[Pirateninfo] FWD: [BIO-IPR] NGOs want IPRs out of EFTA-SACU trade talks

Fre Nov 5 09:12:42 CET 2004

BIO-IPR docserver | http://www.grain.org/bio-ipr
________________________________________________________

TITLE: "EFTA countries shall not endanger public health and food security 
in
Southern Africa" NGOs request
AUTHOR: Berne Declaration
PUBLICATION: Press release
DATE: 4 November 2004
URL: http://www.evb.ch/index.cfm?page_id=3220
NOTE: Also available in French and German
________________________________________________________

Berne Declaration

"EFTA COUNTRIES SHALL NOT ENDANGER PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY IN
SOUTHERN AFRICA" NGOS REQUEST

Zurich, 04.11.2004 - Today 57 organizations sent a letter* to the trade 
and
foreign ministers of EFTA member states (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and
Liechtenstein), urging them not to include provisions that would restrict
access to medicines and farmers rights in a free trade agreement under
negotiation with the five countries of SACU (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia,
South Africa, Swaziland). Both parties want to conclude the negotiations
before the end of 2004. According to recent statements by Swiss officials,
EFTA countries are pushing for stronger intellectual property rights on
medicines and in agriculture in SACU countries. This move would have 
lasting
and negative consequences on public health and food security in Southern
Africa.

In a September 2004 reply to a question by Swiss Members of Parliament, 
the
Swiss Government confirmed that it intends to include in the agreement
provisions that would strengthen intellectual property protection in SACU
(Southern African Customs Union) countries. Those provisions go beyond the
obligations under the WTO TRIPS agreement (thereafter "TRIPs-plus"
provisions). EFTA (European Free Trade Association) has already managed to
include such provisions in earlier free trade agreements with developing
countries (e.g. EFTA's free trade agreements with Chile from 26 June 2003
and with Lebanon from 24 June 2004).

EFTA countries seek to introduce intellectual property provisions on
medicines that would make it more difficult to introduce cheap generic
medicines and therefore restrict access to medicines (up to 10 years
protection on test data for market approval, up to 5 years patent
extension). Such provision are totally inappropriate for countries facing
the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates anywhere in the world (between 20% 
and
40% of adult population). Instead of strengthening monopolistic rights of
pharmaceutical companies, the agreement should allow SACU countries to use
generic competition in order to provide affordable medicines for their 
people.

In agriculture, EFTA countries want to introduce intellectual property
provisions that would prevent farmers to freely re-use and exchange their
seeds (even when there is a drought). Such provisions contradict the 
current
practices of 90% of the farmers in the region and may threathen food
security and biodiversity in SACU countries.

57 organizations from EFTA and SACU countries have endorsed the letter*
urging the relevant EFTA ministers to exclude intellectual property
provision from the agreement with SACU. By seeking stronger intellectual
property rights for the benefit of their industries regardless of the 
public
health and food needs of their Southern African trading partners, EFTA
governments are also putting the image and reputation of their countries 
at
stake.

Developing countries like the SACU states face huge challenges to achieve
food security and optimal health care for their population. Therefore they
need to keep sufficient freedom to adjust their intellectual property 
system
to their needs. Intellectual property provisions in bilateral free trade
agreements, however, reduce such freedom.

For more information, please contact :

François Meienberg, Erklärung von Bern, 076 404 21 69
Julien Reinhard, Déclaration de Berne, 021 620 03 06

* The letter is available on www.evb.ch/index.cfm?page_id=3212

For more details on TRIPS-plus provisons in EFTA free trade agreements see
the report on agriculture and the report on medicines.

________________________________________________________

The following organizations are endorsing the letter :

International NGOs: Oxfam International, GRAIN, AIDS and Rights Alliance 
for
Southern Africa (ARASA)

South Africa: Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Biowatch, Southern African
Catholic Bishops' Conference, Environmental Monitoring Group, SEATINI 
South
Africa Chapter

Namibia: Aids Law Unit, Namibia Network of Aids Service Organisations
(NANASO), Lironga Eparu

Liechtenstein: Liechtenstein Association for Environmental Protection 
(LGU),
Verein Welt und Heimat; Aktion: Wir teilen. Das alternative Fastenopfer

Norway: Genesis, Utviklingsfondet/the Development Fund; Forum for 
utvikling
og miljø/Forum for Development and Environment; Naturvernforbundet/Friends
of the Earth - Norway; Natur og Ungdom/ Friends of the Earth Youth - 
Norway;
Changemaker; Kirkens Nødhjelp/Norwegian Church Aid; Norges Bondelag/
Norwegian Farmers' Union; Attac Norway

Switzerland: Berne Declaration, Médecins sans Frontières Switzerland, 
Swiss
Aids Federation, Swiss Coalition of Development Organizations, Greenpeace
Switzerland, Swiss Interchurch Aid, Bread For All, Fondation Terre des
Hommes, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Fédération Romande des
Consommateurs, Comedia, Swissaid, Medicus Mundi Switzerland, SolidarMed,
Antenne Sida du Valais romand, Association Romande des Magasins du Monde
(ASRO), Attac Suisse, Basler Appell gegen Gentechnologie, Bethlehem 
Mission
Immensee, Blauen-Institut, Coalition "A Gauche toute!", Co-operaid,
DM-échange et mission, Enseignants Sans Frontières, HorYzon - la dimension
internationale des Unions Chrétiennes Suisses, Parti Les communistes, 
Parti
socialiste genevois, PLANeS, Restaure la Terre, SID'Action, SolidaritéS,
Syndicat des services publics - section Genève, Vivere

France: Act-Up Paris

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