Syngenta sued Chinese company for infringement of thiamethoxam patent

Date:04-04-2013

Recently Syngenta filed a lawsuit to Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court against Xiangtan Changsheng Fine Chemicals Ltd(Changsheng) for infringement of thiamethoxam patent.

The lawsuit lodged by Syngenta claims that the thiamethoxam produced and sold by Changsheng has infringed its patent; Syngenta has applied to the Court for an injunction that prohibits Changsheng from producing, using and selling (inclusive of exporting) thiamethoxam and thiamethoxam derivatives which have infringed upon its patent; meanwhile Syngenta petition the Court to destroy all thiamethoxam and thiamethoxam derivatives of Changsheng.

“Syngenta’s yearly spending on R&D amounts to over US$1 billion, which includes development of advanced thiamethoxam technology bringing benefit to farmers across the world.” Said the President of Syngenta China Ltd, “agro-innovation plays a key role in promoting sustainable productivity and rural development; patent rights must be well supported and protected to encourage innovation.”
 
Fu Yan, the safety manager of Syngenta China Ltd said that infringers mostly export their locally produced thiamethoxam with faked brand to South America, East Europe and partly for sale in China”; He said that “during the protection period, the production and sale of thiamethoxam have resulted in an infringement upon the property rights of Syngenta; we are determined to take legal action to protect our patent rights.”

As a high-efficient and low-toxic ingredient of neonicotinoid insecticide, the global market capacity of thiamethoxam has reached US$1 billion. According to a local industry analyzer, the expiration of thiamethoxam patent in China will provide Chinese pesticide producers with great opportunities. However because of Syngenta’s well-known brand,like Virtako, it will still take some time for new productions to become competitive.