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

Ambassador W. Armstrong (New Zealand)
I Review of the application of the provisions of the Section on geographical indications under Article 24.2
49. The representative of Switzerland said that under Article 24.2 the TRIPS Council was called upon to keep under review the application of the provisions of the Section on geographical indications (Articles 22 to 24 of the Agreement) and emphasized that this review was scheduled to be a continuous exercise that as such could not be concluded by the end of the year. The TRIPS Council had just decided that Members would have the opportunity in the context of the Article 24.2 review to present inputs on the issue of scope of application of geographical indications. Her delegation believed that this was an appropriate and effective way of contributing to the implementation of the Section on geographical indications. Her delegation, like other delegations, had always considered that it was proper to extend the additional protection for wines and spirits to other sectors and had already expressed its interest in the extension of this additional protection to, for example, foodstuffs, handicraft and industrial products. In this regard, her delegation had carefully listened to the explanations by Members of the protection they offered to products other than wines and spirits. The present review allowed her delegation to note that significant differences and gaps existed in the protection offered by the various regimes. In this context, her delegation wished to support the proposals that had just been outlined by the European Community. Furthermore, her delegation was convinced that it would be necessary to work towards improvements in this area. At the appropriate time, her delegation would submit its position in writing, in particular regarding the scope of application of geographical indications, on the objectives and on her delegation's ideas as to possible future action. In conclusion, she said that her delegation would play an active role in the preliminary work to be carried out in 1997, which would focus on the establishment of a multilateral system of notification and registration of geographical indications for wines and spirits.
IP/C/M/11