The TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was revised on 23 January 2017. The revision of the agreement provides poorer WTO members with access to generic drugs. This change is in particular important for those countries that do not have their own pharmaceutical industry. This is the first revision of a WTO agreement since the organisation was created in 1995. Switzerland had already ratified the amendment on 13 September 2006, being the second country worldwide to do so, and has provided for the possibility of a compulsory license for the export of medicines under the Swiss Patents Act since 1 July 2008.

• Revised TRIPS Agreement: Art. 31bis, Annex and Addendum to the Annex (pdf)