India rejects demand of European FTA bloc for inclusion of ‘data exclusivity’ to protect generic drug firms’ interest

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India has dismissed the request from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc, consisting of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, to include a ‘data exclusivity’ provision in proposed free trade agreements. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal emphasised that India consistently safeguards the interests of its domestic generic drugs industry. He clarified that India will not compromise the generic drug industry’s position in any Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The EFTA members are currently negotiating a trade agreement with India, but India has rejected their proposal for data exclusivity, reaffirming its support for the generic industry. “There is no fear for the Indian...