81. The representative of Zimbabwe associated herself with the statements made by Nigeria on behalf of the African Group, Angola on behalf of the LDC Group, China, Brazil, India and other developing countries. She supported the draft modalities for the three TRIPS issues as contained in document TN/C/W/52. Like a majority of the WTO membership, Zimbabwe believed that biological resources and associated traditional knowledge could only be adequately protected through a mandatory requirement of disclosure of source and country of origin of biological resources, evidence of prior informed consent as well as evidence of fair and equitable benefit sharing in patent applications. Such a requirement would play a significant role in preventing biopiracy and misappropriation of biological resources as well as ensuring that those who contributed to innovations were adequately rewarded. She urged Members to commence text based negotiations on the basis of document IP/C/W/474.
