EU to launch public consultation on SPCs

As the request of the Hungarian delegation, the European Commission provided information on the future review of the current system of supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) (12422/16).

 

The Commission announced that an evaluation process has started in the Commission with a view to preparing for a public consultation to be launched next year. 

 

SPCs are an intellectual property right that serve as an extension to a patent right. They apply to specific pharmaceutical and plant protection products that have been authorised by regulatory authorities. 

 

The Commission, in its communication on Upgrading the Single Market: more opportunities for people and business (the Single Market Strategy), expressed its intention to strengthen EU-based manufacturing and competitiveness and set as an aim the review of the current system of SPCs.