Minutes - TRIPS Council - View details of the intervention/statement

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Walter Werner
14   OBSERVER STATUS FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
500.   China supports that the CBD Secretariat and South Centre should be granted observer status, at least on an ad hoc basis. 501.   The relationship between TRIPS Agreement and CBD is an important issue in this Council, it is no doubt that CBD Secretariat has better understanding of specific rules and latest developments of the CBD. China believes that the invitation to the CBD Secretariat as an observer will help Members better understand the CBD, thus promoting discussions and consultations on TRIPS/CBD. 502.   South Centre plays an important role in strengthening the understanding and cooperation between developed and developing country Members, so as to push the discussion and consultation forward.
The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to invite EFTA to attend the next meeting on an ad hoc basis.
45.   The Chair said that an updated list of pending requests for observer status in the TRIPS Council by intergovernmental organizations was contained in document IP/C/W/52/Rev.13. Information provided by these organizations on their respective work and the reasons for their interest in observer status was available on the Members' website.
46.   He recalled that, at its November 2018, the Council had agreed to grant permanent observer status to the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). Regarding the pending requests, he encouraged Members to try to resolve the differences among themselves and said that the Chair stood ready to assist.
47.   The representatives of South Africa, Ecuador, the United States of America, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, China and Bangladesh took the floor.
48.   The Chair recalled that, at its meeting in November 2012, the Council had agreed to grant ad hoc observer status on a meeting-to-meeting basis to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Since then, this invitation had been renewed at each meeting. He suggested to invite the EFTA to attend the Council's next formal meeting on an ad hoc basis.
49.   The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to invite EFTA to attend the next meeting on an ad hoc basis.
IP/C/M/91, IP/C/M/91/Add.1, IP/C/M/91/Corr.1