If the EU fails to implement acceptable pan-European legislation, the Member States may introduce national legislation which would splinter the Single Market. It would also mean that while a single European system has been introduced for licensing biotechnology-based medicines via the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, intellectual property for such products may be protected in some markets and not in others. This will have major impact not just on industry, but on the funding of scientific research as a whole. The bioscience industry recognises that the use of biotechnology does raise some important social and ethical issues. It strongly believes that well-informed public debate, led by political, religious, scientific and patient groups, must discuss the issues raised but they should be resolved outside of the proposals on patent legislation.
Industry is committed to fostering and participating in that debate.
The industry does welcome further debate on these concerns, but argues strongly that, without patents, there could be few new treatments or cures. To stimulate research and offer hope of real advances in the battle against disease and the suffering disease causes, the new draft Directive deserves the support of all interests.