On 8-10 November 2004, a "Regional dialogue on intellectual property rights (IPRs), innovation and sustainable development was held in Hong Kong, S.A.R., China, organised by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, the University of Hong Kong, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the International Development Research Centre. One of the five main issues discussed during the dialogue was biotechnology and the protection of plant varieties. The draft meeting report and meeting documents, including "Fitting plant variety protection and biotechnological inventions in agriculture within the intellectual property framework: Challenges for developing countries" by S.K. Verma, are now available. See http://www.iprsonline.org/unctadictsd/dialogue/2004-11-08/2004-11-08_docs.htm or contact [email protected] for more information.

02/12/2004