IPR issues related to medicinal and aromatic plants (Herbs & their allied products)

Since the founding of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on 1st January, 1995, issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPRs) have come to the fore in international trade and commerce and also in domestic economy discussions and policy making. This has affected even areas such as traditional knowledge, traditional medicine and also biological resources of a country including medicinal and aromatic plants. In this paper some of the IPR issues related to medicinal plants and their allied products particularly in traditional and modern medicines and cosmetics based on plants are examined.