NPC approves TRIPS amendment to enhance access to drugs

The Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress, on October 28, approved the bill of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization to balance intellectual property protection and public health promotion.  Ma Xiuhong, Vice Minister of Commerce, in representing the bill sponsor, the State Council, told the Standing Committee that approval of the bill will place China in better position to tackle public health emergencies. 

Under the Protocol, in the event of public health emergencies such as AIDS, malaria, phthisis and other epidemics, developing and least developed members may invoke patent compulsory license system, allowing making, using, selling or importing patented drugs from other eligible members for the treatment of the above diseases.

“Patent compulsory license system is already in place under the Chinese Patent Law.  In addition, SIPO enacted relevant Measures and Implementing Rules thereof in the past few years.  The Chinese legal system is technically ready to be in conformity with the Protocol.” said Ma.

Expects in the related field viewed the Protocol as a major breakthrough at the tight patent confines of the TRIPS agreement, displaying developing members' will to prevent excessive IPR protection from impeding economic and social development.  It is an important achievement after persistent and united struggle of developing member and will serve as an efficient tool to balance intellectual property and public health and to tackle public health problems faced by developing and least developed members.  Approving it is consistent with the overall interests of the country.  (by Li Zhuo)

我国批准修改TRIPS协议议定书

本报讯　10月28日，十届全国人大常委会批准了《修改与贸易有关的知识产权协议（TRIPS）议定书》，以平衡知识产权保护与促进公共健康之间的关系。中国商务部副部长马秀红在向十届全国人大常委会第三十次会议说明这一议案时表示：“批准这一议定书有利于中国应对突发性公共健康问题。”

根据议定书，发展中成员和最不发达成员可以在国内因艾滋病、疟疾、肺结核和其他流行病而发生公共健康危机时，在未经专利权人许可的情况下，在国内实施专利强制许可制度，生产、使用、销售或从其他实施强制许可制度的成员进口有关治疗上述疾病的专利药品。

马秀红指出，由于中国专利法规定了专利强制许可制度，中国国家知识产权局近年来又公布了相关专利实施强制许可办法，对强制许可做出了详细规定，因此，中国现行法律体系可以实现与议定书的衔接。

有关专家表示，议定书是对Trips协议有关专利限制的一个重大突破，反映了发展中成员要求防止知识产权过度保护成为阻碍经济社会发展障碍的愿望，是广大世界贸易组织发展中成员长期推动和联合斗争的重要成果，对于平衡知识产权与公共健康之间的关系、解决发展中国家和最不发达国家面临的公共健康问题具有积极意义。批准议定书符合我国整体利益。(李 卓）