Colombia Proposes PCT Rules Amendment

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presents his compliments to Members and Observers of the PCT Working Group and, with reference to its Eighteenth and Nineteenth sessions, has the honor to transmit two notes verbales received from the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, dated February 18, 2025 and January 16, 2026, respectively, containing a proposal for amendment of PCT Rules 4.1(a) and 5.1(a) and modification of the PCT Administrative Instructions to add a new Section 219. The Delegation of Colombia will introduce this proposal for consideration under agenda item 13, Other Matters. January 22, 2026 Appendices: Appendix I: Note Verbale 65/25 of February 18, 2025 (Courtesy Translation into English provided by Mission of Colombia – see Spanish version of this Circular for the original) Appendix II: Note Verbale 19/26 of January 16, 2026 (in English translation by the International Bureau) ./.

APPENDIX I Note Verbale 65/25 of February 18, 2025 Courtesy Translation into English by the Permanent Mission of Colombia Original: Spanish

Appendix I, page 2 [Appendix II follows]

APPENDIX II Note Verbale 19/26 of January 16, 2026 English Translation by the International Bureau Original: Spanish Note No. S-DCHONU-19/26 The Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva presents its compliments and the assurances of its highest consideration to the Secretariat of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on the occasion of the resumption of the Eighteenth Session of the PCT Working Group (PCT-WG) and the Nineteenth Session of the same Working Group, to be held from February 2 to 6, 2026, in Geneva. In this regard, the Permanent Mission has noted its concern that the proposal submitted to the Secretariat in note verbale SDCHONU-65/25 dated February 18, 2025 (see annex) for consideration by Member States is not included in the provisional agenda of either meeting. It is important to note that, although the Colombian proposal related to agenda item 16 of the Eighteenth Session of the PTC-WG was incorporated by the Secretariat on its own initiative, it was determined during informal discussions held over the course of that meeting, which took place from February 18 to 20, 2025, that it was appropriate to present it under agenda item 21, “Other matters”, and that due to the postponement of the meeting, it was not possible to do so. Likewise, the Permanent Mission of Colombia notes with great surprise that the Revised Draft Agenda (document PCT/WG/19/1 PROV. 2 dated January 8, 2026) includes item 12, “WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge”, at the request of another Member State, while Colombia's proposal has not been included. In view of the above, the Permanent Mission of Colombia, exercising its right as a Member State of WIPO to submit proposals and initiatives to its Committees and Working Groups, would like to reiterate its request contained in the aforementioned note verbale and that its proposal be explicitly included in the agenda of the Nineteenth Session of the PCT-WG forthwith. The Permanent Mission of Colombia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to WIPO the assurances of its highest consideration. Geneva, January 16, 2026 To the Honorable WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION (WIPO) Secretariat of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Geneva, Switzerland [End of Appendix II and of Circular]