Agrochemical Sectors Research Articles

Halex reactions of aromatic compounds catalysed by 2-azaallenium, carbophosphazenium, aminophosphonium and diphosphazenium salts: a comparative study

An increasing number of biologically active compounds in the pharma and agro-chemical sector contain carbon fluorine bonds. One of the most common methods to introduce fluorine into intermediates is the well-investigated halogen-exchange reaction, in which chloro- and bromoaromatics activated towards nucleophilic substitution, react with a fluoride source to yield the corresponding fluoroarenes. In general, the reaction is supported by phase-transfer catalysts. The use of a new class of very active phase-transfer catalysts gives the possibility of substituting even halogens with weak activation giving a convenient access to interesting compounds that are not available so far and opening up new synthetic routes in Halex chemistry. Our new classes of catalysts, CNC + ( 1a), PNC + ( 2a) and several different approaches presented by other groups are described and experimental results discussed.

Policy influences on innovation strategies of small and medium enterprises in the agrochemical, seed and plant biotechnology sectors

The agrochemical and seed sectors work within an uncertain environment surrounding public acceptance of biotechnological products, markets and future development of legislation. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have less capacity to manage this uncertainty and fewer financial resources to invest in biotechnology than multinational corporations, which currently lead the development of plant biotechnology. There are few independent SMEs in these sectors in Europe and their role in innovation is relatively small, especially in those processes that involve the use of biotechnology. However, some opportunities are emerging for SMEs in relation to solutions to environmental problems. Policies to strengthen innovation in SMEs could have a role to play in encouraging them to follow up those opportunities. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Towards TRIPs compliance in India: The Patents Amendment Act 1999 and implications

India has pledged full compliance with the TRIPS Uruguay round by the year 2004. This article documents the actions taken so far, principally through the Patent Amendment Act of 1999. In particular, the “mailbox” facility and Exclusive Marketing Rights (EMR) in respect of pharmaceutical type products are described. EMR provides “temporary protection”, until such patents are examined (from the beginning of 2005). The differences in the scope to oppose or revoke a granted patent compared to the very limited scope to take such action on an EMR are discussed. Other issues touched on are compulsory licensing, widening of the definition of working a patent in India, and infringement. In December 1999 several Bills related to Trade Marks, Designs, Copyright (amendment), Geographical indications (Protection & Registration), Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers were passed in both the houses of Parliament. A Second Patents (amendment) Bill was introduced in December 1999 to comply with other requirements of TRIPS which is presently under review. The article concludes with a detailed review of recent patenting activity in India in the key technical areas of the Drugs, Pharmaceutical and Agrochemical Sector, the Electronics, Telecommunications and IT Sector, and the Foods Sector.

The greening of the EC agrochemical market: Regulation and competition

AbstractThis paper analyses the process of harmonisation of national pesticides regulations in the EC. One of the outcomes of this process was, in 1991, the adoption of an EC regulation which includes new environmental requirements for pesticides to be sold on the EC market.This regulatory process shows an example of trade‐off between competition policy and environmental policy. After having described the competition in the agrochemical sector, the paper examines this trade‐off in two ways. Firstly, the behaviour of industrial interest groups throughout the process and their influence in the devising of the regulation is considered. Secondly, the impact of competitive issues on the implementation of part of the 1991 regulation (i.e. the re‐registration of old pesticides commercialised in the EC) is analysed.This case study confirms some general results of the regulatory capture theory but it also points out some limits of these theories: firms seemed to be much more sensitive to negative pay‐offs than to positive ones when deciding to become involved in this regulatory process.A second insight brought up by this case study concerns the link between competition policy and environmental policy and its influence on the efficiency of the latter. Environment‐competition trade‐off in the agrochemical sector confronts the regulator, when it adopts environmental policy, with two risks: a risk of changing the structure of the industry (from a differentiated and innovative one to a commodity one) if the regulator does not provide sufficient pay‐offs for environmental R&D costs, or a risk of allowing part of the industry to increase monopoly rents. Both risks would affect environmental efficiency, either by reducing the innovation in the sector or by over‐protecting ‘greener’ pesticides from competition on price.