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

Ambassador Eui-yong Chung (Korea, Republic of)
C.iii What is meant by a "system of notification and registration"
100. The representative of Peru said that the register must be constituted of geographical indications which fully abided by the criteria of the TRIPS Agreement. It would therefore be logical that the "multilateral system of notification and registration" should have an appropriate procedure guaranteeing that the inclusion of geographical indications would be in conformity with these criteria and facilitating an understanding amongst Members in case of discrepancies. The system envisaged should take into account the different forms of protection existing in Members' legislation. It should also contemplate the possibility of Members being able to express reservations within a certain time-limit when they disagreed with the protection afforded for a geographical indication if they considered that they did not meet the criteria as set out or because there was a conflict with respect to its origin. It should be recalled that Article 23 of the TRIPS Agreement provided for additional protection of geographical indications for wines and spirits. In that regard, the establishment of a multilateral system of notification and registration that did not contribute to improving protection for geographical indications would mean a substantial reduction of the level of protection already negotiated.
TN/IP/M/2