WORLD TRADE WT/DS79/3
27November 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5267)
INDIA -PATENT PROTECTION FOR PHARMACEUTICAL
AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
Constitution ofthePanel Established attheRequest of
theEuropean Communities
Communication from theDSBChairman
1. Atitsmeeting on16October 1997, theDispute Settlement Body (DSB) established apanel
inaccordance withtherequest made bytheEuropean Communities indocument WT/DS79/2.
2. Theterms ofreference ofthePanel arethefollowing:
"Toexamine, inthelightoftherelevant provisions ofthecovered agreements cited bythe
European Communities indocument WT/DS79/2, thematter referred totheDSB bythe
European Communities inthatdocument andtomake suchfindings aswillassist theDSBin
making therecommendations oringiving therulings provided forinthose agreements".
3. On17November 1997, theEuropean Communities requested theDirector-General tocompose
thePanel byvirtue ofparagraph 7ofArticle 8oftheDispute Settlement Understanding. Thisparagraph
provides:
"Ifthere isnoagreement onthepanelists within 20daysafterthedateoftheestablishment
ofapanel, attherequest ofeither party, theDirector-General, inconsultation withtheChairman
oftheDSB andtheChairman oftherelevant Council orCommittee, shall determine the
composition ofthepanel byappointing thepanelists whom theDirector-General considers most
appropriate inaccordance withanyrelevant special oradditional rules orprocedures ofthe
covered agreement orcovered agreements which areatissue inthedispute, afterconsulting
withtheparties tothedispute. TheChairman oftheDSBshallinform theMembers ofthe
composition ofthepanel thusformed nolaterthan10daysafterthedatetheChairman receives
sucharequest".
TheDirector-General hasaccordingly composed thepanel asfollows:
Chairman: Mr.Stuart Harbinson
Members: Mr.Douglas Chester
Mr.Yanyong Phuangrach
4. TheUnited States hasreserved itsrights asathirdparty tothedispute.