On Monday, 23 April 2001, the sixth session of the Contact Group for the revision the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources (IU) in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) opened, as delegates heard welcoming remarks from Chair Amb. Fernando Gerbasi (Venezuela); Massimo Brunini, Mayor of Spoleto; Louise Fresco, FAO Assistant Director General for Agriculture; and Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, Minister of Agricultural and Forestry Policy of the Government of Italy. Delegates initiated their substantive discussions using the Chair's simplified text by debating whether proposals to amend text on Article 13.2(d) on commercial benefit-sharing could be considered formally or informally given its status as "agreed" text despite a footnote referencing disagreement by four countries. After some debate, delegates listened to a proposal from one of the four countries in disagreement, which addressed a voluntary system for sharing commercial profits. Most countries stated that such benefit-sharing should be mandatory and then debated how extensive a system for implementing the provision would be. The issue remains unresolved and pends further informal consultations.