Fourteenth Session, Geneva, 29 June-3 July 2009 and WIPO General Assembly, 21 September-2 October 2009
The fourteenth session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation ("WIPO") Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore/Traditional Cultural Expressions ("IGC") took place in Geneva, 29 June to 3 July 2009. This was the last meeting under its current two year mandate, which ends December 2009. A copy of the Report on WIPO IGC 14 can be found on the WIPO website. It contains all the interventions made by member states, including New Zealand, and by accredited observers.
The 14th Session focussed mainly on the renewal of the IGC's mandate. Although all member states supported renewal of the mandate, the IGC did not reach consensus on the content of a renewed mandate at WIPO IGC 14. The matter was therefore left for consideration by the WIPO General Assembly, which took place 22 September to1 October 2009 in Geneva.
After intense yet constructive discussions held over several days, member states adopted a clearly defined work plan and terms of reference to guide the IGC's work over the next two years. The Chairperson of the WIPO General Assembly (Ambassador for Argentina, Alberto Dumont) held consultations with a group of ambassadors, consisting of regional group co-ordinators. New Zealand is a member of Group B, which was represented by the Ambassador for Germany (as co-ordinator) and Australia (as deputy). The group of ambassadors agreed on a proposal that was submitted to the WIPO General Assembly for approval.
States agreed that the IGC would undertake negotiations with the objective of reaching agreement on a text of an international legal instrument (or instruments), which would ensure the effective protection of genetic resources (GRs), traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). The decision also provides for three inter-sessional meetings of working groups to take place in 2010/11, in addition to the four regular sessions of the IGC.
Work over the next two years will build on the previous work of the IGC. The basis for text-based negotiations will be the existing WIPO working documents on GRs, TK, and TCEs. The IGC is to submit to the 2011 General Assembly the text (or texts) of an international legal instrument(s) which would ensure the effective protection of GRs, TK and TCEs. The 2011 session of the General Assembly would then decide on convening a Diplomatic Conference. A Diplomatic Conference is an official meeting of member states held to adopt and sign an international agreement. This normally occurs once the text of an agreement has been negotiated.
We invite you to visit the WIPO website for further information about the IGC, its members and accredited observers. The 15th Session of the WIPO IGC is tentatively scheduled to occur 7-11 December 2009 in Geneva Switzerland.
Korero Mai
Officials would appreciate hearing from you about the work of the WIPO IGC. We wish to thank the individuals and organisations who have made comments to date and would welcome any further comments you may have. If you wish to make comments on the WIPO IGC and/or New Zealand's participation in the process, please email traditional.knowledge@med.govt.nz or write to the Ministry of Economic Development:
WIPO IGC Submissions
Intellectual Property Policy Group
Ministry of Economic Development
PO Box 1473
WELLINGTON
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