109. The representative of Switzerland said that the Secretariat should play a role as intermediary between Members. Members should notify to the Secretariat their wish to participate in the system and send all the GIs that they wished to protect. In addition to the task of publishing the GIs notified and informing the Members, it could also be envisaged that the Secretariat proceed with a brief examination as to form of the notification and of opposition as well. In the Swiss delegation's view, this would avoid a paralysis of the system caused by an "avalanche" of unfounded notifications or oppositions. This would not mean that the Secretariat would substitute itself for Members; it went without saying that Members would make the determination as to substance on the basis of national laws and the TRIPS Agreement. The Secretariat should also have the task of publishing the notifications recorded and updating the registry with new GIs or any modification or cancellation of GIs already registered. She said that her delegation was open to proposals regarding the question of whether this role should be fulfilled by the WTO Secretariat, whether it would be preferable to set up a special body to take care of the register, or transfer this task to another organization which would have the technical skill in the area.
