545. The Chairman said that the Secretariat had circulated the list of 15 pending requests for observer status in the TRIPS Council by other intergovernmental organizations in document IP/C/W/52/Rev.12. At its meeting in June 2011, the Council had requested the Secretariat to contact the international intergovernmental organizations whose requests for observer status were pending to request up-to-date information, including on the nature of their work and the reasons for their interest in being accorded observer status. So far, the Secretariat had received updated information from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), faxed to all Members on 7 October, and from the South Centre and the Conférence des Ministres de l'Agriculture de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre (CMA/AOC), faxed to all Members on 17 October, and from the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). Given that this information had been shared with Members only recently and that more information from other IGOs could be expected, he suggested that he consult with Members on the requests for observer status with a view to seeing if any decisions could be taken at the next meeting.
