India, EU to resolve generic drugs expots tangle

New Delhi, Nov 6 : The European Union (EU) is not opposed to exports of generic medicine by Indian companies through its ports, European Commissioner for Trade Catherine Ashton said here Friday.

Answering a query on the confiscation of Indian consignments of generic medicine in European ports, which were bound for other countries, she said EU would soon resolve the issue.

"We are absolutely clear that we have no interest in stopping the the legitimate exports or transit of generic medicines. We want to resolve the issue," Ashton said at a joint press conference with India's Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma.

She added that a team of EU and Indian officials would sit down this month to discuss and resolve this issue.

Sharma said he had raised the issue with Ashton during talks. "These shipments were for third countries, so they did not violate either TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights) agreement or other existing laws."

The minister said he was "very much reassured" by the understanding and reassurances given. "They have taken tangible steps."