27. The representative of Thailand said that the terms "in order to facilitate" in Article 23.4 should be interpreted in such a way as not to obligate but to facilitate the participating Members' task of administering the protection and enforcement of GIs at the national level. Thailand was seeking a system that would not cause undue burden and additional costs to WTO Members. In other words, Thailand preferred the establishment of a voluntary system aimed at increasing transparency and facilitating information related to GI protection under national legislation. Furthermore, the system should not have any legal effect on either a participating or non-participating Member of the WTO. The WTO Secretariat or the International Bureau of WIPO could take the responsibility of collecting data or updating the proposed system. On the issue of participation, it was clear that all, and especially those WTO Members with GI products and acceding governments, should be eligible to participate in the system. However, those Members with no GI products for protection might opt out or decide not to participate in the system. The multilateral system would make more sense if all Members had the opportunity to participate from the outset when the negotiating process of the establishment of the system took place.
