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Business Association Chemistry Pharma Biotech |
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Newsletter
June 14th, 2018
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scienceindustries, the Swiss Business Association Chemistry Pharma Biotech, keeps you abreast of our industry's viewpoints regarding current business and social issues. |
Topics
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Do you wish to continue receiving this newsletter from scienceindustries? |
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Matthias Leuenberger of Novartis International AG is the new Chairman of scienceindustries |
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Position paper on the 2019 - 2023 foreign trade strategy |
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Brexit: An MoU has to be signed to ensure the continuation of business relationships between Switzerland and the UK after 29 March 2019 |
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Switzerland will benefit from improved market access in South America |
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Facts and figures on palm oil and why the exclusion of products from free trade agreements is not an effective approach |
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Position statement on the total revision of the Ordinance on the Authorisation of Medicinal Products |
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Benefits paid for cooperation between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers are disclosed for the third time |
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Swiss Biotech Report 2018 focuses on the encouraging performance of the pharmaceutical biotech industry in Switzerland |
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scienceindustries fact sheet on new genetic engineering procedures |
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No to the popular initiative "Save Switzerland from synthetic pesticides" |
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SimplyScience experimentation kit "SimplyNano 2" for all Aargau senior high schools |
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scienceindustries publication for the Swiss innovation industries |
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Do you wish to continue receiving this newsletter from scienceindustries?
The EU's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which regulates the protection of personal data, entered into force on 25 May 2018. The security and protection of your data are important to us. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, which will be issued four times per year at most and informs you of our industry's viewpoints regarding current business and social issues, you can unsubscribe here.
If you do not unsubscribe from our quarterly newsletter, you agree that your personal data (e-mail address, name) may be used for the purpose of sending you the newsletter. Your data will not be passed on to third parties. This consent can be withdrawn at any time or for each individual delivery by sending an e-mail to info@scienceindustries.ch.
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Matthias Leuenberger of Novartis International AG is the new Chairman of scienceindustries
The 136th General Assembly held on 18 May 2018 at Lonza Ltd in Visp elected Matthias Leuenberger of Novartis International AG as the new Chairman of scienceindustries. Thomas Früh of BACHEM LTD was elected as the new Vice-Chairman. The other members elected to the new Board of scienceindustries are Frank Höfflin, Sika Ltd, René Kissling, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Christian Kohlpaintner, Clariant International AG, Roman Mazzotta, Syngenta International Ltd., Felix Reiff, Bayer (Schweiz) AG and Andreas Walde, Vifor Pharma Ltd. You can find the media release on the 2018 General Assembly here. (available in German and French)
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Position paper on the 2019 - 2023 foreign trade strategy
At its last meeting, the Board of scienceindustries adopted the Business Association's foreign trade strategy for the period from 2019 to 2023. This strategy highlights the success achieved by the Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industry through the global marketing of its innovative products and also shows how Switzerland can secure and strengthen the sustainable success of its chemical and pharmaceutical industry with foreign trade policy measures. You can download the position paper on the 2019 - 2023 foreign trade strategy here. (available in German)
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Brexit: An MoU has to be signed to ensure the continuation of business relationships between Switzerland and the UK after 29 March 2019.
The EU and the UK agreed that the transitional period will last until 31 December 2020. During this period, the UK should continue to observe all EU rules and should also still transfer financial contributions to Brussels. In return, the UK will retain its access to the EU single market and remain part of the customs union. Both parties also assured EU citizens in the UK that their current rights will be upheld for this period. The UK is the fourth most important trade partner for scienceindustries. The EU will not be able to make any concessions to Switzerland before Brexit has been finalised. From the point of view of scienceindustries, a Memorandum of Understanding should be signed after Brexit day on 29 March 2019 to ensure the continuation of relationships pertaining to market access and the free movement of persons on the same footing as before. Care should be taken that the companies are given sufficient lead time so that they can finalise their preparations (e.g. for customs procedures, market approval, etc.) for 29 March 2019.
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Switzerland will benefit from improved market access in South America
scienceindustries expects improved market access under a free trade agreement between Switzerland and the Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to ensure that the Chemistry Pharma Biotech industries are not placed at a disadvantage compared to their international competitors. Priority should be given to the comprehensive and immediate reduction of tariffs, the introduction of viable and modern rules of origin, and the optimisation of customs procedures. The provisions on the protection of intellectual property should be at least on a par with the free trade agreement with China (TRIPS minimum protection standards). scienceindustries supports the efforts of the Federal Council to ensure a broad-based agreement, because free trade agreements offer more legal certainty for companies and provide a platform for an improved and more intense dialogue between the respective authorities. scienceindustries therefore expects an approach of constructive flexibility from all stakeholder groups in the best interests of Switzerland as a whole.
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Facts and figures on palm oil and why the exclusion of products from free trade agreements is not an effective approach
Worldwide, palm oil is used in the production of food and feed
(68%), the production of cosmetics, cleaning agents and other industrial products (27%) and as a source of energy (biodiesel; 5%). 91% of all palm oil exports are produced in Indonesia and Malaysia. At 30,000 tonnes (0.07% of the world share), Switzerland ranks number 56 among the countries that import palm oil. scienceindustries opposes the exclusion of products from Switzerland's negotiations for free trade agreements for fundamental reasons. Such exclusions not only contradict the spirit of free trade, but they are also diametrically opposed to the policy of comprehensive mutual market access for all trading partners. scienceindustries sees the conclusion of free trade agreements with Malaysia and Indonesia as an opportunity for the EFTA countries to establish closer ties with these two countries, which will allow them to campaign even more effectively for the environmentally and socially responsible cultivation of palm oil. You can download the fact sheet "Exclusion of products from free trade agreements: Palm oil - facts and figures" here.
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Position statement on the total revision of the Ordinance on the Authorisation of Medicinal Products
The Ordinance on the Authorisation of Medicinal Products (AMBV) was amended after the draft bill for the approval and implementation of the Medicrime Convention was adopted. In agreement with the pharma partner associations, scienceindustries took part in the consultation process, agreed to most of the changes and only criticised a few points. It was pointed out that the regulations on lot certificates, technical releases and market releases should be formulated such that the Qualified Persons can continue to apply their current practice. A request was also submitted that the plan to expand the GDP guidelines for medicinal products for human use to include veterinary medicinal products be abandoned and to adapt the scope of application of the GDP guidelines to the EU's practice.
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Benefits paid for cooperation between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers are disclosed for the third time
As in the previous years, some 60 pharmaceutical companies active in Switzerland will disclose the benefits paid for advisory and other services to healthcare providers on their websites by 30 June 2018 and will thus reinforce trust in this valuable form of cooperation. The exchange between pharmaceutical companies and doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, research institutions and patient organisations is crucial in researching and developing new medicines and therapies. These diverse activities by healthcare providers deserve to be suitably compensated. To make these relationships more transparent for the public, scienceindustries adopted the Pharma Cooperation Code (PCC) in 2013, which requires pharmaceutical companies to publish information on their cooperation in the previous year with specialists and healthcare organisations on their websites every year. After the first-time publication of this information in 2016, the signatory companies will disclose their payments to healthcare providers for the third time this year. This adds transparency to these payments and interested groups are given the opportunity to put together a picture of these relationships. In Switzerland, the Code Secretariat of scienceindustries is responsible for the supervision of the PCC. More information is available at www.scienceindustries.ch/pcc.
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Swiss Biotech Report 2018 focuses on the encouraging performance of the pharmaceutical biotech industry in Switzerland
The Swiss Biotech Report 2018 drawn up in collaboration with scienceindustries highlights the most important trends as well as the factors and sources of innovation, and summarises the topics and facts relating to the development of the Swiss biotech industry. The Swiss biotech sector is continuing its stellar performance. The industry repeated or even outstripped its successes of the past few years in 2017, as confirmed by the latest figures in the Swiss Biotech Report. Capital investments in private and listed Swiss biotech companies doubled year-on-year from CHF 0.8 billion to CHF 1.64 billion, a new record since the first-time publication of the Report. Industry sales improved by 14 percent to CHF 3.79 billion, while the number of people employed by the 237 biotech and 60 supplier companies in this sector rose by some 2.5 percent to 13,725 employees. Investments in research and development also increased by more than 22 percent to CHF 1.39 billion. You can find the Swiss Biotech Report 2018 here.
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No to the popular initiative "Save Switzerland from synthetic pesticides"
The popular initiative "Save Switzerland from synthetic pesticides" aims to ban the use of synthetic pesticides in agricultural production, in the processing of agricultural products, and in soil and landscape management. The Agriculture Industry Group of scienceindustries decisively rejects this initiative. Without synthetic plant protection products, it will no longer be possible to guarantee a reliable supply of food to the Swiss population, as required by the Constitution. The initiative goes even further: The initiators also want to ban the commercial import of food products that contain or were manufactured with the support of synthetic pesticides. Such an import ban would seriously reduce the selection of products available in Switzerland and cause a tremendous surge in prices. You can find our media release on voting no to the popular initiative "Save Switzerland from synthetic pesticides" here. (available in German)
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SimplyScience experimentation kit "SimplyNano 2" for all Aargau senior high schools
The "SimplyNano 2" experimentation kit issued by the scienceindustries foundation SimplyScience.ch is a new learning tool containing 32 fascinating nano experiments. This should cultivate enthusiasm for the natural sciences and technology among learners and help to develop young talents in the MINT sector. Thanks to the support of member companies of scienceindustries and the Swisslos Fund of the Canton of Aargau, the new experimentation kit will be available to all learners at senior high schools in Aargau from autumn 2018. Aargau is the first Swiss canton to use this new learning tool canton-wide. Other cantons are expected to follow suit.
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scienceindustries publication for the Swiss innovation industries
Chemistry Pharma Biotech are among the leading industries in Switzerland. The contribution to society made by these industries over many decades is presented to politicians, administrators, customers, partners and interested persons in an attractive publication issued by scienceindustries. The The publication can be viewed here or ordered in hard copy from the scienceindustries management office at info@scienceindustries.ch.
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Do you want to know more about our points of view, or do you have any questions about them? Follow us on Twitter or contact our specialists at scienceindustries.
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sig. Stephan Mumenthaler
Director |
sig. Marcel Sennhauser
Head of Communications |
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