57. The representative of the Slovak Republic said that, after examination of the two proposals tabled, the joint proposal from the United States and Japan and the proposal from the European Communities, his delegation appreciated that both proposals were based on voluntariness and simplicity and would not require substantial changes in Members' national legislation. On comparison, the proposal of the European Communities seemed to be more effective and attractive to his delegation because it allowed the extension of the scope of protection to products other than wines and spirits. His delegation was not attracted by the proposal to use systems for the protection of collective or certification marks to provide protection to geographical indications, given the distinctness in his country's domestic legislation between these two forms of industrial property, i.e. geographical indications on the one hand and collective and certification marks on the other.
