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Canada’s ACTA Briefing, Part Five: The Fight Over a De Minimis Exception

One of the most interesting points of discussion/disagreement during the ACTA briefing arose from the possibility of including a de minimus exception within the Border Measures chapter. The exception is presumably designed to ensure that tougher border measures does not result in iPod searching border guards.  Canadian officials indicated that they had proposed a de minimis exception and later acknowledged that several negotiators have put forward their own de minimis language.  In the subsequent discussion, it became clear that there will be a big fight over this provision, with some groups concerned that it would send a signal that purchasing counterfeit products for personal use is acceptable or that it could lead to the importation of counterfeit medicines.

2 Comments

  1. education and counterfeit medicines
    WHAT IDIOT BUYS counterfeit medicine in Canada?
    YOU goto doctor get prescription …. pay 2$ or whatever and well a REAL medicine.

    SHAM man. They gonna say our system is like some 3rd world they all need to pack up and crawl back under the rocks they drilled up from.

    GOOD LORD this is getting awful stupid fast isn’t it.
    I’m on welfare and i only have to pay 2$ per prescription.
    WHY on earth buy your medicine for more form unknown sources?

    As to counterfeiting. THE ONLY REASON IT EXISTS IN ANY FORM IS CALLED GREED. OVER PRICING YOUR PRODUCT WILL LEAD TO IT.
    PERIOD END OF DISCUSSION.

  2. IPayYourBills says:

    Shut the @#$% up
    You pay $2 for a prescription because *I* pay the other several hundred. Products do not get counterfeited because they are overpriced, they get counterfeited because there are priced high enough that people like you can’t afford them, so you buy the counterfeit ones. BMW’s, Ferrari’s, and yes, even medication, are priced according to not only the materials that go into producing them, but also the research, development, time, and HARD WORK that go into making those products a reality.

    Our system is a sham. People like you need to get up and get a job and stop sucking on my paycheck.