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Summit Outcomes Cited as Impetus for Progress in TRIPs Discussions
Summit Outcomes Cited as Impetus for Progress in TRIPs Discussions The WTO Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) at its 17-19 September meeting continued discussions on issues related to TRIPs Article 27.3(b) (patentability of life forms), the relationship between the TRIPs Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and traditional knowledge. Several…
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UK Commission Cautions Developing Countries Against Strong IPR Regimes
UK Commission Cautions Developing Countries Against Strong IPR Regimes The UK Commission on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) — an independent body set up in May 2001 by the British government — released its final report on 12 September, setting out a number of recommendations aimed at aligning intellectual property rights (IPR) protection with efforts to reduce…
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WTO Members Split on Future of 'Green Box'
WTO Members Split on Future of ‘Green Box’ At the 23-25 September informal negotiating session of the WTO Committee on Agriculture (CoA) on domestic support, no progress was made on the most contentious farm subsidy issues. These include the question of whether the so-called ‘Green Box’ should be made more flexible or be tightened. In his…
- In Brief
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Southern African Countries to Set up GMO Advisory Panel
Agriculture ministers from Southern Africa are planning to set up an advisory panel to assess the potential impacts of genetically modified (GM) foods on the population. The decision comes at a time of growing concerns among some African countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, over the presence of GM organisms in food aid. “The…
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Australia Questions Validity of CBD Decision on Alien Species
At the recent Bureau meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Australia –supported by the US, New Zealand and Canada — again raised concerns regarding the Guiding Principles on Alien Species, with Australia going as far as declaring the decision to adopt the Principles as illegitimate. The Principles were adopted by the Working Group…
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Researchers Joining Forces with Mexican Local Communities in Bioprospecting
In an effort to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular its objective of conserving biodiversity and equitable benefit sharing, a group of scientists are testing the abundant flora of San Luis Potosì in Mexico in the search of new drugs or natural herbicides in cooperation with local communities. The researchers and the local…
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European Parliament Accepts Commission Proposal on Cartagena Protocol
The European Parliament at the first reading on 24 September adopted the European Commission’s proposed legislation to bring the EU in line with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which regulates the transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The legislation was adopted with a number of amendments, addressing the following issues: prior informed consent from…
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Rice-Producing Countries Call for Greater Cooperation to Combat Rural Poverty
During the International Rice Congress in Beijing, government officials and rice experts called for greater cooperation among Asian rice-producing countries in their efforts to lift farmers out of poverty. In particular, governments discussed how states could ensure that poor farmers benefit from agricultural research and technological innovation. The Chinese President gave an example of this…
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In Brief
SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO SET UP GMO ADVISORY PANEL Agriculture ministers from Southern Africa are planning to set up an advisory panel to assess the potential impacts of genetically modified (GM) foods on the population. The decision comes at a time of growing concerns among some African countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, over the…
- Events
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Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Coming up in the next two weeks 23 September…
- Resources
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Resources
If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy or review by the BRIDGES staff to Heike Baumüller. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: PATENTING OF HIGHER LIFE FORMS AND RELATED ISSUES. By the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee, June 2002. An interim Report to…