New Diarrheal Drug Plant For Vietnam

A new pharmaceutical plant for the production of drugs to combat diarrhea in children aged under five was put into operation recently in Vietnam's central coastal province Khanh Hoa, according to the Vietnam Courier.

The plant is said to be the first of its type in Vietnam. It has a capacity of 10 million packs of antidiarrheal drugs a year, which surpasses the country's demand for such products, said to be around 4 million packs a year. In the first year of operation, the plant will produce 2 million packs, increasing year by year to its full capacity. The new plant, the newspaper notes, has received funding worth $750,000 from the United Nations Industrial, Cultural and Educational Fund (UNICEF).

Trade Mark Moves Meantime, the Vietnamese authorities have said that foreign manufacturers are not compelled by law to register their trade marks in Vietnam, but those which do will enjoy the same trade mark protection as Vietnamese trade marks, the Vietnam Courier reported. The trade mark registration process in Vietnam is said currently takes seven months, and four-five months for the registering of an industrial design. Registered trade marks are valid for 15 years.