The following WTO airgram WTO/AIR/4240/REV.1 (14 February 2014) contains the agenda for the upcoming WTO Council for TRIPS meeting to be held in Geneva from Tuesday, 25 February 2014 to Wednesday, 26 February 2014.
The February 2014 session of the WTO TRIPS Council will discuss the “Contribution of Intellectual Property to Facilitate the Transfer of Environmentally Rational Technology” under agenda item 11; this is based on a written request by Ecuador. The United States of America made a written request to the TRIPS Council to discuss “IP and Innovation: University Technology Partnerships” under agenda item 12. The TRIPS Council will discuss “Concerns with Respect to Measures Related to Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products and the Compatibility with the TRIPS Agreement” under agenda item 13; this is based on a written request by Cuba.
Here below is the airgram in full.
WTO/AIR/4240/REV.1 14 FEBRUARY 2014SUBJECT: COUNCIL FOR TRIPS
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRIPS WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD ON TUESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2014 STARTING AT 10 A.M AND WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, 26 FEBRUARY AS NECESSARY.
THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR AN ITEM TO BE PLACED ON THE PROPOSED AGENDA (LISTED AS ITEM 12). ANOTHER WRITTEN REQUEST FOR AN ITEM TO BE PLACED ON THE PROPOSED AGENDA HAS BEEN MADE BY CUBA (LISTED AS ITEM 13). ITEM 11 IS INCLUDED UPON THE EARLIER WRITTEN REQUEST BY ECUADOR. IN LIGHT OF THESE REQUESTS, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PROPOSED FOR THE AGENDA.
1. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
2. REVIEWS OF NATIONAL IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION
3. REVIEW OF THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 27.3 (B)
4. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
5. PROTECTION OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE
6. NON-VIOLATION AND SITUATION COMPLAINTS
7. REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 71.1
8. REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECTION ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 24.2
9. FOLLOW-UP TO THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL REVIEW OF UNDER PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE DECISION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT
10. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING
11. CONTRIBUTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY RATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
12. IP AND INNOVATION: UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS
13. CONCERNS WITH RESPECT TO MEASURES RELATED TO PLAIN PACKAGING OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND THEIR COMPATIBILITY WITH TRIPS AGREEMENT
14. INFORMATION ON RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS ELSEWHERE IN THE WTO
15. OBSERVER STATUS FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
16. OTHER BUSINESS
17. ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON
IT IS RECALLED THAT PARAGRAPH 19 OF THE DOHA MINISTERIAL DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE COUNCIL, IN UNDERTAKING THE WORK PROVIDED FOR IN THAT PARAGRAPH, SHALL BE GUIDED BY THE OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES SET OUT IN ARTICLES 7 AND 8 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND SHALL TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT THE DEVELOPMENT DIMENSION.
ANY MEMBER WISHING AN ADDITIONAL ITEM TO BE PLACED ON THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS INVITED TO INFORM THE SECRETARIAT OF THIS SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE SO THAT A REVISED AIRGRAM CAN BE ISSUED TEN CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
MEMBERS OF THE WTO, OTHER GOVERNMENTS WITH OBSERVER STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH OBSERVER STATUS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM THE SECRETARIAT OF THE NAMES OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ROBERTO AZEVEDO