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

Ambassador Eui-yong Chung (Korea, Republic of)
C.ii Definition of the term "geographical indications" and eligibility of geographical indications for inclusion in the system
56. The representative of Australia referred to the latest agreement between the delegations of Chile and the EC, which contained 250 traditional expressions including such terms as "noble", "superior", "crème", "chateau", "ruby", "tawny", and "vintage". What he was seeking was a clear understanding of whether or not the system which was to facilitate the protection of Article 23 for wines and spirits would cover a potential list of 250 terms, many of which were just simple English terms, in the definition of geographical indications. The issue was simple: what did participants mean by "geographical indications"? He expressed concern that the longer the discussions were, the greater the confusion was, and that new burdens and obligations on Members were being added. He wondered how countries would be able to implement in their own legislation new obligations to cover thousands of geographical indications and traditional expressions.
TN/IP/M/5