255. The representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela said that considerable efforts had been taken to reach consensus on holding an open-ended workshop to help Members better understand why the System had not worked in all these years. When he had asked the Chair at the beginning of the meeting why this issue had not been put on the agenda, the Chair had replied that he would provide Members with information on his consultations under "Other Business". The representative of Venezuela said that he had thought that agreement had been reached in those consultations to place the matter on the Council's agenda. As established by the rules of procedure, substantive discussions could not be held under "Other Business" and the issue should therefore not have been placed under that item without the agreement by India and other sponsors of its proposal, including Venezuela. Sponsors alone could withdraw a proposal before agreement is reached. He said that if no opportunity were provided to learn the full reasons that had prevented the System from being used, his delegation would request that there be no further extensions of the period of acceptance of the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement.
