WTO to amend TRIPS to stop wrong patenting

New Delhi, Dec 19: India has moved the WTO seeking amendment of the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to prevent wrong patenting of India's herbs and plants in other countries, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath informed the Lok Sabha today.

Replying to supplementaries on patenting of India's herbs in other countries, particularly in the United States, Mr Kamal Nath said his Ministry had put out on its website 160,000 traditional knowledge sources of India.

This list had been brought to the notice of patent authorities in other countries so that they could avoid granting a patent on these items, he said.

Further, it would also pursue with the WTO to have the TRIPS amended, the Minister said.

In reply to another supplementary, MoS for Commerce and Industry Ashwini Kumar pointed out that the patents given on neem, turmeric, basmati, brinjal and jamun had been withdrawn following objections filed by India.

In another reply, Mr Ashwini Kumar said the provisions of the industrial park scheme were being amended to ensure that all the sanctioned parks were put up without any delay.

UNI