Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH1544
2009-11-22 06:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
U.S. INDUSTRY SAYS SAG IMPLEMENTATION OF EMR
how-toVZCZCXRO5127 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #1544 3260647 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 220647Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1955 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS RIYADH 001544
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR CHRIS WILSON, JASON BUNTIN
STATE PASS TO DOC FOR STEVEN GARRETT
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EB/TPP/BTA, E FOR U/S ROBERT HORMATS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KIPR ECON EINV PREL SA
SUBJECT: U.S. INDUSTRY SAYS SAG IMPLEMENTATION OF EMR
AGREEMENT A "FANTASTIC STEP"
REF: A. RIYADH 524
B. RIYADH 1366
C. RIYADH 1375
D. RIYADH 1422
E. RIYADH 1425
F. RIYADH 1426
G. RIYADH 1441
H. RIYADH 1459
I. RIYADH 1493
UNCLAS RIYADH 001544
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR CHRIS WILSON, JASON BUNTIN
STATE PASS TO DOC FOR STEVEN GARRETT
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EB/TPP/BTA, E FOR U/S ROBERT HORMATS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KIPR ECON EINV PREL SA
SUBJECT: U.S. INDUSTRY SAYS SAG IMPLEMENTATION OF EMR
AGREEMENT A "FANTASTIC STEP"
REF: A. RIYADH 524
B. RIYADH 1366
C. RIYADH 1375
D. RIYADH 1422
E. RIYADH 1425
F. RIYADH 1426
G. RIYADH 1441
H. RIYADH 1459
I. RIYADH 1493
1. (SBU) Chairman of the Saudi Intellectual Property Rights
(IPR) Committee Mohammad Al-Aiyash told Econoffs that the
Saudi government had begun implementing the Exclusive
Marketing Rights (EMR) agreement which King Abdullah signed
in October. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Saudi
Food and Drug Authority (SFDA),King Abdulaziz City for
Science and Technology (KACST),and the Ministry of Health
met November 14 and agreed on a process for implementation of
the EMR, he said. Al-Aiyash explained that pharmaceutical
companies need to apply to KACST specifically for EMR
protections. This application is different from a patent
application and requires companies to outline their
application history and justification for receiving EMR
protection, he said. Once they determine a drug warrants EMR
coverage, KACST's Directorate General for Industrial Property
will inform SFDA in writing.
2. (SBU) Asked when the EMR agreement would be published in
the official gazette, Al-Aiyash said it could "take time,"
particularly in light of the Hajj and Eid holidays (November
19 to December 5). Al-Aiyash noted, however, that KACST was
prepared to process EMR applications immediately, even before
the official publication of the regulation.
3. (SBU) A pharmaceutical industry representative told
Econoff that the EMR implementation demonstrated both the
SAG's commitment to protecting intellectual property and its
willingness to adopt creative solutions to do so. The
implementation of the EMR is a "fantastic step," as it will
protect several products which had lost protection in the
shift from the old to the new Saudi patent law in 2004.
SMITH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR CHRIS WILSON, JASON BUNTIN
STATE PASS TO DOC FOR STEVEN GARRETT
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EB/TPP/BTA, E FOR U/S ROBERT HORMATS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KIPR ECON EINV PREL SA
SUBJECT: U.S. INDUSTRY SAYS SAG IMPLEMENTATION OF EMR
AGREEMENT A "FANTASTIC STEP"
REF: A. RIYADH 524
B. RIYADH 1366
C. RIYADH 1375
D. RIYADH 1422
E. RIYADH 1425
F. RIYADH 1426
G. RIYADH 1441
H. RIYADH 1459
I. RIYADH 1493
1. (SBU) Chairman of the Saudi Intellectual Property Rights
(IPR) Committee Mohammad Al-Aiyash told Econoffs that the
Saudi government had begun implementing the Exclusive
Marketing Rights (EMR) agreement which King Abdullah signed
in October. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Saudi
Food and Drug Authority (SFDA),King Abdulaziz City for
Science and Technology (KACST),and the Ministry of Health
met November 14 and agreed on a process for implementation of
the EMR, he said. Al-Aiyash explained that pharmaceutical
companies need to apply to KACST specifically for EMR
protections. This application is different from a patent
application and requires companies to outline their
application history and justification for receiving EMR
protection, he said. Once they determine a drug warrants EMR
coverage, KACST's Directorate General for Industrial Property
will inform SFDA in writing.
2. (SBU) Asked when the EMR agreement would be published in
the official gazette, Al-Aiyash said it could "take time,"
particularly in light of the Hajj and Eid holidays (November
19 to December 5). Al-Aiyash noted, however, that KACST was
prepared to process EMR applications immediately, even before
the official publication of the regulation.
3. (SBU) A pharmaceutical industry representative told
Econoff that the EMR implementation demonstrated both the
SAG's commitment to protecting intellectual property and its
willingness to adopt creative solutions to do so. The
implementation of the EMR is a "fantastic step," as it will
protect several products which had lost protection in the
shift from the old to the new Saudi patent law in 2004.
SMITH