Parliament’s Health Committee (ENVI) introduces constructive amendments to SPC Manufacturing waiver vote in its official opinion to the Parliament’s Legal Committee (JURI).
Date
28 Nov 2018
Sections
Health & Consumers
The Parliament’s Health Committee (ENVI) sent a clear signal of support with the adoption of a “day one” launch possibility to supply European patients with European manufactured medicines.
The SPC manufacturing waiver aims to correct the current implementation of Supplementary Protection Certificate system which blocks manufacturers from producing generic or biosimilar medicines for export to non-EU countries where the SPC does not apply, or from producing and stockpiling these medicines to allow for ‘Day One’ launches after SPC expiry in the EU. Because of the current restrictions, the EU pharma industry is forced to delocalise production to non-EU countries, like Canada, India, China or the United States.
The Health Committee also recognised the need to protect commercially confidential information in the context of a notification procedure.
Regrettably, the Health Committee maintained the very long lead time for implementing the waiver which will delay its ability to create manufacturing and access opportunities for many years.
Commenting, Adrian van den Hoven, Director General of Medicines for Europe, said “We welcome the Health Committee’s efforts to improve the SPC manufacturing waiver in relation to day one launch and the protection of confidential business information. We hope that this progress, together with a more reasonable date of application, will be agreed by the Parliament and the Council in a future final agreement. We urge the Parliament’s Legal Committee to adopt a final Opinion that includes these important priorities for health, for jobs and for a robust pharmaceutical eco-system.”
Medicines for Europe
Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership. Its members employ 160,000 people at over 350 manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, and invest up to 17% of their turnover in medical innovation. Medicines for Europe member companies across Europe are both increasing access to medicines and driving improved health outcomes. They play a key role in creating sustainable European healthcare systems by continuing to provide high quality, effective generic medicines, whilst also innovating to create new biosimilar medicines and bringing to market value
added medicines, which deliver better health outcomes, greater efficiency and/or improved safety in the hospital setting for patients. For more information please follow us at www.medicinesforeurope.com and on Twitter @medicinesforEU.
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