337. As of the last TRIPS Council meeting, there remain 13 pending requests for observer status in the TRIPS Council. This delegation believes that pending requests should be assessed on their own merit, particularly in respect of the competence and interest that respective organizations have in the world of the TRIPS Council. South Africa supports, based on the aforementioned considerations, the granting of permanent observer status to the South Centre and the CBD Secretariat.
338. In respect of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, and the African Intellectual Property Organization, several Members have expressed support for these organizations to be granted permanent observer status beyond ad hoc status currently enjoyed on a meeting to meeting basis and we also support the granting of permanent observer status to these organizations.