Question : PATENT OF INDIAN RICE



(a) whether the Government are aware that some foreign companies have patented derivatives of Indian varieties of rice taking advantage of the loopholes in our Patent laws;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government contemplate the introduction of a clause in the new Patents Bill that any derivative of Indian geographical indicators based germplasm of these indicators would not be patented; and

(d) if so, the details thereof ?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(DR. RAMAN SINGH)


(a) to (d): Information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.