49. The representative of Japan said that his delegation was ready to agree that the Secretariat should prepare a background note based upon the draft outline and also felt sympathy for the proposal of the United States. He emphasised that this note should just be for information-gathering purposes and was concerned that it might go beyond the scope of the TRIPS Agreement if it were intended as a starting point for further negotiations toward an international notification and registration system for geographical indications of products other than wines and spirits. Of course, it was true that a review of the application of the provisions on geographical indications would take place as part of the TRIPS built-in agenda, as approved by the Ministerial Conference in Singapore, but it should be borne in mind that implementation of the work agreed should be consistent with existing obligations under the TRIPS Agreement, taking into account the balanced package of the Agreement. In the view of his delegation, it was premature to discuss the expansion of the scope of protection of geographical indications for wines and spirits to other products.
