116. The representative of Australia, referring to the Council's recommendation to share information on any bilateral agreements, said that, on 22 May 2012, Malaysia and Australia had signed the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which contained a substantive article relating to GIs. The provisions relating to GIs in that Agreement reflected support by both countries for adequate and appropriate levels of GI protection. As with all types of IPRs, it was important that GI protection balanced the interests of right holders and consumers. Australia supported GI protection that promoted rather than undermined international trade.
117. The GI text in the FTA affirmed the safeguard measures in place in both parties' systems to ensure that GI protection of GIs was appropriately balanced. In particular, it required parties to take into account whether a term was customary in common language as the common name for such goods or services in its territory. The GI text also required parties to provide an opportunity for interested persons to object to the granting of protection for a term claimed to be a GI, in accordance with Australia's recognition that such objections procedures were a fundamental aspect of an effective and balanced GI system. The text of the FTA was available on the website of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.2
