008 of a consignment of generic medicines made in India which were passing through Europe en route for Brazil. With the threat of an appeal to the WTO being brandished, the EU agreed at the end of 2009 to settle this dispute amicably with India. “We have to take Mr De Gught at this word. Minister Sharma said that, provided that our grievance is answered, why would we need to appeal to the WTO,” Khullar said. When asked by EUROPE, commissioner De Gucht's staff confirmed that progress had been made in consultations at the WTO, but declined to give any date for the end of the process. (E.H./transl.rt)