SUVA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Vanuatu government has recently passed the bill for traditional knowledge and expression of culture, according to the Vanuatu Daily Post news website on Tuesday.
The purpose of the bill is to protect Vanuatu's traditional knowledge and expressions of culture as an intangible intellectual property associated with the use of genetic resources.
Vanuatu is the first Melanesian country to enact such legislation.
The National Council of Chiefs with technical assistance from the South Pacific Commission consulted to discuss a model law on the protection of traditional knowledge in 2012.
The bill was finally tabled in the recent extra ordinary sitting of Parliament as part of the 100-day list of the current government headed by Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.
Melanesia is a rich resource region of the Pacific, with their genetic resources, understanding of weather patterns, traditional methods of cultivation, marine navigation, custom dances and songs.
