150. The Chairperson recalled that, at the last meeting, the representatives of Sweden and the United States had informed the Council that they were in the process of finalizing their mutually agreed solution in a matter concerning measures affecting the enforcement of intellectual property rights. This solution had subsequently been notified to the DSB and could be found in document IP/D/10/Add.1.
151. He further recalled that, at the meeting in December, the representative of Canada had informed the Council that his delegation had requested consultations with the European Communities concerning patent protection for pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical products. This request had subsequently been circulated in document IP/D/15. The United States, Australia and Switzerland had requested to join the consultations.
152. Furthermore, he informed the Council that, on 14 January 1999, the United States had asked for consultations with India under Article 21.5 of the DSU regarding the Patents (Amendment) Ordinance 1999, promulgated to implement the rulings and recommendations of the DSB in dispute WT/DS50. This request had been circulated in document WT/DS50/11 and the European Communities and their member States had expressed their wish to join in the consultations requested by the United States.
153. On 26 January 1999, he said, the European Communities and their member States had requested consultations with the United States concerning Section 110(5) of the US Copyright Act. This request had been circulated in document IP/D/16 and Australia, Canada and Switzerland had expressed their interest in joining the consultations.
154. Finally, he informed the Council that, at its meeting of 1 February 1999, the DSB had established a panel to examine the complaint by the European Communities and their member States concerning patent protection for pharmaceutical products in Canada (dispute IP/D/11). Eleven Members had reserved third party rights in this dispute - Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, India, Israel, Japan, Poland, Switzerland, Thailand and the United States.
