Brussels, 07/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The major emerging economies, which the stakeholder countries of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) eventually wish to rally behind the treaty, have expressed their concerns to the WTO regarding the impact of several provisions of the text, particularly on access to medicines.
In an exchange of views regarding ACTA at the WTO's trade-related intellectual property aspects (TRIPS) committee on 28-29 February, a number of delegations expressed their concerns about a text which is highly controversial in its signatory countries (Australia, Canada, South Korea, United States, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and the EU), despite assurances these have provided that the agreement does not cover generic medicines or aim to block legitimate access to the internet, but also as regards transparency. India said that the ACTA could compromise the TRIPS agreement and limit the developing countries' access to affordable medicines, feeling that it puts the interests of big businesses above those of consumers, and once again criticising the seizures of generic medicines carried out by EU customs authorities. China argues that several provisions of ACTA go farther than the provisions of the TRIPS agreement and Brazil feels that a uniform approach is not to be recommended. Bangladesh also voiced concerns at the provisions of the agreement on medicines and a loss of flexibility for the least-developed countries (LDC). Egypt, Ecuador and Thailand also expressed misgivings. (EH/transl.fl)