India continues to be in Priority Watch List of USTR

India has been retained in the list along with 14 other trading partners of the US, Govt told LS.

India has been retained in the Priority Watch List of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) along with 14 other trading partners of the US, Government told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

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In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry EVKS Elangovan said as per the Special 301 Report of the US trade law, the Indian Patent Law was inadequate as it exempts protection to bio-technological inventions, methods for agriculture and horticulture, processes for the treatment of humans, animals or plants and substances prepared by chemical processes.

He said the Indian Intellectual Property Laws are fully TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) compliant and the existing law effectively balances and calibrates intellectual property protection with public health, national security and public interest concerns.

However, India is required to amend the Patents Act by January 1, 2005 to provide for product patent for inventions in the fields of food, chemicals and pharmaceuticals in terms of India's obligation under the TRIPS Agreement, he said.