[pp.int.general] Fwd: [A2k] Global Day of Action: EU-India FTA ­ 2 MARCH 2011]

[Amelia Andersdotter]

will destroy the fantastic section 3(d) of indian patentlaw (see 
spicyipindia.blogspot.com tag: section(3d))

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[A2k] Global Day of Action: EU-India FTA ­ 2 MARCH 2011]
Date: 	Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:55:40 +0100
From: 	Jérôme Martin <jeromemartin at samizdat.net>
To: 	a2k discuss list <a2k at lists.keionline.org>, ip-health 
<ip-health at lists.keionline.org>







            Global Day of Action: EU-India FTA – 2 MARCH 2011


Dear All,

On 2 March 2011, representatives of PLHIV Networks, Network of People
who Use Drugs and health activists from across India are holding a
protest against the India-EU Free Trade Agreement at New Delhi.  Patient
groups and civil society representatives from other countries, including
Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines are also coming to India to
seek meetings with Indian government to express their concerns. The
rally starts at Ramlila Ground at 10 am and reaches at Jantar Mantar and
is being held by health groups to voice their concerns against this
FTA.

The protest is directed against the stronger Intellectual Property
provisions being demanded by the European Commission in the India-EU
Free Trade Agreement, which may hamper access to cheap, life-saving,
quality medicines for patients not just in India but many other
developing countries around the world.

The groups are demanding that the following provisions be removed from
the negotiations:

1.    DATA EXCLUSIVITY, as it will not permit the placing of affordable
versions of new formulations like pediatric doses of “off-patent”
medicines on the market by the Indian Drug Controller.

2.     INVESTMENT RULES, as it will enable foreign companies to take
Indian government to private courts over domestic health policies like
tobacco warnings and measures to reduce prices of medicines
3.    BORDER MEASURES, as it will deny medicines to patients in other
developing countries with custom officials seizing generic medicines in
transit.

4.    INJUNCTIONS, as it undermines the independence of the Indian
judiciary to protect right to health of patients over pharma profits.

5.    OTHER IP ENFORCEMENT MEASURES, as it puts third parties like
treatment providers at risk of police actions and court cases.


The next round of negotiations between India and European Commission
will take place end of this month in Brussels. The EU-India FTA
negotiations are set to be concluded by spring 2011.
Press Conference
The protest will be followed by a Press Conference at Foreign
Correspondent Club from 2pm onwards.
Mr. Anand Grover, UN Special Rapporteur on Health will address the media
and share his concerns about the grave danger this FTA may bring to the
countless human lives in developing countries by drying up the source of
good and affordable medicines. The other panelists will include
representatives from International Treatment Preparedness Coalition,
Oxfam India, Asia Pacific Network of Positive People and Indian Network
of Positive People.

In solidarity, the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Asia
Pacific Network of Positive People, Asian Network of People who Use
Drugs (ANPUD), World Vision, Lawyer's collective, Oxfam India and
Médecins Sans Frontières – Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
are calling for a global day of action against the EU-India FTA on 2
March 2011..


How you can join:

1.    Organise your own rally: You can organize rallies or
demonstrations in front of European Commission offices in your countries
to voice your opposition to their aggressive negotiations on
intellectual property in FTAs. Don’t forget that the EU is also
negotiating FTAs with many developing countries and making the same
demands.

2.    Take Action: You and your organization can also support our rally
actively. The more organizations speak out for our cause, the louder our
message will be heard. Send your logo, your statement, banner, posters
etc. to us and we will make sure, that your organization will be part of
the protest.

3.    Donate: In order to organize this protest, we rely on funding. Any
financial support is welcome. If you know organizations, which are
interested in funding, if you want donate to our protest, please contact
us.

4.    Raise awareness: Even though you might not be able to support our
rally financially or physically you can help us by spreading the word
about our concerns.

5.    Write to the Indian Government: You can also write to the Indian
Government asking it to stay strong and not give in to the demands of
the European Commission. India, as the pharmacy of the developing world,
has an obligation to its citizens as well as patients across the world.

We plan to meet the aggressiveness of the European Commission with our
peaceful rally. There is too much at stake. Join us NOW!

In Solidarity
Loon Gangte
Secretary
Delhi Network of Positive People

To know more about the debate going on around the India-EU FTA, please
read the following articles:

Don’t Swallow this Pill, Times of India, Jan 19’ 2011
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Dont-swallow-this-pill/articleshow/7312903.cms

Indian Prime Minister Must Resist European Pressure To Trade Away
Health, Medical News Today, Jan 13’ 2011
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213584.php
Don’t Swallow this Pill, Indian Express, Jan 27’ 2011
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dont-swallow-this-pill/742546/





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