In Brief
EU, S. Africa Complete Geographical Indications Agreements
On 21 January, the EU Agriculture Council adopted a set of agreements between the EU and South Africa on trade in wine and spirits. Once the agreements have been signed (expected this month), they will then provisionally enter into force, becoming definitive once they have been ratified by South Africa’s parliament. The parties had on 25 July 2001 agreed ad referendum on "all important outstanding issues," including provisions on protection of geographical indications, wine making practices and product specification, import certification, and dispute settlement. According to an EC press release, the agreements provide better protection for EU appellations of origin than the protection available under the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). They will provide exclusive protection for EU wines such as "Champagne", "Chianti", "Port" and "Sherry". As regards "Port" and "Sherry", South Africa will refrain from using these terms for their own wines after transitional periods of twelve years on its domestic market and after five years on export markets, whereby the periods already started from 1 January 2000. In addition, both parties agreed on the mutual recognition of licences issued by the exporting country.
"Commission welcomes conclusion of EU-South Africa wine and spirits negotiations," EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE, 21 January 2002.
WIPO Convenes High-Level Forum On Traditional Knowledge
On 21-22 January, the Sultanate of Oman hosted a World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) ministerial forum on "Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge: Our Identity, Our Future". The forum brought together ministers and senior policy makers from around the world to discuss and exchange experiences on the various cultural, social and economic issues surrounding protection of traditional knowledge. The meeting covered the following five themes: the relevance of applying the intellectual property system for the protection of traditional knowledge; traditional knowledge — a bridge between civilizations and cultures; traditional knowledge — a source of wealth creation; the economic value of traditional knowledge; the future - what lies ahead. Speakers included Prince el Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, Bhoutros Bhoutros Ghali, Secretary General of the International Organisation of the Francophonie, and Amara Essy, Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity.
Information on the WIPO Forum including background documents is available on the WIPO website..
Spain Ratifies Cartagena Protocol On Biosafety
On 16 January 2002, Spain ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The protocol has been open for signature since May 2000 and was signed by 107 countries. Spain is the 11th country to ratify the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which must be ratified by 50 countries in order to enter into force.