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Business Association Chemistry Pharma Biotech2 |
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Newsletter
March 27th, 2014
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To whom it may concern
scienceindustries, the Swiss Business Association Chemistry Pharma Biotech, keeps you informed about our industry's standpoints on current politico-economic and social topics. |
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What happens now, after the «Mass immigration initiative» referendum?
On 9th February 2014, Swiss people voted for the "Mass immigration initiative" by a narrow majority. At its core, this new constitutional text requires that Switzerland establishes maximum figures for immigration (including cross-border commuters) within three years. In the view of scienceindustries, this democratic decision should be implemented quickly and non-bureaucratically to avoid any negative consequences for its prospects as a business location. Initially, the referendum is causing some uncertainty to business. We do not yet know what specific arrangements are going to be made regarding quotas. However, our industry's vital access to sufficient highly-qualified specialist staff from the EU must be safeguarded. We must also work with the EU to ensure that the bilateral agreements contained in Package I can be continued as comprehensively as possible. As far as the implementation of quotas is concerned, scienceindustries is of the view that this task should be undertaken by the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP in collaboration with the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER in such a way that it leaves all existing work permits for foreigners unaffected. From the point of view of our Industry, it is particularly important for short-term residents (up to 12 months) and cross-border commuters to be excluded from any quota system, though this does contradict the wording of the initiative. A solution will also have to be found on the subject of highly-qualified people being joined by their families. The Swiss Federal Council will put forward a concept by mid 2014, setting out how the new constitutional provision is to be implemented. At the same time, the Federal Council will also hold exploratory talks with the EU in order that it can adapt the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons and continue the bilateral agreements and negotiations with the EU. |
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Institutional relationships with the EU: The pragmatic politics of selective bilateral cooperation
In its working paper on «European politics and the adoption of legislation», scienceindustries once again spoke out in favour of a pragmatic European policy on selective bilateral co-operation. This is the manifestation of a permanent balance of interests, with a view towards the advantages and disadvantages of the relevant areas of co-operation and adoption of legislation. In the opinion of scienceindustries, all future agreements should involve the most flexible possible form for the adoption of legislation. Priority should also be given to the convergence principle, which strives towards economic equivalence between the legal systems and fits in with the legal system of the EU without any institutional integration. This would largely avoid any impediments to trade in transactions with the EU and would promote the worldwide competitiveness of Swiss businesses. If the adoption of any particular EU provisions would lead to negative effects on worldwide competitiveness, it should still be possible for these provisions not to be adopted.
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Revision of the law on environmental protection: Opposition to inefficient measures and unilaterally acting of Switzerland
In the consultative legislative process relating to the revision of the environmental protection legislation (called «Green Economy») scienceindustries committed itself to the basic principles of sustainability, but clearly rejected inefficient measures and a unilaterally acting of Switzerland. However, the communication released recently by the Federal Council now demonstrates that key demands made by industry (such as a restriction to measures that have a positive cost/benefit ratio) have not been taken into account. scienceindustries will engage intensively in the Parliamentary consultations in order that it can press home the most important concerns of the industry with regard to the revision.
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Free trade negotiations with India: Quality more important than a quick conclusion
In a media release at the end of 2013, scienceindustries explained that our industry would not go along with an agreement with India in the absence of regulation on the importation of patent-protected products. The refusal of India to recognise the importation of a patent-protected product as the exercise of the patent is equivalent to foreclosure of a market. Local production as required by India is at odds with the spirit of any free trade agreement and the obligations of the international WTO TRIPS agreement. A trade agreement containing insufficient provisions for the protection of intellectual property would also create a dangerous precedent for negotiations with other nations, and would antagonise important trade partners such as the USA and the EU.
At the end of February 2014, Federal Council Member Schneider-Ammann announced that the negotiations could not be concluded at present and that they should be continued with a new Indian government yet to be elected, at a date yet to be arranged.
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Pharma Cooperation Code and revised Pharma Code effective from beginning of 2014
The new Pharma Cooperation Code (PCC) has now been signed by all the major pharmaceuticals research companies (direct members of EFPIA). Implementation of the requirement to disclose any payments in kind to specialist staff and healthcare organisations will be required from 2016. At the same time, the revised Pharma Code (PC) came into effect on 1st January 2014. As a result, pharmaceuticals companies were categorically forbidden to make gifts to specialist personnel, particularly doctors, from the middle of 2014. Further information about the new Pharma Cooperation Code and the revised Pharma Code is available here.
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scienceindustries increases the engagement for the veterinary medicinal products industry
In March 2014, a further six veterinary pharmaceuticals companies joined scienceindustries as new members; the Vetpharm working group (AG VP) now comprises twelve businesses. AG VP campaigns for a good business framework for this sector, e.g. in the area of approvals for veterinary medicinal products and monitoring of measures to counteract resistance to antibiotics. The extension of scienceindustries' engagement in this area is the result of the disbanding of the Swiss association of veterinary companies (SVVF) at the end of 2013. The VP WG's contacts are the official authorities (particularly Swissmedic, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health FOPH) and the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) as well as those with a specialist interest in the area of animal health.
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PG BFI session event on «Renewing Switzerland through innovation»
On 20th March 2014, national politicians from the National Council and the Council of States came together under the chairmanship of National Council Member Gerhard Pfister at the parliamentary group on education, research and innovation, known as PG BFI and initiated by scienceindustries. Dr. Michael Ausborn, Site Head Research and Early Development Basel at F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG spoke on the subject of «Renewing Switzerland through innovation». This event once again demonstrated the great value of a direct exchange of ideas between representatives of the worlds of politics and industry.
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Dr. Gottlieb Keller: President Designate of scienceindustries
In accordance with the statutory requirements, Christoph Mäder, Syngenta International AG, will be standing down from his position as President at the 2014 General Assembly, after a period of six years in post. The board proposes Dr. Gottlieb Keller, Member of Corporate Executive Committee at F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, for election as President of scienceindustries.
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Dr. Klaus Ruf and Dr. Thomas Früh proposed as new board members
At the 2014 General Assembly, Andreas Dür will be standing down from his office on age grounds. The board of scienceindustries proposes to the members that Dr. Klaus Ruf, CEO at BASF Schweiz AG, should step into the footsteps of Mr Dür. At the General Assembly on 27th June 2014, it will also propose that Dr. Thomas Früh, CEO of Bachem AG, should be elected as an additional member of the board.
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At scienceindustries office: Jürg Granwehr succeeds Dr. Dieter Grauer
At the end of April 2014, Dr. Dieter Grauer, Head of the division Swiss Pharma, will be leaving after 34 years with scienceindustries and its predecessor, SGCI Chemie Pharma Schweiz, having reached the normal age of retirement. His successor, Jürg Granwehr, lic. iur., Advocate, has been working at the office since the beginning of March 2014.
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Would you like to know more about our perspectives, or would you like to ask us some questions? If so, please contact our specialist staff at scienceindustries.
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sig. Dr. Beat Moser
Director |
sig. Marcel Sennhauser
Communication |
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