RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/94
23March 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1167)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFLEGISLATION INTHE FIELDS OFPATENTS,
LAYOUT-DESIGNS (TOPOGRAPHIES) OFINTEGRATED CIRCUITS,
PROTECTION OFUNDISCLOSED INFORMATION AND CONTROL
OFANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES INCONTRACTUAL LICENCES
Questions posed bytheEuropean Communities andtheirMember States
Bymeans ofacommunication from theDelegation oftheEuropean Commission, dated
23February 1998, theSecretariat hasreceived thefollowing questions posed bytheEuropean
Communities andtheirMember States toSouth Africa.
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QUESTIONS POSED TOSOUTH AFRICA
1. Thechanges totheSouth African patent legislation provided byClause 15Coftherecently
passed Medicines andRelated Substances Amendment Billapplies onlytopharmaceutical products.
Please explain howthesechanges comply withtherequirement ofArticle 27.1oftheTRIPS Agreement
which states thatpatent rights shallbeenjoyable without discrimination astothefieldoftechnology?
2. Could theSouth African authorities confirm thatClause 15CoftheMedicines andRelated
Substances Amendment Billprovides alltherights prescribed inArticle 28oftheTRIPS Agreement,
including therighttoprevent thirdparties, nothaving theconsent ofthepatent holder, fromimporting
apatented product?
3. Itistheunderstanding oftheCommunity anditsMember States thatiftheprice structure of
patented medicines issuchastounduly interfere withtheobligations oftheSouth African Department
ofHealth toprovide affordable medicine ofahighquality tothepeople ofSouth Africa, thentheMinister
ofHealth candisregard therights conferred byapatent. Please explain howthispractice complies
with thelimited exceptions tothepatent rights conferred, asprovided inArticle 30ofthe
TRIPS Agreement.
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