South Africa presented its revised proposal on the removal of intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines on Monday 31 May at an informal meeting at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Several clarifications on the South African initiative have been made in the revised proposal. In particular, it details the products covered by the exemption from intellectual property obligations.
This includes “health products and technologies, including diagnostic tools, treatments, vaccines, medical devices, personal protective equipment, and their raw materials or components, as well as manufacturing methods and means used for the prevention, treatment or control of Covid-19”. The initial proposal submitted in October 2020 was broader.
The revised text also adds an initial duration of the derogation of 3 years. The WTO General Council can then determine the end of this exemption. Again, no details were given in the first text.
The United States, China, Ukraine, and New Zealand have joined the camp of 63 countries supporting the proposal, according to a senior Geneva-based official.
However, a dozen members, including the EU, have asked for more time to analyse the revised text. The Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is meeting again on 8-9 June to discuss the same issue.
The EU has also announced its intention to submit a comprehensive proposal to the WTO on equitable access to vaccines and treatments for Covid-19 (see EUROPE 12722/8). It did not give a precise timetable, according to the same source. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)