Opening the third session of the Working Group, WIPO Director General  Daren Tang, highlighted the importance of geographical indications as a “key branding tool” and a “mark of quality and authenticity”. (Full opening remarks by the Director General). He also underlined the important role of the Lisbon System in facilitating the successful commercialization of origin-based quality products in domestic and foreign markets.

At its third session, the Lisbon Working Group on the Development of the Lisbon System:  

• considered the contents of document LI/WG/DEV-SYS/3/2 (Development of the Lisbon System), and
• recommended to the Assembly of the Lisbon Union the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Common Regulations under the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration and the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications with respect to the inclusion of a new Rule 2bis - Excuse of Delay in Meeting Time Limits - as presented in the Annex to document LI/WG/DEV-SYS/3/3 Rev, for their entry into force two months following their adoption by the Lisbon Union Assembly.