Seychelles, together with the other contracting parties of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) approved a ground-breaking new Treaty relating to Intellectual property (IP), Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, marking a historic breakthrough that capped decades of negotiations.
The final treaty was finalized and adopted on 24th May, 2024, following two-weeks intensive negotiations, whereby the final provisions were approved by consensus by the WIPO contracting parties. The Treaty came into force on the same day on 24th May 2024, following the signature by at least 160 member states of WIPO. This is the first WIPO Treaty to establishes an international law on new disclosure requirements for patent applicants whose inventions will need to reveal the country of origin, source of the genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge and the Indigenous Peoples or local community, as applicable, who provided the traditional knowledge.
This treaty comes at an opportune time whereby Seychelles is undertaking its IP legislative review whereby the provisions of this new treaty will be included in the new Industrial Property bill for enforcement. It equally aligns with national efforts and support by the National Assembly in June 2023 regarding the protection of Seychelles’ genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Seychelles will endeavour to accede to this new Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge once the IP legislative review is completed.
Ms Aissata Dia, Senior Trade Officer at the Trade Department responsible for IP matters and Ms Emy-Lee Lucas, Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva represented Seychelles at the conference.