Defeat of antipiracy treaty is hailed as victory for generic drugs

The European parliament’s refusal to ratify the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has been warmly welcomed by health and development agencies, which have said that the treaty posed a serious threat to poor countries’ access to generic drugs.1

This is the first time that the parliament has voted against an international trade agreement that had been approved by the European Commission. After massive lobbying by campaigners, which included a petition signed by over 2.8 million people worldwide, the agreement was defeated by an overwhelming majority, with 478 votes against and only 39 in favour.

Oxfam’s spokeswoman Leïla Bodeux said, …