Govt nod for changes in TRIPS

India on Thursday approved crucial amendments in the WTO agreement on TRIPS permitting governments to break the monopoly of manufacturers of patented drugs by giving 'compulsory licenses' in emergency situations.

The decision to approve amendment in Article 31 of the TRIPS agreement was taken by the Cabinet Committee on WTO, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said after the meeting.

World Trade Organisation members had at its Doha Ministerial meeting in 2001 decided to amend Article 31 of TRIPS to provide compulsory licenses.

Mukherjee said most of the least developed countries, the main beneficiaries of the TRIPS amendment, have already approved the new patent regime. "India has also approved it," he added.