Brussels, 24/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - There is clear concern in Morocco over the consequences of the deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement (DCFTA) with the EU. Since business circles were granted the right to be involved in negotiation during the third round of talks this week in Rabat (see EUROPE 11002), concern is now being raised by the health sector which fears there will be “destruction” of the generic medicines market allowing the availability of affordable medicines.
The provisions envisaged “strengthen the rules for protecting intellectual property beyond what is required by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the context of the TRIPS agreement, and give the pharmaceutical industry considerable means for combating generic medicines”, various associations of the sector write in an a call, asking for the matter not to be taken further than what was envisaged in Geneva.
“It is well known that, through the trade agreements, the EU is seeking to influence its partners” against anything that hinders European businesses and in order to give more importance to trade than to what is in the public interest, such as health. Europe, which refused “damaging provisions” on counterfeiting in Geneva, is using the DCFTA to re-introduce those very same provisions, says Dr Othman Mellouk, who heads one of the bodies in the sector (ITPC-MENA) that signed the appeal addressed to both Rabat and Brussels.
Another signatory, Professor Hakima Himmich, who is chairman of ALCS (countering AIDS), denounces the lack of transparency and considers it “highly likely that Europe will include provisions”, in discussion with two major supplier countries (India and Thailand) that “strengthen intellectual property rights and the protection of investment to the detriment of public health”.
The signatories call for consultation to be held in full transparency. “The trade agreements cannot be negotiated in secret”, these associations say, also calling for an “independent impact study” to be carried out with the support of the WHO, to be “made public before ratification of the agreement”. (FB/transl.jl)