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

Ambassador Mero (United Republic of Tanzania)
World Trade Organization
1 Notifications under Provisions of the Agreement
16. Since our update at the last session of the Council on the project to improve the timeliness and completeness of notifications and other information flows – the so-called "eTRIPS" information management system – the Secretariat held on 26 July 2016 an informal demonstration of the eTRIPS online notification web tools. We used this informal demonstration as an occasion to showcase the prototype online notification web tools under development and to collect your valuable feedback. 17. In addition, since our last update, some interested delegates have met with us on an informal basis to essentially test the prototype. For us, this was an extremely fruitful exercise as we were able to gain a better understanding of a prospective user's experience and needs – and we have taken comments and questions into consideration for the prototype's continued development. In that light, we express our thanks to those delegations for their guidance. 18. We would encourage any interested delegates to get in touch with us on an informal basis in order to test the system and offer any feedback or suggestions. 19. Also, as there is generally an increase in the volume of notification and other review materials during this time of year, we would encourage delegations preparing to submit notifications or review materials to reach out to us informally. During this interim stage before the online notification web tools become available, we have practical arrangements that should make it easier for you to make these submissions. 20. In close cooperation with our IT colleagues and software developer, we are continuing to make technical and functional improvements to the eTRIPS System with the aim of making the online notification web-tools more robust and intuitive, and the data more accessible and transparent. 21. Further, we are continuing to transform TRIPS "legacy documents" into workable data by identifying data points and sorting information into spreadsheets. 22. Early in the New Year, we plan to consult with any interested delegations on the search tools and user interface. 23. We remain available to provide ad hoc briefings or demonstrations on request to any delegation, in particular delegations preparing to submit notifications or reports to the Council.
The Council took note of the notifications and the statements made.


1. The Chairman invited the Secretariat to provide an update on the notifications that the Council had received since its meeting in June 2016.

2. The representative of the Secretariat provided the update accordingly.

3. The Chairman encouraged the delegations that had notified new or revised legislative measures, or new or updated responses to the enforcement checklist to briefly inform the Council about the nature of the notified amendment or update. This had been standard practice at recent sessions of the Council. It provided valuable insight into the notifications and helped promote awareness and transparency.

4. The representatives of Canada, Ecuador, Mexico and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia took the floor.

5. The Chairman recalled that, at the Council's meeting in June 2016, the Secretariat had updated delegations on the development of the e-TRIPS online platform for filing and consulting notifications. He invited the Secretariat to update the Council on the project.

6. The representative of the Secretariat provided the update accordingly.

7. The representative of the Republic of Moldova took the floor.

8. The Chairman noted that notifications to the Council were not keeping up with the actual development of laws and regulations relating to the TRIPS Agreement. He recalled that Article 63.2 was not a one-off requirement, but obliged Members to notify any new or amended laws. He therefore urged those Members concerned to complete any outstanding initial notifications and to keep up to date with notifications on subsequent amendments. He particularly encouraged Members to notify changes made to their laws or regulations to implement the Decision on TRIPS and Public Health. Apart from being a specific TRIPS obligation, this would help the Council in its review of the operation of the Agreement.

9. The Council took note of the notifications and the statements made.
IP/C/M/83, IP/C/M/83/Add.1