56. The representative of Australia reaffirmed his delegation's commitment to continue the negotiations. Responding to the EC comments regarding the history of the issue of scope, he reminded delegations that "wines and spirits" were clearly written into the Doha Mandate and re-affirmed by the July Package in 2004. He recalled that the issue of whether or not this register would apply to all products had been raised before in the Special Session. The Chairperson at that time had said that Members had a clear mandate to negotiate the establishment of the multilateral system of notification and registration of geographical indications for wines and spirits by the 5th Ministerial Conference and that Members should work within the mandate. The Chairperson also said that the Special Session was required to fulfil that mandate in its entirety and not to go beyond the mandate. He believed that Members had agreed on this issue because no delegation had taken issue with the Chair's statement made at that time or later.
