§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy in respect of the forthcoming review of Trade, intellectual property, Food and biodiversity clauses on the protection of biological resources. [74849]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 5 March 1999]: My Department will work with others involved in the review of the World Trade Organisation's Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, taking into account emerging experience of the implementation of the Agreement and bearing in mind the needs of existing and future members. We are particularly concerned to ensure that developing countries are allowed sufficient flexibility, within internationally agreed boundaries, to implement IPR regimes appropriate to their individual circumstances.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in respect of their impact on the global environment, what assessment his Department has made of the compatibility of Article 27 of Trade, intellectual property, Food and biodiversity and Articles 8, 15 and 16 of the UN Convention on Biological Resources. [74845]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 5 March 1999]: We consider that the World Trade Organisation's Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are compatible, but we need to ensure that they are implemented in a mutually supportive way. My department, in collaboration with others with an interest, will continue to participate in international efforts to clarify the relationship between the CBD and the TRIPS Agreement, including at the inter-sessional meeting to be held under the Convention from 28 to 30 June. Our aim is to safeguard both intellectual property and the world's biodiversity.