Civil Society letter regarding proposed rules for EU trademark legislation

The European Union is currently negotiating new rules on European trademarks and are proposing language which will increase the risk of generic lifesaving medicines being stopped, seized and even destroyed while they are in transit in Europe en route to people in developing countries.

In strong opposition to these proposals MSF together with 49 other organisations, community groups, global health experts and activists worldwide wrote the European legislators this week to urge them to change their position.By introducing and moving ahead with these proposals the European Union will take an unacceptable step beyond the internationally agreed WTO trade rules to the detriment of the people who depend on affordable access to medicines in low and middle income countries.