. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/516/Add.2 
16 October 2008 
 
 (08-4868) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English 
 
 
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES:  INFORMATION FROM 
OTHER INTERGOVERNMEN TAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE 
UNITED NATIONS (FAO) 
 
Addendum  
  
 At its meeting of 17 June 2008, the Council fo r TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental 
organization observers to the Council to update th e information on their technical and financial 
cooperation programmes relating to the im plementation of the TRIPS Agreement. 
 The present document reproduces the informati on which has been received from the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)  by means of a communication dated 7 October 
2008. 
 
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  In the past year, as in previous years, FAO has carried out work relevant to the 
implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  This work  has been carried out both in the context of 
FAO's regular Technical Cooperation Programme, a nd in the form of activities funded by extra-
budgetary resources.  In line with FAO's mandate and technical competencies,  the work has focused 
particularly on Article 27.3 (b) of the TRIPS Agre ement, broader concerns regarding the utilization 
and preservation of genetic resources and biodiversity in general.  
 FAO's assistance in this regard takes the form of:  (a) capacity building through workshops or 
seminars for government officials and civil society;   (b) needs evaluation through analysis of the 
existing limitations in terms of policy instrument s and technical capacity;  (c) legislative drafting 
through draft proposals on new legislation or amendments.  
 In the past year, FAO has e ngaged in the following activities: 
 
• Government of Georgia
:  In collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction 
and Development, conducted an extensive re view of the domestic legal framework for 
the protection of wine appellations.  Assisted in the preparation of draft amendments to 
the Law on Wine and Vine, and the Law on Geographical Indications.  Assistance was 
also given on marketing of famous Georgian wine brands and in th e reorganization of the 
wine sector to better deal with counterfeiting. 
 IP/C/W/516/Add.2 
Page 2  
 
  • Government of Tanzania
:  Two capacity building workshops were held for senior 
officials of the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade.  One of the modules was on the implementation of TRIPS, particularly on the protection of plant varieties.  Ways of 
ensuring effective implementation of Tanzania's Plant Varieties Act  were discussed. 
 
• Government of Afghanistan
:  In the context of the "Seed and Plant Variety Industry 
Development Project", FAO has provided assistance on seed policy reform, which will have implications on downstream development of legislation on the protection of plant 
varieties.  Although not a Member of the WT O, Afghanistan considers this important for 
biodiversity preservation and food security. 
 
• Government of Tunisia
:  FAO has provided assistance regarding the policy and legal 
framework for Geographical Indications. 
 
 
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