The Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) is a sui generis protection that extends patent protection in respect of a medicinal or plant protection product. The certificate takes effect at the end of the lawful term of the basic patent for a period equal to the period which elapsed between the date on which the application for a basic patent was lodged and the date of the first authorization to place the product on the marketin the EU, reduced by a period of five years. The duration of the certificate may, however, not exceed five years from the date on which it takes effect