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

Ambassador Carmen Luz Guarda (Chile)
G.ii Review of legislation on enforcement
52. When the Council turned to the review of the legislation of South Africa, the representative of South Africa expressed his regret that his delegation was not ready to have its legislation on enforcement reviewed at this time but would be happy to have it reviewed at the Council's first meeting in 1998. He explained that the delay in notifying legislation and submitting responses to the enforcement checklist and to questions posed by other Members was due to his government's reliance in matters concerning the development of intellectual property legislation on a standing committee of lawyers appointed by the Minister from the private sector, rather than in-house expertise. He said that his government was proud of the high standard of intellectual property protection in South Africa and that the delay in submitting its enforcement laws to the review should not be taken to indicate that South Africa took its obligations under the TRIPS Agreement lightly.
IP/C/M/16