Explanatory note

This note is not part of the order, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This order brings into force, on 1 January 1995, the Medicines Amendment Act 1994. The Act and a number of other Acts that come into force on 1 January 1995 give effect to provisions of the various trade agreements that form part of the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization. The Act implements provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPS Agreement).

The amendments impose obligations on the Minister of Health to keep confidential information supplied to the Minister relating to applications for consent under section 20 of the Medicines Act 1981 and provisional consent under section 23 of that Act.