Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OSLO318
2009-04-29 15:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
301 DESIGNATION: NORWEGIANS TALK TO INDUSTRY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0318 1191540 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 291540Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7509 INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 2535 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 8083 RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK PRIORITY 0877 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 3398 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS OSLO 000318
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EUR/NB (MMCDOWELL),EB/IPE (JBOGER),USPTO (JURBAN),PASS
TO USTR (JBUNTIN) AND COMMERCE (JDERSTINE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON KIPR NO
SUBJECT: 301 DESIGNATION: NORWEGIANS TALK TO INDUSTRY
REF: A. STATE 41912
B. OSLO 174
C. OSLO 117
D. 2008 OSLO 95
UNCLAS OSLO 000318
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EUR/NB (MMCDOWELL),EB/IPE (JBOGER),USPTO (JURBAN),PASS
TO USTR (JBUNTIN) AND COMMERCE (JDERSTINE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON KIPR NO
SUBJECT: 301 DESIGNATION: NORWEGIANS TALK TO INDUSTRY
REF: A. STATE 41912
B. OSLO 174
C. OSLO 117
D. 2008 OSLO 95
1. (SBU) Trade Ministry Director General Ole Andreas
Lindeman expressed little surprise at Reftel A points,
redesignating Norway on the Special Watch list. The central
issue involves the GON's patent protections on certain
pre-1992 American pharmaceuticals (Reftels B-D). Lindeman
placed the designation in the context of the recent Informal
Commercial Exchange (ICE) talks held in Washington. The ICE
talks included the possibility of industry-GON cooperation.
Industry has suggested to the GON that it could look beyond
the existing patent dispute. In turn, industry requests that
the GON ensure, moving forward, that patent-infringing
generics on the Norwegian market are removed from the
state-approved drug list. This is commercially important, as
only drugs on that list will be bought by the GON--by far the
biggest drug customer in Norway.
2. (SBU) There has not yet been any agreement on this
proposal. Lindeman did note that the GON and industry
continue to meet and discuss the issue on an ad-hoc basis.
The GON is now reviewing the legal implications of industry's
suggestions. These include evaluating different legal
dispute processes possibly used when determining whether a
generic is legally on the market. Post will update with any
new information.
WHITNEY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EUR/NB (MMCDOWELL),EB/IPE (JBOGER),USPTO (JURBAN),PASS
TO USTR (JBUNTIN) AND COMMERCE (JDERSTINE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON KIPR NO
SUBJECT: 301 DESIGNATION: NORWEGIANS TALK TO INDUSTRY
REF: A. STATE 41912
B. OSLO 174
C. OSLO 117
D. 2008 OSLO 95
1. (SBU) Trade Ministry Director General Ole Andreas
Lindeman expressed little surprise at Reftel A points,
redesignating Norway on the Special Watch list. The central
issue involves the GON's patent protections on certain
pre-1992 American pharmaceuticals (Reftels B-D). Lindeman
placed the designation in the context of the recent Informal
Commercial Exchange (ICE) talks held in Washington. The ICE
talks included the possibility of industry-GON cooperation.
Industry has suggested to the GON that it could look beyond
the existing patent dispute. In turn, industry requests that
the GON ensure, moving forward, that patent-infringing
generics on the Norwegian market are removed from the
state-approved drug list. This is commercially important, as
only drugs on that list will be bought by the GON--by far the
biggest drug customer in Norway.
2. (SBU) There has not yet been any agreement on this
proposal. Lindeman did note that the GON and industry
continue to meet and discuss the issue on an ad-hoc basis.
The GON is now reviewing the legal implications of industry's
suggestions. These include evaluating different legal
dispute processes possibly used when determining whether a
generic is legally on the market. Post will update with any
new information.
WHITNEY