76. The representative of Angola reiterated the LDC position on the TRIPS/CBD issue which had been adopted by the LDC Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Dar Es Salaam. He recalled that the Ministers of the LDCs had urged for an agreement to amend the TRIPS Agreement to include a mandatory requirement for the disclosure of the country providing genetic resources, and/or associated traditional knowledge for which a definition would be agreed in patent applications, and to include a requirement that patent applications would not be processed without completion of the disclosure requirement. The Ministers had also requested an agreement to define prior informed consent and access and benefit sharing.
77. He then commended the effort made by the Director General in conducting the series of consultations so far in accordance with paragraph 39 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration. He hoped that an agreement would be achieved as soon as possible, taking account of the strong desire of the majority of Members, including developed and developing countries and LDCs.
