18. The representative of Australia said that "participation" under the system proposed by his delegation and other countries was simple: it was entirely voluntary. A Member could decide to participate or cease to participate in the system at any time. Members who chose not to participate in the system would not be bound by it and would not find themselves subject to any additional obligations, although they might refer to the system when making decisions to protect GIs at the national level. They would therefore not bear the cost of establishing or maintaining that system. While non-participating Members would not benefit from the facilitation of protection that the system would confer, they could choose to avoid any additional costs or obligations that a multilateral system would entail. In that way, the proposal by his delegation provided a self-regulating S&D treatment mechanism. His delegation was surprised at statements made by some Members who supported the EC proposal, indicating that even Members who chose not to participate in the multilateral system would incur obligations under it. He asked why non-participating Members should bear any obligations.
