85. Switzerland supports the introduction of a non-burdensome requirement into the TRIPS Agreement to disclose the source of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in patent applications for inventions directly based on such genetic resource or knowledge.
86. Switzerland is convinced that such a provision will promote the mutual supportiveness of the TRIPS Agreement and the CBD, and through enhanced transparency, also the better understanding and acceptance of the benefits of the patent system and the protection and innovation incentive mechanism it provides, in particular in relation to inventions in the field of biotechnology.
87. In 2008, a group of 109 WTO Members, the so-called W52 coalition, representing 2/3 of the membership, submitted to the TNC a proposal for modalities for three outstanding implementation issues.
88. Next to the proposal for a disclosure requirement for genetic resources and traditional knowledge in patent applications, this proposal concerns the extension of the effective level of Art. 23 of the TRIPS Agreement on the protection for geographical indications to all products as well as the multilateral register for geographical indications which the TRIPS Agreement mandates to be established.
89. Should Members decide a WTO work programme at the forthcoming MC12 (in Nursultan), these long outstanding implementation issues will need to be taken into account in view of reaching mutually agreeable solutions for them.
90. Finally, Switzerland can lend its support to the two procedural proposals, one concerning the update of the factual notes of the Secretariat, summarizing the Council's discussion between 2000 and 2006, the other to invite the CBD Secretariat to brief the Council at one of its next regular meetings about the Nagoya Protocol of the CBD.