23. The representative of Australia said that the joint proposal was contained in the form of a decision of the TRIPS Council with a preamble which provided an important context for the decision. The preamble did that by citing the negotiating mandate of Article 23.4 of the TRIPS Agreement and paragraph 18 of the Doha Declaration and by outlining some of the key features of the register, notably: that the system would facilitate the protection of geographical indications for wines and spirits without altering the substantive rights and obligations of Members under the TRIPS Agreement; and that it should allow Members, consistent with Article 1 of the TRIPS Agreement, to continue to determine for themselves the appropriate method for implementing the provisions of the Agreement within their own legal system and practice.
