47. The representative of the European Community said that it had been useful that this item had been scheduled after the review of legislation notified under Article 63.2 of the TRIPS Agreement relating to geographical indications and trademarks because the work in that review exercise had demonstrated that a great variety of approaches existed as to how to implement the relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. It was in the light of this factual situation that his delegation had prepared the non-paper referred to by the Chairman. He therefore wished to underline his delegation's suggestions in the non-paper for work by the Council in the framework of the special review under Article 24.2 of the TRIPS Agreement. In his delegation's view, it would be helpful if, as a first step, the Secretariat drew up a comparative paper concerning the definitions of geographical indications which were in force in those WTO Members that had notified their legislation under Article 63.2. Since it was also important to compare the systems for the acquisition and enforcement of protection for geographical indications in each Member of the WTO, his delegation had also proposed that the Secretariat draw up a comparative table showing these various systems and highlighting the individual differences. Finally, it would be useful if bilateral agreements in the area of geographical indications were notified to the Secretariat in order to enable the drawing up of a comprehensive list of such agreements.
