Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05BRASILIA2157, Brazil's National Health Council Recommends
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05BRASILIA2157.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05BRASILIA2157 | 2005-08-12 20:31 | 2011-07-11 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Brasilia |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 BRASILIA 002157
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, AND EB/TPP/IPE
USAID FOR LAC/AA
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR SCRONIN, LEYANG AND BPECK
USDOC FOR 4332/ITA/MAC/WH/OLAC/JANDERSEN/ADRISCOLL/MWAR D
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USCS/OIO/WH/RD/DDEVITO/DANDERSON/EOL SON
NSC FOR KBREIER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD IPR
SUBJECT: Brazil's National Health Council Recommends
Compulsory Licensing of Antiretrovirals
Ref: Brasilia 1716 (Notal)
¶1. SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
¶2. (SBU) Summary. Adding to the tension surrounding
negotiations between the Ministry of Health and U.S.
pharmaceutical companies over potential compulsory licensing,
on August 11, Brazil's National Health Council approved a
resolution in which it recommended that the Ministry of Health
immediately issue compulsory licenses for antiretroviral drugs
produced by Abbott Laboratories, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and
Gilead Sciences, and that the issue, in general, of patents
for medicine be subject to a wider debate. The resolution was
sent to the Minister of Health, who has 30 days in which to
sign, not sign, or suggest modifications to the resolution.
An accompanying document on the Ministry of Health website,
"The Sustainability of the Universal Access to Antiretroviral
Drugs in Brazil," presents a justification for compulsory
licensing of anti-retrovirals. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs
interlocutor reports that the Council resolution is not
legally binding and claims the Minister of Health is serious
about continuing negotiations with the pharmaceutical
companies. While the Council's action does not represent a
GoB decision on compulsory licensing, it further aggravates
the negotiating environment and is yet another example of
mounting pressure in Brazil to issue compulsory licenses for
AIDS anti-retrovirals. End Summary.
¶3. (U) During a meeting on August 10, Brazil's National
Health Council (CNS-portuguese acronym) unanimously approved a
Resolution that calls for the Ministry of Health to
immediately issue compulsory licenses for antiretroviral drugs
Kaletra (combination Lopinavir/Ritonavir), Efavirenz, and
Tenofovir, which are produced by Abbott Laboratories, Merck
Sharp & Dohme, and Gilead Sciences, respectively. The text of
the resolution was released by the Ministry of Health's
Secretariat of Health Protection - National DST/AIDs Program
SIPDIS
Press Office; see para 11 for an unofficial translation. The
resolution was sent to the Minister of Health, who has 30 days
in which to sign, not sign, or suggest modifications to the
resolution.
¶4. (U) The Ministry of Health has been actively engaged in
pricing/licensing negotiations with these U.S. pharmaceutical
companies since March of this year (see reftel). Text in the
press release envelope for the CNS resolution specifically
cites Abbott and Merck as being uncooperative (Merck had an on-
going dialog with the GoB on potential voluntary licensing
prior to March). Negotiations with Abbott intensified after
June 24, when the Ministry of Health singled out Kaletra in a
"declaration of public interest" to legally pave the way for
compulsory licensing of the drug; the Ministry then pressed
the company to agree within 10 days to a per unit price for
Kaletra of US$0.68, compared with a current price of US$1.17,
to avoid compulsory licensing.
¶5. (SBU) Shortly after taking office July 8, new Minister of
Health Saraiva Felipe announced the MoH was re-opening an
agreement that out-going Minister Costa and Abbott had
reportedly reached on the day of Felipe's swearing-in. In
public statements, Felipe justified the action by asserting
that no written agreement existed and that Abbott and the
Ministry did not agree on what terms had been reached on July
¶8. (An Abbott representative told post there was a written
agreement, but it was not signed.) Negotiations have
continued, most recently on August 10, however Abbott has
complained that the MoH is now pressing the company to drop
the per unit Kaletra price to US$0.41, based on a new estimate
of production costs for Brazil's national laboratories, and to
agree to some form of technology transfer. Post understands
that Abbott plans to provide another proposal to the MoH the
week of August 15.
¶6. (U) The National Health Council is a private-public sector
advisory body, principally comprised of labor, social,
economic, and health representatives from civil society.
Twenty of CNS' forty counselors were present for the August 10
vote.
¶7. (SBU) According to Henrique Choer Moraes of the Foreign
Ministry's IPR Division, the resolution is a recommendation
and is not legally binding on the Minister of Health.
Furthermore, he reported that his MoH interlocutor had
emphasized to him that Minister Felipe remains "very much
interested in pursuing negotiations with the companies in
order to reach mutually satisfactory results." Brasilia's
paper, Correio Braziliense, quoted Felipe in its August 12
edition as saying he is not going to sign the resolution now
and that he is going "to evaluate it before taking any
decision."
¶8. (U) Nonetheless, the trend is not encouraging. An
accompanying document of unknown authorship on the Ministry of
Health website, "The Sustainability of the Universal Access to
Antiretroviral Drugs in Brazil," presents social and legal
justifications for compulsory licensing of antiretrovirals
(see para 12). The analysis suggests that "public interest"
is only satisfied through compulsory licensing and the details
make quick implementation appear likely should a decision be
made to issue a compulsory license.
Comment
-------
¶9. (SBU) While the CNS resolution does not represent a legal
step in the process toward issuing a compulsory license, and a
GoB decision on the matter has not yet been taken, it further
aggravates the negotiating environment. In particular, so
publicly asserting the Ministry's goal of a $0.41 unit price
for Kaletra may further harden the MoH's pricing position,
eliminating crucial flexibility. Furthermore, the resolution
throws Merck and Gilead into the same boat with Abbott, even
though the MoH has not been actively engaged in negotiations
with these companies while it has focused on Abbott.
¶10. (SBU) Concentration of this issue within the Ministry of
Health has made finding knowledgeable and effective GoB
interlocutors challenging. Commercial ministers, such as
Finance Minister Palocci and Minister of Development, Industry
and Trade Furlan have not been inclined to become involved; a
July 28 note from Minister Furlan to Secretary Guiterrez
unrealistically suggested that negotiations between the MoH
and Abbott appeared "very close to a satisfactory agreement."
We will continue to consult with Washington agencies on the
most appropriate and effective means for USG officials to
interact with the GoB on the matter. The Ambassador will meet
Minister Felipe in a courtesy call August 25, but the issue
may be OBE by then.
¶11. Informal English-Language Translation of National Council
of Health Resolution No. X with press release envelope:
Ministry of Health
Secretariat of Health Protection
SIPDIS
National DST/AIDS Program
Press Office
Anti-Retrovirals
National Council of Health Recommends Issuance of Compulsory
License
August 11, 2005
The National Health Council (CNS) approved this Thursday
(8/11) a resolution recommending that the Minister of Health
immediately issue a compulsory license for the anti-retroviral
medicines lopinavir/ritonavir, efavirenz and tenofovir. The
recommendation is also valid for other patented drugs used in
the treatment of AIDs and which place an excessive burden on
the purchase of medications to fight the disease. In 2005
alone, the total cost of anti-retrovirals will reach R$1
billion. Together, the three drugs cited consume 80 percent
of the budget.
The text was approved unanimously during the 157th ordinary
meeting of the CNS, in Brasilia. The 20 counselors that were
in the plenary during the voting gave a favorable
recommendation to the document. The resolution now goes to
the Minister of Health, who presides over the Council, for
formal confirmation. The resolution also directs the Minister
to close the negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies
producing these medicines.
In the case of efavirenz, whose patent belongs to the
laboratory Merck Sharp & Dohme, the negotiations have lasted
for two years. With respect to Abbott Laboratories, holder of
the patent for lopinvir/ritonavir, known as Kaletra, the
Ministry has tried to come to an agreement since March of
¶2005. "If the Ministry doesn't take a firm position, the
sustainability of the AIDs program will be threatened," warned
Counselor Carlos Alberto Duarte. He is President of the
Support and Prevention of AIDs Group of Rio Grande do Sul
(GAPA-RS) and represents, in the Council, the civil society
organizations that work with HIV/AIDS.
On this occasion, Minister Saraiva Felipe was emphatic. He
said that if Abbott Laboratories offers Brazil conditions to
sign a contract in the short-term for the acquisition of
Kaletra, with a price equal to that proposed by the national
laboratories (US$0.41), there will be no reason to issue a
compulsory license. If not, I will not hesitate in defending
the public interest." Two weeks ago, at the closing of the
third conference of the International AIDS society, Minister
Saraiva Felipe affirmed that "the only patent inviolable is
that of life." Today Brazil buys a capsule of Kaletra for
US$1.17.
National Production. - A resolution of the CNS also proposes
the initiation of local production of the drugs, with
investment in and strengthening of the government-owned
laboratories, and increased resources aimed at research,
including the production of active ingredients. In accordance
with the Director of the National DST/AIDs program, Pedro
Chequer, once it produces the patented anti-retrovirals,
Brazil would not have any interest in selling them. "Our
intention is to supply the national demand and attend to the
six countries which which we maintain accords for the supply
of treatment." Brazil furnishes anti-AIDs drugs to Cape Verde,
Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, East Timor, Bolivia and
Paraguay.
Today, Brazil has 163 thousand persons undergoing treatment
with anti-retrovirals. The country distributes 17
medications, eight of which are produced by national
laboratories. The average cost of a patient per year, which
was US$6.2 thousand in 1997, dropped to the level of US$1.3
thousand at the beginning of this decade. However, with the
incorporation of new latest-generation drugs, at the beginning
of 2003, the annual expense per patient rose again and
currently is around US$2.5 thousand.
Upon voting the text of the resolution, the National Health
Council took care to include a recommendation to the effect
that after the adoption of compulsory licencing any commercial
retaliation against Brazil would be consider disloyal and
illegal. The clause was included based upon Brazilian law,
upon TRIPS (which deals with intellectual property rights
related to commerce), and upon the DOHA Declaration (which
applies TRIPS to questions of public health).
Brazilian legislation permits compulsory licensing in cases of
public interest, which encompasses questions of health,
nutrition, environmental protection, and technological or
socio-economic development of the country. The authorization
is in Article 71 of the Brazilian Law of Patents (9279/96), in
Decrees Number 3201/99 and 4830/03, and, as well, in the
international TRIPS accords and in the DOHA declaration.
Following is the complete text of the resolution approved by
the National Health Council. In order to take effect, the
document still needs to be signed by the Minister of Health,
Saraiva Felipe.
National Health Council
Resolution No. X, of August 11 2005-08-11
The Plenary of the National Health Council in its one hundred
fifty seventh ordinary meeting, realized on August 10 and 11
of 2005, under the competencies and authorities conferred by
Law No. 8.080, of 19 September 1990, and by Law No. 8.142 of
December of 1990, and
Considering that universal access to anti-retroviral drugs for
the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Brazil is assured in the Federal
Constitution and in Law. N8.080 and Law 9.313/96;
Considering that the policy of free distribution of anti-AIDS
medications have a positive impact in increasing the quantity
and quality of life of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil;
Considering that, to guarantee access to 170,000 patients, the
Unified Health System (SUS) foresees spending around R$ 1
billion in 2005, with 80 percent of these resources destined
to the importation of only three patented drugs: efavirenz,
Lopinavir/r and Tenofovir;
Considering that the elevated prices of patented drugs has
already compromised the sustainability of the Brazilian
program to combat AIDS;
Considering that the XII National Health Conference (Art. 52,
Axis VIII) declared that "the right to life and to health
preceeds any commercial agreement";
Considering that the compulsory licensing and the consequent
local production of anti-retrovirals is totally compatible
with Brazilian legislation and with the flexibilities
contemplated in both the TRIPs agreement of the World Trade
Organization and the DOHA declaration;
Considering that Brazil possesses the infrastructure and
technical capacity for national production of safe, quality,
low-cost anti-retrovirals;
Considering that the SUS does not possess sufficient resources
and that the economies flowing from national production will
be invested in other health actions.
Resolves:
a) In the face of the failure to negotiate significant price
reductions for the medications efavirenz, Lopinavir/r and
Tenofovir, the Ministry of Health and the federal government
should close negotiations with the laboratories holding these
patents.
b) Compulsory licenses of the medications efavirenz,
Lopinavir/r and Tenofovir should be issued immediately, as
well as other patented anti-retrovirals which burden or might
come to burden the budget of the SUS.
c) Local production of medications should begin, with
investment in and strengthening of the government-owned
laboratories, and increased resources aimed at research,
including the production of active ingredients.
d) That, in the face of International Treaties, after the
adoption of compulsory licencing any commercial retaliation
against Brazil would be consider disloyal and illegal.
e) That the Ministry of Health should promote an ample debate
over the impact of patents on the access to medicine in the
country, an analysis and review of Brazilian patent
legislation, as well as the regulation and implementation of
such legislation.
¶12. Document: "THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO
ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS IN BRAZIL"
Document elaborated for the 157th Ordinary Meeting of
Brazil's National Health Council - Brasilia, August 10, 2005
Brasilia, August 9, 2005.
"Life is the only unbreakable patent"
Saraiva Felipe
Brazil's Minister of Health
¶1. Legal foundations
The incorporation of the TRIPS Agreement (Trade Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) 1 in the legal
agenda of member countries of the World Trade Organization
(WTO) has significantly restricted their autonomy towards the
definition of strategic materials for the understanding of
their Public Interest. TRIPS consists of one of the Marrakesh
Agreement annexes, which has established the WTO in 1994, and
rules the management of intellectual property rights within
the Organization. By becoming a signatory to TRIPS Agreement
in 1994, Brazil, in opposition to the previous Code of
Industrial Property of 1971, started recognizing
pharmaceutical and food products and processes as patentable
materials. Despite the fact that the Agreement establishes
minimum conditions in reference to the management of
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), these have shown to be
considerably most restrictive than those established in the
1971 Code.
The Agreeement anticipates the IPR licensing through two
mechanisms: voluntary licensing and compulsory licensing.
With the voluntary licensing, the patent holder may friendly
negotiate the transfer of technology, know-how, technical
assistance, and the use of its property by third parties,
through the payment of royalties to be agreed between both
parties.
With the compulsory licensing, also known as "Compulsory
License", the IPR may be used by third parties without the
holder's consent, aiming to restrain the abusive privilege
exercise. In this case, TRIPS indicates five possible reasons
for the adoption of such measurement, such as: (i) patent
holder's refusal to negotiate that third parties have the
right to use IPR; (ii) cases of emergency or extreme urgency;
(iii) anti-competitive practices; (iv) non-commercial use and
(v) existence of depending patents. Despite being a privilege
usage without the need for patent holder's consent, the
licensee should still pay royalties to use it, even though
they are reduced.
In the Brazilian legal system, the compulsory licensing is
found on chapters 68-74 of the Industrial Property Law #
9279/96, some of which have later been amended by the Decrees
# 3201/99 and # 4830/03, aiming to clarify its application in
specific cases.
- Public Interest as a legal reason to issue the compulsory
licensing
The issuance of compulsory licenses based on the Public
Interest reason is found on chapter 71 of the Industrial
Property Law # 9279/96, according to text that follows:
"Chapter 71. In cases of national emergency or public
interest, stated through Federal Branch Act, as long as the
patent holder or licensee cannot meet such need, a temporary,
non-exclusive, compulsory license can be granted, officially,
with no harm to the rights of its respective holder.
Only Paragraph. The granting of license will establish its
expiration date and the possibility of extension."
Decree # 3201/99, through its second chapter, has brought a
more detailed definition of the National Emergency and Pubic
Interest concepts, in addition to clarifying the necessary
mechanisms to issue a compulsory licensing, to be officially
announced.
- Other mechanisms
On August 30, 2003, the WTO General Council approved of a
resolution in reference to chapter 6 of Doha Declaration,
which states the possibility of issuing a compulsory
licensing to meet the demands of relatively less developed
countries and developing countries, which had none or little
technological capacity to manufacture essential drugs.
However, it is necessary to be included in the national
legislation so that Brazil is able to enjoy such mechanism.
¶2. The critical situation as to the STD/AIDS Program
sustainability
Even if the country was able to benefit from the transition
period of 10 years to adapt its legal system, only two years
have passed so that the new Industrial Property Law # 9279
was published, on May 14, 1996. On this same year, the
Brazilian government adopts an innovative and daring
initiative to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemics, by approving Law
# 9313, known as "Lei Sarney" (alluding to Brazil's former
President), that rules over the State duty to distribute
drugs to treat HIV and AIDS patients universally and freely.
Since then, the Brazilian government has tried to establish a
balance between the private rights originated from the 20-
year monopoly granted to the patent holder, on one side, and
the social rights in reference to the warranty of access to
treat chronic diseases to the Society, on the other side.
Brazil's decision - certainly, resulting from the pressure of
the same actors that make it difficult the effective
implementation of compulsory licensing of the patented ARV
drugs - of not making use of the transition period allowed by
the TRIPS agreement to developing countries, has resulted in
a premature and incipient legislation in meeting the needs of
national interest, especially in reference to Public Health.
As for the national response to AIDS epidemic, the
incorporation of new patented drugs in the Therapeutic
Consensus means a significant greater public budget designed
to acquire antiretroviral drugs and committed to the
sustainability of the national response to HIV/AIDS. Today,
in order to guarantee the universal and free access to
170,000 patients currently under therapy, approximately 80%
of the around US$ 430 million designed to purchase these
drugs are used to importing patented drugs, while only 20%
are used to purchase 7 antiretroviral non-patented drugs,
manufactured in the country. Such proportion tends to be
reduced in the next few years. With the progressive inclusion
of patients under therapy in the next 3 years, the total
spending with the universal purchase of only 3 antiretroviral
patented drugs (Efavirenz, Lopinavir/r and Tenofovir) is
estimated to increase substantially, from US$ 147.5 million
in 2006 to US$ 242 million in 200102. Whereas if there is
national production along the next five years, it is
estimated a saving of US$ 645 million. Additionally, the
inclusion of new-patented drugs in the Consensus will imply
in a considerable increase in the cost of therapy/year,
incompatible with the currently available budget and with the
expectations of a future budget. (Figure 1). This problem is
already experienced in 2005 when we had a budgetary dotation
of approximately US$ 242 million for an effective spending
over US$ 430 million. Such measure could compromise the
performance of other Programs.
Figure 1 - Average annual cost of antiretroviral therapy per
patient/year (in US$), Brazil, 2005 (Not included in cable.)
Source: Chequer, 3rd IAS Conference on the Pathogenesis and
HIV therapy (2005)
¶3. National technical capacity
Since late 1998, Brazil's Department of Health has invested
in infrastructure and in making official pharmaceutical
laboratories capable to manufacture antiretroviral drugs. The
first public laboratory to manufacture them was the Instituto
de Tecnologia em Frmacos (Far-Manguinhos), the official
laboratory of Brazil's Department of Health. So, the
laboratory has made investments to improve the
infrastructure, from its facilities to the WHO and ANVISA
requirements related to the Good Manufacturing Practices, as
well as the quality control.
From 2002, public/private negotiations have started (official
laboratories and international and domestic generic private
companies), aiming to the establishment of technical
cooperation agreements and technology transfer to strengthen
local capacity. In 2004, from September on, by initiative of
the PNDST/AIDS, several Workshops and meetings have been
carried out between public laboratories and local
pharmochemical companies, including the BNDES participation,
to define public-private partnerships to locally produce
active principles and antiretroviral drugs. With the results,
the definition of local capacity installed to locally produce
active principles and antiretroviral drugs has been reached,
according to Table 1 below:
(Table 1 not included in cable)
¶4. Economic Gains of local ARV production
The strategy adopted by the Brazilian government aiming to
promote national technological autonomy for the production of
principal active (ingredients) and antiretroviral drugs
doesn't constitute only an action for strengthening the
installed technical capacity, but also as an a;ternative for
the effective reduction of prices.
According to preliminary projections of PNDST/AIDS, taking as
base prices those at which Far-Manguinhos can produce
Efavirenz, Lopinavir/Ritonavir, Tenofovir, the Ministry of
Health is estimated to save a total of R$ 1.6 trillion in the
period 2006-2010, as compared with the values currently paid
by the Ministry of Health for the purchase of the same drugs.
¶5. Conclusions
The commitment of the Brazilian government to make sure the
universal and free access to antiretroviral drugs to treat
HIV/AIDS patients to the Brazilian population is established
in the Federal Constitution of 1988, and regulated in
specific legislation. Therefore, Brazil's DST/AIDS Program
understands that, considering the unquestionable evidences as
for the huge increase of prices of these drugs, originated
from the monopoly granted through patent and, in order to
maintain the sustainability of the national response to
HIV/AIDS in the medium and long run, it is necessary:
(i) The issuance of compulsory license of antiretroviral
drugs that most significantly impact the budget of Brazil's
Department of Health to purchase these drugs;
(ii) The immediate beginning of local manufacturing of
antiretroviral drugs above mentioned, with the establishment
of public-private partnerships between national
pharmaceutical companies and government pharmaceutical
laboratories, for a significant reduction of prices;
(iii) The strengthening of local technological capacity to
manufacture active principles of patented antiretroviral
drugs, in terms of making verticalized local production of
these drugs feasible and also the reduction of international
technological dependance. The adverse scenario observed
towards global production of raw material, according to WHO
itself, takes us to an extremely concerning picture in its
perspective, in the medium and long run;
(iv) The narrowing relation between local public and private
pharmaceutical productive segment with the BNDES PROFARMA
Program. Despite the successful pricing negotiations along
the period, Brazil is still paying huge and unacceptable
prices, equivalent to 8 times the amount practiced globally.
The Brazilian experience in the process of voluntary
licensing has been extremely harmful to the public interest,
since it only makes abusive prices last when dealing with the
Department of Health, without seeing a concrete perspective
in relation to Efavirenz and the chronic process of
negotiation with Merck.
The adoption of compulsory licensing, however, meets full
backup in national legislation and is in consonance with the
international agreements settled with Brazil, in the light of
TRIPS and the Doha Declaration.
LINEHAN