KEI | 21 March 2017

Leaked document: March 15, 2017 Note by Switzerland on India EFTA TEPA IP Chapter

Attached is a March 15, 2017 note by Switzerland on the India EFTA TEPA IP Chapter.
The EFTA is the The European Free Trade Association. The EFTA member states are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The document refers to a proposed "Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement," or TEPA, between India and the four members of the EFTA. The EFTA page on this negotiation is here.

In this note, Switzerland is proposing that India agree to broader patentable subject matter, particularly as regards biologic products, that India adopt exclusive rights in data used to support the registration of new drugs and vaccines (and other regulated products), and that India eliminate its requirements for local manufacturing of patented inventions.