Healthy Skepticism Library item: 17769

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Zarocostas J
Brazil and India file complaint against EU over seizure of generic drugs
BMJ 2010 May 18; 340:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/340/may18_1/c2672

Abstract:

India and Brazil have filed legal proceedings against the European Union and the Netherlands over the seizure of generic drugs in transit, alleging that the actions breach global rules and undermine public health in poor nations.

The two countries, in separate complaints filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO), claim that in 2008 and 2009 customs authorities seized consignments of generic drugs on grounds that the shipments were suspected of infringing patent rights (BMJ 2009;338:b1002, doi:10.1136/bmj.b1002).

India says that Dutch authorities seized at least 19 consignments of generic drugs in transit in 2008 and 2009, 16 of which originated in India. These included a consignment of the antiretroviral abacavir from India, bought on behalf of the drug purchasing agency UNITAID and destined for Nigeria; one of olanzapine, used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, destined for Peru; and one of rivastigmine, used to treat dementia, also destined . . .