RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/10/Add.6
9October 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-2995)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM OTHER
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Addendum
Food andAgriculture Organization
Atitsmeeting of24May 1995, theCouncil forTRIPS agreed torequest certain
intergovernmental organizations toprovide information ontheirtechnical andfinancial cooperation
programmes intheareaofintellectual property relevant totheimplementation oftheTRIPS Agreement
(IP/C/M/2, paragraph 53).
Thisaddendum reproduces theinformation which hasbeenreceived inresponse tothisrequest
from theFood andAgriculture Organization oftheUnited Nations.
________________IP/C/W/10/Add.6
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FAO'SASSISTANCE TODEVELOPING COUNTRIES INFIELDS RELATED TOTRIPS
FAO'sareas ofexpertise andTRIPS
FAOprovides technical advice andassistance toitsmember countries, particularly developing
countries, onawide range offoodandagricultural topics. These include advice andassistance on
foodquality andsafety, plant protection andquarantine activities andgeneral advice onagricultural
production andtrade, including information onagricultural policy andincentives forproduction and
trade. Theagreements adopted inthecontext oftheUruguay Round require technical assistance to
beprovided todeveloping countries inmany areas which fallwithin FAO'sexpertise, andinwhich
theOrganization hasextensive experience. FAO'smain interest andtechnical expertise onTRIPS
relate tointellectual property rights overplant varieties, animal breeds andrelated technologies and
germplasm.
Plant Breeders 'Rights, Farmers 'Rights, inthecontext oftheFAO Commission onPlant Genetic
Resources andtheTRIPS Agreement
FAO'sCommission onPlantGenetic Resources (CPGR) istheonlypermanent United Nations
intergovernmental forum dealing specifically withmatters related totheconservation andutilization
ofplantgenetic resources forfoodandagriculture, andrelated technologies. TheCommission monitors
theimplementation oftheInternational Undertaking onPlant Genetic Resources, anon-binding
international agreement adopted byanFAOConference Resolution. Currently, 137countries andthe
European Community aremembers oftheCPGR. Through theCPGR, FAO members havebeen
involved innegotiations concerning plant genetic resources forfoodandagriculture, andrelated
technologies, particularly inthecontext oftherefinement oftheInternational Undertaking onPlant
Genetic Resources, through aseries ofagreed interpretations, andcomplementary resolutions. In
particular, threeFAOConference Resolutions, unanimously adopted in1981and1983, simultaneously
andinparallel, recognized "plant breeders 'rights", asprovided forunder UPOV (International Union
fortheProtection ofNewVarieties ofPlants) and"farmers 'rights".1
UNCED 'sAgenda 21,under Chapter 14,subsequently requested therealization ofFarmers '
Rights. Intergovernmental negotiations arecurrently under way, intheCPGR, fortherevision of
theInternational Undertaking onPlant Genetic Resources (Conference Resolution 7/93) covering,
interalia,access toplant genetic resources forfoodandagriculture, andrelated technologies, and
therealization of"farmers 'rights".
During these negotiations, countries arediscussing possible systems ofintellectual property
rights, including patenting and"effective suigeneris systems", thatwould beinlinewith, andfully
compatible with, theprovisions oftheTRIPS Agreement andwiththeConvention onBiological
Diversity. Inaddition, theCPGR isalsonegotiating aCode ofConduct onBiotechnology, including
acomponent onintellectual property rights.
1"Farmers 'rights mean rights arising fromthepast,present andfuture contributions offarmers inconserving, improving
andmaking available plant genetic resources, particularly those inthecentres ofdiversity/origin".IP/C/W/10/Add.6
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These intergovernmental negotiations areverytimely, inthelightofArticle 27.3(b) ofthe
TRIPS Agreement, which requires thatallMembers "shall provide fortheprotection ofplantvarieties
either bypatents orbyaneffective suigeneris system orbyanycombination thereof".
Inthiscontext, during theround ofnegotiations atthesixthsession oftheCPGR inJune1995,
manycountries'proposalsfortherealizationof"farmers'rights"includedprovisionsonthedevelopment
ofsuigeneris systems thatwould provide forinformal innovators, suchasfarmers andcommunities
(andtheircountries) supplying plantgenetic resources, tohavearighttoashare ofthebenefits derived
fromtheirutilization. Many delegations recognized theconnections withtheprovisions oftheTRIPS
Agreement.
Technical assistance toFAO members forlegislation onseedproduction andrelated matters
FAO advises itsmembers inrelation totheirplant breeding, andseedandplanting material
production legislation, regulations andsystems.
FAO'sSeedandPlant Genetic Resources Service (AGPS, partofFAO'sPlant Protection and
Production Division) assists FAO members inthedefinition ofcriteria fortheformulation and
implementation ofregional andnational seedpolicies andprogrammes, including cooperation between
developed anddeveloping countries. Itcovers variety maintenance andreplacement, andbothtechnical
andlegal aspects ofseedtesting, certification andvariety protection, inrelation to"plant breeders '
rights". Inthiswork, assistance todeveloping countries isdelivered incooperation withFAO's
Development LawService (LEGN, partoftheFAOLegal Office), which provides developing countries
withabroad range oflegaladvice onagriculture andrenewable natural resources management, including
thedrafting ofnecessary legislation.
Inthefieldofseeds, andinparticular thedevelopment andrelease ofnewimproved foodcrop
varieties, many responsibilities which usedtobevested invarious government institutions andagencies
arenowincreasingly moving intothehands oftheprivate sector. Inmany cases, relevant national
economic policy decisions have notyetbeen backed bytheadoption ofnewandpertinent legal
frameworks. Furthermore, asaconsequence oftheirmembership totheWorld Trade Organization,
countries willneedtoformulate legislation toprotect plant varieties inlinewithArticle 27.3(b) of
theTRIPS Agreement.
Thefocus ofFAO'swork inthisregard istoassist national authorities toanalyse theirneeds
andidentify appropriate policy options; toformulate orrevise therelevant national legislation; and
toadvise onthestructure andfunctions oftheinstitutions involved. FAO'sexperience overmany
years hasshown thatjustice cannot bedonetotheparticular needs andcircumstances ofindividual
countries bytheoretical studies ormodel laws.
FAO'sapproach totechnical assistance inlegaladvice andlegislative drafting normally includes
thefollowing steps, involving therelevant technical divisions ofFAO (andtheirtechnical consultants
inthefield), andinclose collaboration withthenational authorities:
- review andanalysis ofthestatutory instruments inforce(ordraftbillsalready prepared
bythegovernment) andoftheinstitutional framework governing intellectual property
protection (with specific reference toseeds), andseedproduction (including quality
control, marketing, andexport andimport);
- identification ofthespecific objectives, withregard toseedproduction, tobeattained
bymeans oftheproposed legislation, inthelightofthegovernment 'spriorities;IP/C/W/10/Add.6
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- elaboration ofadraftactandregulations, oramendments totheexisting legislation;
and
- submission ofrecommendations, andtheir discussion with therelevant national
authorities.
Inthefollowing table,relevant examples aregiven ofprojects under which FAOisproviding
technical assistance todeveloping countries.
Table 1
Examples ofFAO Technical Assistance Projects2
China
In1994, theFAO/World Bank Cooperative Programme prepared aproject forWorld Bank
Funding, based onthecommercialization ofanumber ofprovincial seedcompanies, andtheintroduction
ofasupporting policy environment, including theestablishment ofasystem ofplant breeders 'rights
thatconforms totherequirements oftheGATT Uruguay Round. Theproposed project, which is
currently being appraised bytheWorld Bank, includes atechnical assistance component foradvising
onvariety protection systems.
Lithuania
Under FAO'sTechnical Cooperation Programme, project TCP/LIT/4553, anFAO mission
assisted theauthorities toprepare aseedmaster plan. Adraftseedlawandlegislation prepared by
theGovernment isnowbeing reviewed byFAO under theproject.
Malaysia
Attherequest oftheEconomic Planning Unit ofMalaysia, FAO hasapproved project
TCP/MAL/4553, under itsTechnical Cooperation Programme. Theaimoftheproject istostrengthen
seedandplanting material production, andtodevelop acertification andmarketing programme. The
project willadvise theGovernment onappropriate programme andpolicy measures forupgrading the
nationalcapabilityinvarietyregistration,releaseandprotection,andqualitycontrolandseedandplanting
material certification, bydefining therespective rôleofvarious official agencies andtheprivate sector.
Inaddition, theproject willprepare astudy analysing theimplications ofTRIPS Article 27.3(b), as
wellasthevarious options before theGovernment togiveeffect tothisclause. Thestudy willconsider
theimplications forspecific relevant legislation.
2Crops arethelargest sector inFAO'soverall technical assistance programme, funded byUNdonor agencies, Trust
Fundswithcooper atinggover nment s,orFAO'sownTechni calCooper ationProgramme. In1993, forexampl e,cropsaccount ed
for24percent(US$498,793,000) ofthetotalvalue ofongoing projects (US$2,150,000,000). These figures present the
totalbudget ofongoing projects, overtheirwhole life,notannual expenditure; in1993 alone, expenditure onallprojects
wasUS$306,000,000). Agood proportion ofsuchprojects involves genetic resources, andbreeding, under oneaspect or
another.IP/C/W/10/Add.6
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Mauritania
Under theFAO/UNDP project, MAU/92/007, "Appui àlavulgarisation desemences
traditionnellesdequalité",aseedlawwasprepared,whichiscurrentlyawaitingsubmissiontoParliament.
Pakistan
InMay1995,FAOapprovedprojectTCP/PAK/4557,underitstechnicalcooperationprogramme,
withtheaimofpreparingaseedsectordevelopmentprogramme.Theseedindustry'scurrentinstitutional
framework wasestablished in1976; aware oftheneedtoincrease theinvolvement oftheprivate sector,
theGovernmentintendstoformulateanewcomprehensiveprogramme,includingtheadoptionofspecific
legislation recognizing "plant breeders 'rights".
Tanzania
Tanzania wasassisted bytheFAO/UNDP project, URT/93/003, through theenhancement of
thecapacity tocoordinate thenational seedprogramme. Theproject assisted inthepreparation of
suitable draftlegislation foraplant breeders 'rights system.
Vietnam
TherecentlycompletedFAO/UNDPproject,VIE/87/005,"DevelopmentofAgriculturalGenetics
forVietnam", isanexample ofaproject dealing almost exclusively withtheutilization ofplantgenetic
resources, through biotechnology andadvanced breeding. Theproject builtupastrong national genetic
resources capacity tosupport research onplant breeding. There wasalsoalegalcomponent, which
strengthened theinstitutional capacity todealwithintellectual property andpatent rights, plantbreeders '
rights andinternational agreements.
Zaire
Under aprevious phase oftheFAO/UNDP project, ZAI/92/002, "Assistance àlaproduction
semencière", aseedlawwasdrafted, which iscurrently being considered bytheGovernment.