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About
MIHR
PIPRA
Fiocruz, Brazil
bioDevelopments- Institute
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MUNOZ TELLEZ, Viviana
Viviana Munoz is a Programme Officer at the South Centre, an intergovernmental organization of developing countries based in Geneva, Switzerland. Ms. Munoz assists the research, policy analysis, policy advice, capacity building, and training activities of the Centre’s Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme. Her efforts support the development, coordinated use, and improvement of the capacities of developing countries and their institutions. The Centre aims to integrate the development dimension into their policies on innovation, access to knowledge, and intellectual property.
Previously, Ms. Munoz worked at Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute, University of London, as Research Assistant for an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project (www.ipngos.org/). The project examined the role that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play in supporting the positions of countries on intellectual property, public health, and biodiversity at multilateral institutions. She has also worked as an independent consultant. Some of her recent works include: Munoz V. (with Matthews D.), Bilateral technical assistance and the TRIPS agreement: the United States, Japan and the European Communities in comparative perspective, Journal of World Intellectual Property, Vol. 9, No. 6. (November 2006), pp. 629-653, and Munoz V. (with Waitara C.), An Analysis of the Impact of the Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasting Organisations and Cablecasting Organisations on Developing Countries, Research Paper 9, South Centre, (December 2006).
Ms. Munoz holds a B.A. in International Relations from the U. Rosario, Colombia, and an M.Sc. in Development Management from the London School of Economics.
Abstract
Parallel Trade: A User’s Guide
Abstract:
This chapter provides guidance about parallel trade to developing country policy-makers and other stakeholders in intellectual property. What is parallel trade? And how can it be utilized to promote access to medicines and support poor farmers in developing countries? Engaging in parallel trade is an option provided by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) under the World Trade Organization. Furthermore, the 2001 Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health confirmed that developing countries could use parallel imports to support public health. As a result, developing countries can ensure access to lower-priced patented and/or branded products, such as medicines and basic agricultural inputs, by incorporating legislation to allow for parallel imports. When implementing measures to facilitate parallel trade, developing countries can establish and maintain an effective system by adequately regulating the quality, safety, and health of parallel imports. At the same time, developing countries need to prevent low-priced patented products available in their countries from entering high-priced developed country markets.
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