US R&D drugmakers back CFTERA to protect IP

Commenting on the support of the US Senate's introduction of the Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CFTERA), the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) senior vice president Ken Johnson said: 'strong intellectual property (IP) protections play a critical role in spurring research and development of innovative medicines and American patients are the ultimate beneficiaries of new and better treatments and cures. We applaud the efforts of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) to strengthen IP rights enforcement, improve trade facilitation, modernize the customs service and ensure import safety.'

He noted that "the CFTERA will significantly improve the ability of the US Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) to do their jobs. In particular, the legislation strengthens key IP enforcement and import safety efforts at the critical agencies and also improves interagency consultation and cooperation.'

"This timely legislation is necessary to better help detect and target cargo that may violate US customs and trade laws. But, more importantly, the CFTERA will help safeguard Americans' health and safety by equipping these key agencies to better respond to imports that put American patients at a higher risk by failing to meet US health and safety requirements," Mr Johnson said.