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.
