56. The representative of Australia supported the revised proposal from the United States, Japan, Canada and Chile. She expressed concern that the multilateral register should serve its proper function as a voluntary practical aid for the implementation of existing commitments and not create new burdens for Members, be they new obligations or new administrative burdens. In addition, in Australia's view, there was no mandate in any existing provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for extending the scope of the additional protection stipulated in Article 23 for geographical indications for wines and spirits to those for other products.
