Opinion: EU trade secrets directive will benefit Irish-based exporters

Following months of debate, the European Parliament voted on April 15 to adopt the Trade Secrets Directive. Following the approval of the parliament, the council should formally adopt the directive at its next sitting on May 17.

Trade secrets are everything companies keep secret to stay ahead of competitors.

They can range from a secret recipe or manufacturing process and plans for a new product, to a list of clients and prototypes.