The Protocol was adopted by the World Trade Organisation General Assembly on December 6, 2005 in Geneva.
Under its provisions, WTO members with insufficient capacity in the pharmaceuticals sector can, in the event of emergency situations, turn to other WTO members for help in ensuring their countries have sufficient supplies of medicines.
Under the Protocol, WTO members recognise the need to develop technology transfers and capacity building in the pharmaceuticals sector to overcome problems faced by WTO members with insufficient production capacity in this sector.
Under the Protocol’s provisions, WTO members undertake to ensure effective legal measures to prevent medicines produced under this system from being imported and sold on their markets in violation of the system’s provisions.