Shipments seizure: India’s drug makers may avoid EU route

Rather, the issue of most concern is “growing confusion in other areas” such as ACTA (the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement proposed by the US and EU, among others, to be finalized next year) and the World Customs Organisation’s draft SECURE (Standards to be Employed by Customs for Uniform Rights Enforcement) treaty, “where patents and patent infringement is being mixed up with counterfeiting and piracy,” Perry was quoted as saying.

Basheer agrees. “Developing countries are increasingly facing the prospect of enhanced non-trade barriers through a heightening of international IP (intellectual property) standards and enforcement and a proliferation of IP fora, with the WHO, World Customs Organization and several other international bodies now jumping into the fray,” he said.

lison.j@livemint.com