Budapest Notification No. 252
Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure

Communication by the Government of Japan Regarding the Extension of the List of Kinds of Microorganisms accepted by, and a New Schedule of Fees Charged by, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, Patent Microorganisms Depositary (NPMD)

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and has the honor to notify him of the receipt from the Government of Japan, on December 22, 2006, of a written communication dated December 20, 2006 (ref. KN/WP/488), regarding the extension of the list of kinds of microorganisms accepted by, and a new schedule of fees charged by, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, Patent Microorganisms Depositary (NPMD), an international depositary authority under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, done at Budapest on April 28, 1977, as amended on September 26, 1980 (see Budapest Notification No. 215 of April 1, 2004).

According to Article 7.1(b) of the Budapest Treaty and Rule 3.3 of the Regulations under the Budapest Treaty, the extension of the list of kinds of microorganisms accepted shall take effect on February 1, 2007. According to Rule 12.2(a) of the Regulations under the Budapest Treaty, the fees set forth in the said communication shall take effect on February 1, 2007, with the exception of the handling charge referred to in I.(d) of the schedule of fees which, according to Rule 12.2(c) of the Regulations under the Budapest Treaty, shall take effect on February 9, 2007, that is, on the thirtieth day following the publication of the changes by the International Bureau.

January 10, 2007

Text of the Communication by the Government of Japan Regarding the Extension of the List of Kinds of Microorganisms accepted by, and a New Schedule of Fees Charged by, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, Patent Microorganisms Depositary (NPMD)

[Original: English]

COMMUNICATION

The Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva presents its compliments to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and, in relation to the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, has the honor to transmit attached herewith the communication from its home Government regarding the extension of the list of kinds of microorganisms accepted for the deposit by, and a new schedule of fees charged by, the NITE Patent Microorganisms Depositary (NPMD).

Pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Regulations under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, the extension of the list of kinds of microorganisms accepted by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, Patent Microorganisms Depositary (NPMD) will be as follows: animal cell cultures and embryos.

Pursuant to Rule 12.2 of the said Regulations, a new schedule of fees charged by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, Patent Microorganisms Depositary (NPMD) will be as follows (see following annex).

ANNEX

JP - JAPAN
INTERNATIONAL DEPOSITARY AUTHORITY

National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
Patent Microorganisms Depositary (NPMD)
2-5-8 Kazusakamatari
Kisarazu-city
Chiba 292-0818

Telephone: (81) 438 20 55 80
Facsimile: (81) 438 20 55 81
E-mail: npmd@nite.go.jp
Internet: http://www.nbrc.nite.go.jp/npmd/

KINDS OF MICROORGANISMS THAT MAY BE DEPOSITED

Actinomycetes, animal cell cultures, archea, bacteria, bacteriophages, embryos, fungi, plasmids (in hosts or not in hosts) and yeasts, EXCEPT:

- microorganisms which belong to biosafety level 3 or level 4 according to the NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) Classification.

- microorganisms which call for containment measures level P3 or P4 as described in the Ministerial Ordinance stipulating Containment Measures to be Taken in Type 2 Use of Living Modified Organisms for Research and Development (2004), which is based on the Law concerning the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity through Regulations on the Use of Living Modified Organisms (2003).

SCHEDULE OF FEES

Japanese consumption tax will be charged for (a) and (c)(i):
1. Plus 6,000 yen for handling to the foreign institution
2. Plus 35,000 yen for handling and delivery to the foreign institute