Public health concerns and interests of the domestic drug industry will guide India's negotiating position in the India-European Union Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Jyotiraditya M Scindia, said on Monday in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
The BTIA talks are ongoing and final positions have not emerged, he added. He was replying to a question whether the BTIA includes Intellectual Property (IP) related issue that will affect the prospects of the domestic drug industry.
India's stand is based on comprehensive Inter-Ministerial consultations and inputs received from Intellectual Property Rights experts and stakeholders, the Minister said. He added that the Association of Drug Manufacturing Units had voiced their opposition to the proposed inclusion of IP related issues in the BTIA.
India has clarified to the EU negotiations that it cannot accept provisions in the BTIA that are beyond the World Trade Organisation's Trade Related aspects of IP Rights (TRIPS) and domestic law, he added.