Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 91996E1954

**WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1954/96 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Impact of patenting animals** 
  
*Official Journal C 385 , 19/12/1996 P. 0067*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1954/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (16 July 1996)

Subject: Impact of patenting animals

What is the impact on downstream markets, such as the drugs market, of patenting animals?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (11 October 1996)

In reply to the question put by the Honourable Member, the Commission considers that the granting of patents in respect of animals will not adversely affect the pharmaceuticals market, either in terms of the prices of medicines, their quality or their diversity. On the contrary, the inventions concerned should encourage the marketing of new medicines, especially as scientists will be better able to study certain diseases by experimenting on transgenic animals.

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