efta_ip_dec07-1d4a9d71ad7f81b7.pdf

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the impact of intellectual property (IP) provisions in EFTA Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), specifically focusing on how TRIPS-Plus standards in the EFTA-Egypt FTA may restrict access to medicines and threaten food security through seed restrictions.

• The EFTA-Egypt FTA includes a provision for 5 years of protection for undisclosed information, which the document identifies as effective data exclusivity. This restriction limits the entry of generic producers into the market, thereby hindering access to affordable medicines for populations in developing and middle-income countries.
• Requirements for accession to UPOV 1991 in FTAs threaten food security by restricting the traditional practice of saving, sharing, and exchanging seeds. This forces farmers to pay seed companies repeatedly and increases their dependence on the cash economy and debt, while the document notes that TRIPS Article 27.3b does not mandate the use of UPOV as a model.
• The document argues that IP obligations accepted by developing country partners in EFTA FTAs extend to the entire WTO membership, over-extending limited policy resources and restricting the ability to design innovation systems appropriate for public health, education, and food security.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). efta_ip_dec07-1d4a9d71ad7f81b7.pdf. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/EFTA_IP_Dec07.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. efta_ip_dec07-1d4a9d71ad7f81b7.pdf. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/EFTA_IP_Dec07.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=efta_ip_dec07-1d4a9d71ad7f81b7.pdf |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/EFTA_IP_Dec07.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndeftaipdec071d4a9d71ad7f81b7pdf, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{efta\_ip\_dec07-1d4a9d71ad7f81b7.pdf}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/EFTA_IP_Dec07.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }