Pharmaceutical Patent Rights Get A Boost In Canada Under CETA-Driven Legislation

After years of negotiations, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and Europe was finally approved by all 28 European Union member states on October 28, 2016, and was signed promptly thereafter by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on October 30, 2016. This historic agreement promises, inter alia, to bring important changes to intellectual property protection for pharmaceutical patentees in Canada – such as patent term extension and an end to dual litigation – which will bring Canada more in line with European practice.

On October 31, 2016 – the day after Prime Minister Trudeau signed CETA – the Canadian Government introduced Bill C-30 in Parliament, An Act to implement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union and its Member States and to provide for certain other measures (text available online). Introducing Bill C-30 is the first step towards implementing CETA in Canadian law and,