Actas - Consejo de los ADPIC - Ver detalles de la intervención/declaración

Ambassador Dacio Castillo (Honduras)
11 CONTRIBUTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY RATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
337. Australia is supportive of the work of WIPO and WTO to promote green technology innovation transfers. The WTO has facilitated discussion on IP and green technology through sponsoring workshops and various forums for discussion. In WIPO the Global Challenges Divisions provides information on climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as platforms for the development, transfer and diffusion of technological solutions. WIPO has hosted several conferences on IP and the transfer of environmental rational technology in recent years. As illustrated by country presentations at the two previous TRIPS Council meetings, there is substantial evidence of green technology innovation including in developing countries that voluntary technology transfer is occurring. 338. Australia considers that IP protection is necessary to continue this trend, which rewards research and development initiatives and encourages initial investment in green technology. Australia remains willing to work with Members on concrete practical suggestions which could contribute to the dissemination of green technologies without distorting the IP system. We would be open to further discussions on the role of IP in voluntary licensing of technologies associated with adaptation to, and mitigation of climate change, with a particular focus on the needs of the most vulnerable developing countries. 339. Australia is also committed to making environmental goods more accessible to developing countries. Australia has joined Switzerland and twelve other WTO Members recently in committing to prepare for negotiations to liberalise trade in environmental goods. Eliminating tariffs on environmental goods will lower the costs of these goods and make them more accessible, particularly for those developing countries participating. Members may also wish to Australia's intervention at the previous TRIPS Council meeting which provided a more detailed outline of our position on these issues.
The Council took note of the statements made.
11.1. The Chairman said that this item had been put on the agenda at the written request by the delegation of Ecuador. He recalled that, at the Council's meeting in March 2013, Ecuador had briefly presented, under "Other Business", its submission entitled "Contribution of Intellectual Property for Facilitating the Transfer of Environmentally Rational Technology" (IP/C/W/585 in English and French, and IP/C/W/Rev.1 in Spanish). That document had been discussed at the Council's meeting of June 2013 under agenda item "Intellectual Property, Climate Change and Development" that had been put on the agenda at the request of Ecuador. At Ecuador's request, the Council had continued this discussion at its meeting in October.

11.2. The representatives of Ecuador, Cuba, Chile, El Salvador, the European Union, India, Japan, Switzerland, the United States, China, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, and Benin took the floor under this agenda item.

11.3. The Council took note of the statements made.

IP/C/M/75, IP/C/M/75/Add.1