The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) is set to debate a Bill seeking to rid the region of counterfeit and pirated products as it convenes in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura this week. The EAC Competition (Amendment) Bill 2015 seeks to amend the EAC Competition Act to establish a mechanism to eliminate counterfeit products and piracy in the Community, seen as crucial in “providing impetus in promoting industrialisation” and economic growth. “The Bill further anticipates to create a conducive investment climate in the Community, free of unfair competition practices embodied in counterfeiting and policies and to promote the creation of intellectual property rights in the Community,” Eala said in a statement. Earlier this month, experts at a three-day seminar in Kigali discussed how to better use intellectual property rights for business competitiveness. Other bills likely to be debated during the two-week session include the EAC Customs Management (Amendment) Bill, the EAC Cross Border Legal Practice Bill, and the Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Bill. The EAC Customs Management Bill aims to amend the East African Customs Management Act, 2004, to facilitate fulfillment of the functions of the Directorate of Customs and Trade and to facilitate smooth implementation of the Act. The EAC Cross Border Legal Practice Bill seeks to operationalise Article 76 of the EAC Treaty providing for free movement of labour, goods, services capital and the rights to establishment. In a statement, Eala Speaker Daniel Kidega stressed that the Assembly’s target is to pass three bills in Bujumbura. The Burundi session, which the Speaker expects to “be extremely busy,” runs up to March 27. Another key highlight of the meeting is the State of EAC Address, expected to be delivered by the President of Tanzania, and the Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, Jakaya Kikwete, on Thursday.
