6.1. The Chairman recalled that the Eighth Session of the Ministerial Conference had directed the TRIPS Council to continue its examination of the scope and modalities for complaints of the types provided for under subparagraphs 1(b) and 1(c) of Article XXIII of GATT 1994 and make recommendations to its next Session; it was agreed that, in the meantime, Members would not initiate such complaints under the TRIPS Agreement (WT/L/842). The Council should, therefore, agree on its recommendations to the Bali Ministerial Conference at its end-of-year meeting tentatively scheduled for 10-11 October. He recalled that, under the initial timeline established by the TRIPS Agreement, the Council had been required to make recommendations on scope and modalities by the end of 1999, and that this period had been extended five times since then.
6.2. At the Council's last meeting, many delegations had welcomed the updated Secretariat note summarizing the Council's earlier discussions on the matter (IP/C/W/349/Rev.2), as well as the briefing session it had organized. He said that it might be helpful if delegations would have any examples of situations where non-violation complaints might be relevant or any suggestions for modalities for the Council's consideration. Apart from any comments on the substance, he encouraged delegations to share any ideas on how the discussion on the matter could best be facilitated.
