In September 2013, South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released a Draft National Policy on Intellectual Property for public comment. During the public comment period, the DTI received more than 100 submissions on the IP policy. [1] The submissions received by the DTI – which were leaked online – can be viewed at sourceafrica.net. The submissions made to the DTI included a submission by the European Union (EU). Worryingly, the EU’s submission called for the adoption of TRIPS Plus protections [2] – in excess of what is required by the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (‘the TRIPS agreement’) and currently provided for in South Africa’s national legislation.
The adoption of TRIPS Plus protections in the country would severely limit access to affordable medicines. Further, the EU’s recommendations for the adoption of TRIPS Plus provisions violate the ‘European Parliament resolution of 12 July 2007 on the TRIPS Agreement and access to medicines’ to not promote TRIPS Plus measures that will negatively impact on public health in developing countries. [2]
The EU’s submission on the policy can by read here. Doctors Without Border’s response, outlining our concerns with the EU’s recommendations, can be viewed here.
1. http://www.ip-watch.org/
2. TRIPS Plus provisions provide protections on intellectual property in excess of what is required by the TRIPS agreement.
3. http://www.europarl.europa.