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| India, EU consultations on drug seizure to start next week |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi May 19, 2010, 19:30 IST |
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India and the European Union will, next week, start World Trade Organisation-mandated consultations to resolve a dispute over the seizure of Indian pharmaceutical consignments in Europe.
A European Commission delegation, headed by Director General for Trade David O'Sullivan, will come here to initiate the consultation process. The WTO had mandated it after India raised objections against the seizure of its generic (off- patent) medicines in the region, especially the Netherlands.
The medicines, which were being shipped to African and Latin-American countries, were seized by European authorities on the grounds that Indian companies were violating their patent regime.
"We are trying to fix something. Next week, David O'Sullivan will be here. India is going through a consultation process," Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar told reporters here.
Brazil had also filed a complaint on the issue.
As per WTO rules, the parties indulging in a dispute are first asked to explore the possibility of resolving it through mutual consultations. However, if they do not succeed in their efforts, the issue is referred to the dispute settlement panel of the global trade referee.
"I have no desire to enter in a trade dispute," Khullar said, adding that India is keen on resolving the issue soon.
Over the last one year, European customs seized as many as 19 drug consignments belonging to Indian companies, including Dr Reddy’s and Cipla.
India’s $12-billion pharmaceutical industry gets 40 per cent of its revenue from the export of generic drugs.
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