10/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - WTO grants SMES 17-year TRIPS waiver for access to medicines. On Friday 6 November, the WTO's special committee on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (the TRIPS Council) decided to grant the least developed countries (LDCs) a waiver to the TRIPS Agreement as regards patents for pharmaceuticals until 2033. This decision keeps the option open to extend the waiver beyond this date. The EU, which supports the indefinite extension of the waiver for LDCs, nevertheless welcomed the WTO's decision. “This should provide the legal certainty and policy space needed by the least developed countries to ensure better access to medicines”, said European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström. The waiver will enable LDCs to import or produce generic medicines, independently of patents - for example, when the licences are not available. Generics producers and international programmes will thus be able to provide affected countries with medicines like HIV treatments without fear of being taken to court for breach of patent. (EH)