India, Brazil to challenge Netherlands at WTO for seizing drugs

India and Brazil have decided to challenge the Netherlands at World Trade Organisation (WTO) for seizing an Indian consignment in transit that was destined to Brazil. It contained generic drugs for high blood pressure related diseases. However, the Dutch officials seized the drugs claiming these drugs violated patent possessed by a local manufacturer.

Both India and Brazil have in this wake decided to take the matter up with WTO’s dispute settlement committee. A joint press release by the trade ministries of two countries said that such measures have a negative systemic impact on legitimate trade of generic medicines.