On July 19, 2021, key members of Tilleke & Gibbins’ intellectual property (IP) and regulatory affairs (RA) teams in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam grouped up to deliver a webinar entitled “Healthcare Product Branding – Trademark and Regulatory Concerns in Southeast Asia.” Presented by Atthachai Homhuan, director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ RA group, based in the firm’s Thailand office; Hien Thi Thu Vu, head of the firm’s RA group in Vietnam; Irene Djalim, manager of RA in the firm’s Indonesia practice; and Linh Thi Mai Nguyen, partner and head of trademarks in the firm’s Vietnam practice, the session was designed to provide practical tips and know-how that can used by healthcare companies when protecting their valuable products and IP in the region. During the session, the speakers led attendees through discussions on: The importance of trademark prosecution for healthcare products, as well as key trademark registration considerations in Southeast Asia; Critical Food and Drug Administration regulatory issues and limitations for product labeling, packaging, and registration; and Differing rules and regulations between the local Department of Intellectual Property and other government bodies regulating healthcare products in each country. The webinar is now available to watch online, free of charge, below.  

On June 25, Dino Santaniello, head of Tilleke & Gibbins in Laos, presented on Lao drug import regulations in a webinar titled “Import of Pharmaceutical Products in the New Normal.” The webinar, which was hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce in Laos (ECCIL), highlighted key information on the country’s healthcare sector, addressed how companies can import pharmaceutical products and medical equipment into Laos, provided practical insights into the relevant regulations in place, and walked attendees through the process of registration. Two pharmaceutical specialists in Laos joined Dino to discuss these issues and share practical tips for prospective importers of pharmaceutical products. The speakers also addressed the importation of COVID-19 vaccines into Laos, which became a popular topic following the government’s recent authorization of imports of vaccines by private legal entities for non-commercial use and to inoculate their employees. The webinar attracted many professionals in the health and pharmaceutical products industry, as well as entrepreneurs, investors, managers, and business owners in Laos. A video of the webinar is below.