Garantizar la coherencia entre los objetivos y las disposiciones de la Convención sobre la Diversidad Biológica (CDB), como las relacionadas con el acceso a los recursos genéticos y la distribución de beneficios, y las normas sobre patentes y variedades vegetales previstas en el Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC, han llevado a repetidos llamamientos para la reforma.

Los países ricos en biodiversidad han sido los principales solicitantes de una reforma que incorpore una serie de garantías en el régimen de patentes contra el acceso ilegal y el uso  de los recursos genéticos y conocimientos tradicionales asociados. Estas solicitudes se han presentado en diversos foros, incluyendo la OMC, la OMPI, la CDB, y más recientemente en los acuerdos comerciales regionales y bilaterales.

Algunos avances  se han podido concretar en esta materia. Por ejemplo, las negociaciones en la OMC se impulsaron luego de que en julio de 2008 una propuesta para modificar el Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC e incorporar la divulgación del origen, y potencialmente evidencia de la existencia de consentimiento fundamentado previo (CFP) y el acceso y participación en los beneficios (APB) fuera apoyada por más de 110 países.  Sin embargo  el debate no ha avanzado considerablemente en otros foros a pesar de varios años sucesivos de intensas discusiones.

Es en este contexto que ICTSD, BMZ, GTZ y entidades locales emprenden una serie de diálogos a nivel regional para brindar un apoyo más profundo que permita crear sinergias entre la propiedad intelectual y la biodiversidad. Los objetivos de estos diálogos son precisamente:

1.      Proporcionar una plataforma para que los diferentes interesados examinen las preocupaciones regionales, el conocimiento necesario y las áreas prioritarias para la acción en los ámbitos político y técnico respecto a la relación entre los derechos de propiedad intelectual y el uso sostenible de los recursos biológicos.

2.      Identificar a corto y largo plazo las necesidades de asistencia técnica sobre esta materia que prevalecen a nivel regional.

El primer diálogo de esta serie tuvo lugar en Heredia, Costa Rica, del 17 al 19 de noviembre de 2009.

El segundo diálogo se titula “Medidas Relacionadas con la Biodiversidad y el Sistema de Propiedad Intelectual” y tendría lugar en Lima, Peru, del 10 al 12 de marzo 2010. Reunirá a actores claves en la creación e implementación de las políticas, representantes del sector privado, instituciones de investigación, representantes de la sociedad civil y de los grupos indígenas de Suramérica; con el apoyo de expertos regionales y del sector académico.

El programa de este importante diálogo regional está disponible en: Agenda Tentativa

Coming up in the next two weeks

29 June to 4 July, Kushiro, Japan. WORKSHOP ON BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE. Co-organized by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Kushiro International Wetland Centre, in partnership with Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund and the Secretariats of the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity, this workshop aims to support the sharing of scientific facts and policies on biodiversity, wetlands and climate change, provide analytical knowledge to understand and practically use the scientific data and documentation, facilitate exchange of ideas and strengthen the Kushiro/UNITAR network of experts in wetlands, biodiversity and climate change. For more information contact: e-mail: hiroko.nakayama@unitar.org; Internet: http://www.unitar.org/hiroshima/programmes/kushiro08/.

30 June to July 2, Paris, France: ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ENERGY WORKSHOP. The International Energy Workshop (IEW) is a network of global energy experts who meet annually to discuss a wide range of topics, with particular emphasis on global as well as regional issues. The annual IEW meetings focus on energy assessment and try to understand the reasons for diverging views of development in the energy sector. Internet: http://www.internationalenergyworkshop.org/Pre_announcement_2008.html.

30 June to 4 July, Geneva, Switzerland: 31ST SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION. Internet: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp?lang=en.

1 July, London, UK. FOOD PRICES: WHERE NEXT? Global food prices have risen by 83 percent over the last three years, triggering riots in more than 30 countries, high-level political attention and unease about the longer term outlook. The speakers will give an insight into what has been driving rising prices, whether the current situation is a blip or a ‘new normality’, and look at possible future scenarios both in the UK and internationally. For further information, please refer to https://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/875/.

1-2 July, New Delhi, India. NATIONAL FOREIGN TRADE POLICY OF INDIA: WHY CIVIL SOCIETY’S INVOLVEMENT IS REQUIRED. This National Conference aims to serve as a common platform for discussions and debate among the participants who will hail from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, elected representatives and Government officials from the states, Chambers of Commerce, Research Institutions, representatives of Trade Unions and CSOs and International Development Organisations. It will address the need for Civil Society’s involvement in the implementation as well as formulation of national foreign trade policy and make recommendations to the policy makers to ensue pro-poor changes in the existing policy. For further information, please refer to http://www.cuts-citee.org/events.htm#event02.

7-9 July, Tokyo, Japan. G8 SUMMIT 2008. At July’s G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, world leaders will discuss the world economy, environmental concerns, African development and other pressing issues that must be tackled. For further information, please refer to http://www.g8summit.go.jp/eng/index.html.

7-11 July, Bangkok, Thailand. 28TH MEETING OF THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER. Contact: Ozone Secretariat; Tel: +254-20-762-3850/1; Fax: +254-20-762-4691; e-mail: ozoneinfo@unep.org; Internet: http://ozone.unep.org/.

Other upcoming meetings

6-9 August, Manado, Sulawesi Indonesia: 2ND REGIONAL CONSULTATIVE FORUM MEETING OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC FISHERY COMMISSION. Hosted by the Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission together with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia, the regional forum acts as a space for agreeing on actions needed to adapt to the emerging challenges to fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary focus of this meeting is to look at the promotion of effective arrangements for managing fisheries and aquaculture in the region. The theme for forum meeting is “Adapting to emerging challenges – promoting effective arrangements for managing fisheries and aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region.”

28-31 October, Hong Kong: ECO EXPO ASIA. Over 5,000 visitors from 89 countries/regions were attracted to Eco Expo Asia 2007, with 135 exhibitors who came from 18 countries/regions. Entering into its third year, Eco Expo Asia continues to expand and thrive within its realm and is making great progress in introducing innovative environmental ideas and solutions to the public. Eco Expo Asia is a specialised and professional marketing platform for manufacturers and suppliers of environmental goods and services who wish to access the dynamic green market. With Asia’s awareness of environmental protection growing at an immense rate, numerous business opportunities exist on every level, from governmental and commercial, to individual consumption. Eco Expo Asia in Hong Kong allows exhibitors to gain exposure for their brand, examine environmental trends and meet with international and local buyers. Four topics will be focused on this year: air quality, eco-friendly products, energy efficiency and waste & recycling. Internet: http://ecoexpoasia.hktdc.com/index.htm.

The US and Canadian claims, both submitted on 9 June, follow an appeal filed by the EU late last month (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 30 May 2008, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/08-05-30/inbrief.htm#5). In that claim, Brussels protested the panel’s finding that its ban on imports of hormone-treated beef was illegal. The EU also faulted the panel for stopping short of explicitly ordering Washington and Ottawa to remove the extra duties they had imposed in retaliation to the ban.

In a ruling circulated in March, the panel found fault with all three parties involved in the dispute (see Bridges Weekly, 2 April 2008, http://www.ictsd.org/weekly/08-04-02/story1.htm).

For the EU, the panel ruled that a lack of adequate scientific risk assessment meant that the import ban on hormone-treated beef, which Brussels modified in response to an earlier panel ruling, still failed to comply with the requirements of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

The panel further ruled that the US and Canada had not followed proper procedures in continuing their trade retaliation against the ban. Washington and Ottawa have retained over US$125 million in annual sanctions on EU exports, such as Dijon mustard and Roquefort cheese, based on their unilateral determination that the EU’s modifications to its ban were not sufficient to bring it into compliance with a 1998 WTO ruling. The panel maintained that the US and Canada should have initiated legal proceedings to determine whether the import ban still violated WTO rules in order to maintain the sanctions.

In its appeal filed last week, the US stated that the panel’s finding on that topic “is in error and is based on erroneous findings on issues of law and legal interpretations.”

The dispute began more than a decade ago, when a WTO panel first ruled that the US and Canada could impose punitive tariffs on European products to retaliate against Brussels’ ban on imports of beef produced with six growth-promoting hormones that are common in the US and Canada.

ICTSD reporting; “EU appeals WTO ruling over US beef hormone ban,” EU BUSINESS, 2 June 2008.