States encourages Ecuador to further clarify its system for protecting against unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of test or other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products, and to provide such protection for agricultural chemical products. Ecuador should also provide an effective system to address patent issues expeditiously in connection with applications to market pharmaceutical products. The United States looks forward to continuing to work with Ecuador to address these and other matters.
Egypt
Egypt remains on the Watch List in 2012. The United States welcomes the Government's recognition that IPR is important both to Egypt's economic development and to enhanced trade relations. Egypt continued to work to improve IPR protection and enforcement in 2011. The Information Technology Industry Development Agency conducted more raids, including raids against manufacturers and distributors of infringing goods, and increased training for prosecutors regarding counterfeiting of medical products. However, concerns remain regarding the need for additional enforcement efforts for the full range of IPR, including issuance of deterrent-level sentences by courts, and the need for additional training for enforcement officials. The United States is encouraged that Egypt has drafted regulations to clarify border procedures for the destruction of counterfeit products and to provide customs officials with the authority to take ex officio action. The United States urges Egypt to enact those regulations expeditiously. Although Egypt is working to upgrade its trademark system, rights holders have expressed concerns about the registration of invalid trademarks. Rights holders also report that businesses offering pirated television content are impairing the ability of legitimate distribution outlets to operate in the market. The United States also urges Egypt to ratify the WIPO Internet Treaties. The United States continues to encourage Egypt to clarify its plans for implementing its commitments with respect to the protection against the unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of test or other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products, and to provide an effective system to address patent issues expeditiously in connection with applications to market pharmaceutical products. The United States welcomes Egypt's establishment of a consultative committee to monitor the implementation of pharmaceutical regulations and policies. The United States looks forward to continuing to work together to advance shared IPR-related economic and trade goals, and to addressing these and other matters.
Finland
Finland remains on the Watch List in 2012. The United States continues to be concerned about the lack of product patent protection for certain pharmaceutical products. U.S. industry continues to express concern that the regulatory framework in Finland regarding process patents filed before 1995, and pending in 1996, denies adequate protection to many of the top-selling U.S. pharmaceutical products currently on the Finnish market. The United States looks forward to continuing to work with Finland to address this and other matters.
44
