Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) and the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) have signed a cooperation agreement in the field of intellectual property to ensure that product owners are protected through trademark registration in conjunction with permits for the use of medicines and medical devices.
The agreement was signed today in Dar es Salaam by the Director General of TMDA, Dr. Adam Fimbo, and the Chief Executive Officer of BRELA, Mr. Godfrey Nyaisa.
Speaking at the event, Nyaisa explained that the cooperation aims to increase the efficiency and productivity of the institutions through the exchange of information on registered trademarks used on medicines and medical devices, conducting joint educational audits, providing training, exchanging experiences and sensitizing the public about intellectual property rights.
He explained that when BRELA grants trademark registration, the owner obtains exclusive rights and prevents others from using it.
“This situation, when it involves drug names, can lead to drug names that are not allowed to be privately owned being registered as trademarks, which can deny other stakeholders the right to use those names on their products.
He added, “In the current environment of industrial, commercial, and technological development, institutions cannot achieve their responsibilities in isolation.
He said the collaboration will improve service delivery, protect the rights of designers of trademarks used in drugs and medical devices, and stimulate technological and commercial innovation in the country.
For his part, Dr. Fimbo explained that although BRELA and TMDA were established under different laws, some of their responsibilities are similar, especially in protecting trademarks and patents.
He said that through these collaborations, it will be easier to identify products in the market and improve the business environment in the country.
“We have established these partnerships because BRELA oversees trademark registration and patent issuance, while TMDA ensures that pharmaceutical products have relevant patent and trademark registration.
He added, “This will facilitate the identification and protection of products produced by local manufacturers and control the distribution of unlicensed products in the country,”.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
