SECTION I - STATUTORY BODIES

CONFERENCE AND COUNCIL

C (Cat. 1)

Conference of FAO (CC-701)

(Article III of the Constitution)

Origin

On the invitation of the United Nations Interim Commission on Food and Agriculture, representatives met in Quebec on 16 October 1945 to sign the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which provides for "a Conference of the Organization in which each Member Nation and Associate Member shall be represented by one delegate".

Purpose

To determine the policy and approve the budget of the Organization and to exercise the other powers conferred upon it by the Constitution,¹ to make recommendations to Member Nations and Associate Members concerning questions relating to food and agriculture, in order for them to be reviewed and implemented through national action; to make recommendations to any international organization regarding any matter pertaining to the purposes of the Organization. (Article IV of the Constitution). The Conference is the sovereign Governing Body of the Organization. It comprises all Members and Associate Members.

First Session

Quebec, 16 October - 1 November 1945.

Membership (as of 13 November 2001)

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

See Basic Texts, Vol I - Section B, General Rules of the Organization.

Present Position

The Conference meets in regular session every two years. It may meet in special session:²

b)    if the Council so instructs the Director-General or if at least one-third of the Member Nations so request.

The Thirty-second Session is scheduled to be held in Rome from 29 November to 10 December 2003.

CL (Cat. 1)

Council of FAO (CC-702)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Third Session (1947) to replace the original "Executive Committee of FAO" in accordance with a recommendation of the Preparatory Commission on World Food Proposals.

Purpose

The Council, within the limits of the powers delegated to it by the Conference, acts as the Conference's executive organ between sessions. In particular, it exercises functions dealing with the world food and agriculture situation and related matters, current and prospective activities of the Organization, including its Programme of Work and Budget, administrative matters and financial management of the Organization and constitutional matters (Rule XXIV of the General Rules of the Organization). The Council may establish Commissions, Committees and Working Parties under Article VI of the Constitution and approve, for submission to Member Nations, Agreements provided for under Article XIV-2 of the Constitution (Rule XXIV-4(a) and (b) of the General Rules of the Organization).

First Session

Washington, 4 - 11 November 1947.

Membership

An Independent Chairman, appointed by the Conference for two years, renewable for a further period of two years. (Article V-2 of the Constitution and Rule XXIII of the General Rules of the Organization). Forty-nine Member Nations elected for three years,with arrangements for staggering expiry of terms of office, and each Member having one representative.

Membership until 31 December 2002

Membership from 1 January 2003 to November 2003

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section B, General Rules of the Organization; Section D, Rules of Procedure of the Council.

Present Position

The Council holds at least four sessions between regular sessions of the Conference. At its session immediately following the Conference session, it elects its Programme Committee, Finance Committee, and Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters.

The Hundred and Twenty-third Session is scheduled to be held in Rome from 28 October to 2 November 2002.

Mr Aziz Mekouar was appointed Independent Chairman by the Conference at its Thirty-first Session in 2001 until the close of the Thirty-second Session of the Conference in 2002.

PC (Cat. 1)

Programme Committee (CC-703)

Origin

Established as a "Coordinating Committee" by the Conference at its Third Session (1947), and reconstituted at its Sixth Session (1951) (Resolution 84/51). In 1957 the name was changed to Programme Committee. Its size and structure were modified by the Conference at its Nineteenth Session (1977, Resolution 15/77).

Purpose

To assist the Council in carrying out its duties regarding the development and implementation of the Organization's programme activities. Its functions are enumerated in Rule XXVI of the General Rules of the Organization.

First Session

Coordinating Committee, March 1949; Programme Committee, March 1958.

Membership

Representatives of 11 Member Nations elected by the Council from specific regions as determined by the Conference for the purpose of Council elections. Members of the Committee shall appoint as their representatives individuals who have shown a continued interest in the objectives and activities of the Organization, who have participated in Conference or Council sessions and who have special expertise and experience in economic, social and technical matters pertaining to the various fields of the Organization's activities. Members of the Committee are elected for a period of two years at the session of the Council immediately following the regular session of the Conference. They are eligible for reappointment. The Chairman is elected by the Council from among the designated representatives of the prospective Members of the Committee. In the absence of the Chairman, his functions are exercised by the Vice-Chairman elected by the Committee from among its Members. The Independent Chairman of the Council may attend sessions or meetings of the Committee ex officio.

The present Membership (until November 2003) is:

Secretary: A. Quereshi (PBEP)

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section E.

Present Position

The Eighty-ninth Session is scheduled to be held from 5 to 9 May 2003.

FC (Cat. 1)

Finance Committee (CC-704)

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established as the "Committee on Financial Control" (CFC) by a Resolution of the Conference at its Third Session (1947) as successor to the Sub-Committee on Finance. In 1958, the name was changed to Finance Committee.

Purpose

To assist the Council in exercising control over the financial administration of the Organization. Its functions are set out in Rule XXVII of the General Rules of the Organization. The Finance Committee holds concurrent sessions with the Programme Committee during the second year of the biennium (Rule XXVIII of the General Rules of the Organization), and sometimes also in the first year.

First Session

Committee on Financial Control, December 1947; Finance Committee, March 1958.

Membership

Representatives of nine Member Nations elected by the Council from specific regions as determined by the Conference for the purpose of Council elections. Members of the Committee shall appoint as their representatives individuals who have shown a continued interest in the objectives and activities of the Organization, who have participated in Conference or Council sessions and who have special expertise and experience in administrative and financial matters. Members of the Committee are elected for a period of two years at the session of the Council immediately following the regular session of the Conference. They are eligible for reappointment. The Chairman is elected by the Council from among the designated representatives of the prospective Members of the Committee. In the absence of the Chairman, his functions are exercised by the Vice-Chairman elected by the Committee from among its Members. The Independent Chairman of the Council may attend sessions or meetings of the Committee ex officio.

The present Membership (until November 2003) is:

Secretary G.C. Flood (AFHP)

Working Languages

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section F.

Present Position

The Hundred and First Session is scheduled to be held in from 5 to 9 May 2003.

CCLM (Cat. 1)

Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (CC-705)

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established in 1957 by the Ninth Session of the Conference.

Purpose

To consider specific constitutional and legal items referred to it by the Council or by the Director-General and resulting from matters enumerated in Rule XXXIV-3 of the General Rules of the Organization.

First Session

February 1958.

Membership

Not more than seven Member Nations elected for two years by the Council at its session immediately following the regular Conference session.

The present Membership (until November 2003) is:

Secretary: L.M. Bombín (LEGA)

Working Languages

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Present Position

The Seventy-fourth Session is scheduled to be held in October 2002.

CCP (Cat. 1)

Committee on Commodity Problems (ESC-701) ³

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Fifth Session (1949) to work under the supervision of and be responsible to the Council. By decision of the Conference at its Ninth Session (1957), it became a Committee of the Council.

Purpose

The terms of reference of the Committee as laid down in Rule XXIX of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

1. To keep commodity problems of an international character affecting production, trade, distribution and consumption, and related economic matters under review;
2. To prepare a factual and interpretative survey of the world commodity situation, which would be made available directly to Member Nations; and
3. To report and submit suggestions to the Council on policy issues arising out of its deliberations, and to avail these reports and those of its Subsidiary Bodies to Member Nations for their information.

First Session

January 1950

Membership

Open to all Members which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in its work. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present Membership for the 2002-03 biennium is:

Secretary: Mr D. Hallam (ESCR)

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Revised rules were adopted at the Forty-seventh Session (1972) and amended at the Fifty-first Session (1977). See Basic Texts, Vol. 1, Section G.

Pattern of Sessions

One session during each biennium, convened sufficiently in advance of the Council session before the regular sessions of the Conference. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXIX-4 and 5, GRO).

Subsidiary Bodies

See pages 35 to 47.

Achievement 2000-01

Assessed the global commodity market situation, identifying many factors as having an important influence.

Reviewed the work of the Intergovernmental Commodity Groups and the Consultative Sub-Committee on Surplus Disposal, further rationalizing the Groups. Recommended the inclusion of dairy products and pulses in the monitoring activities of the IGGs on Meat and on Grains, respectively, within existing resources.

Endorsed the pursuance of work on commodities not covered by the IGGs, building on existing valuable cooperation with other competent organizations.

Endorsed the importance attached by the IGGs to CFC-related commodity development projects.

Monitored those elements of Conference Resolution 2/79 which continued to be of topical concern, in particular protectionism in agriculture, agricultural trade among developing countries and agricultural international agreements.

Assessed the effects of the implementation of the Agreement on Agriculture, with special emphasis on consequences for food security.

Provided guidelines on future analytical work inter alia on market access issues; the economics of organic agricultural production and trade and the impact of biotechnology developments on trade.

Assessed the impact of the Uruguay Round on agricultural commodity markets based on the initial four years' experience, and reviewed the trade-related technical assistance activities FAO was providing to developing countries as follow-up to the World Food Summit Plan of Action.

Reviewed the Organization’s technical assistance related to the ongoing MTNs, indicating the need to strengthen such activities;

Provided a forum for consultations on immediate and longer-term policy issues confronting trade in agricultural commodities to promote international cooperation and policy action required for their resolution.

COFI (Cat. 1)

Committee on Fisheries (FI-701)

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Thirteenth Session (1965, Resolution 13/65) as a Committee of the Council.

Purpose

The terms of reference of the Committee as laid down in Rule XXX of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

b)    conduct periodic general reviews of international fishery problems and examine possible solutions through national, FAO and intergovernmental programmes;

d)    consider the desirability of preparing and submitting to Member Nations an international convention under Article XIV of the Constitution to ensure effective international cooperation and consultation in fisheries on a world scale;

First Session

June 1966.

Membership

Open to all Members which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in its work. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present Membership for the 2002-2003 biennium is:

Secretary: B. Satia (FIPL)

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session (1966); amended at the Second Session (1967), and at the Eleventh Session (1977). See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section H.

Pattern of Sessions

Normally one session during each biennium; to be convened sufficiently in advance of the Council session held approximately midway between the regular sessions of the Conference. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXX-4 and 5, GRO).

Subsidiary Body

See pages 48 to 49.

Achievement 2000-01

The Committee agreed to establish a Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and adopted the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. It agreed that future reporting on the implementation of the Code of Conduct and related IPOAs should be based on in-depth analysis of problems associated with their efficient implementation, using case studies. COFI welcomed the Medium-Term Plan for Fisheries, identified the expected results of the programmes, priority areas of work for the Fisheries Department during the biennium 2002-2003, and areas for future work by its Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.

COFO (Cat. 1)

Committee on Forestry (FO-701)

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Sixteenth Session (1971, Resolution 10/71) as a Committee of the Council.

Purpose

The terms of reference of the Committee as laid down in Rule XXXI of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

b)    review the work programmes of the Organization in the field of forestry and their implementation;

d)    review specific matters relating to forestry referred to the Committee by the Council or the Director-General, or placed by the Committee on its agenda at the request of a Member Nation in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Committee, and make recommendations as may be appropriate;

First Session

May 1972

Membership

Open to all Member Nations which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in the work of the Committee. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present Membership for the 2002-03 biennium is:

Secretary: Michael Martin (FODA)

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the Second Session (1974) and amended at the Third Session (1976). See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section I.

Pattern of Sessions

Normally once in each biennium, early in non-Conference years (sessions were held in 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001). If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXXI-3 and 4, GRO).

Achievement 2000-01

The Committee recommended that FAO should actively support efforts to strengthen national capabilities to collect, analyze and disseminate information about forests, in partnership with other organizations; recommended that FAO continue to review and harmonize forestry-related definitions; and requested FAO to assist countries with training and technology transfer. The Committee recommended that FAO, in collaboration with key partners, continue to play a lead role in the development and implementation of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, including support for model forests; to serve as a neutral forum to discuss forest certification, and to analyze the impacts and technical aspects of forest certification schemes. The Committee requested FAO to provide strong support to the United Nations Forum on Forests and to take an active leadership role in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The Committee supported FAO’s efforts to assist countries with the implementation of national forest programmes, including cross-sectoral aspects. The Committee recommended that the FAO Programme of Work and Budget should provide additional financial resources to Forestry. The Committee recommended that FAO should continue its work in forest resources assessments, with an emphasis on national-capacity building. The Committee requested continued improvements in FAO’s programme and budgeting process. The Committee requested FAO to support the work of key international conventions related to forests, including those on climate change, desertification, and biological diversity. The Committee endorsed FAO’s work to support the International Year of the Mountains. The Committee endorsed the recommendations of the FAO Regional Forestry Commissions, and encouraged FAO to take further measures to strengthen the Commissions and related regional approaches to forestry, including sharing of information among regions.

COAG (Cat. 1)

Committee on Agriculture (COAG-701)

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Sixteenth Session (1971, Resolution 11/71) as a Committee of the Council.

Purpose

The terms of reference as laid down in Rule XXXII of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

b)    advise the Council on the overall medium- and longer-term work programme of the Organization relating to agriculture, food and nutrition, with emphasis on the integration of all social, technical, economic, institutional and structural aspects dealing with agricultural and rural development in general;

d)    review specific matters relating to agriculture, food and nutrition referred to the Committee by the Conference, the Council or the Director-General, or placed by the Committee on its agenda at the request of a Member Nation in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Committee, and make recommendations as may be appropriate;

First Session

April 1972.

Membership

Open to all Members which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in the work of the Committee. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present Membership for the 2002-03 biennium is:

Secretary: B. Haight (AGD)

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session (1972) and amended at the Fourth Session (1977). See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section J.

Pattern of Sessions

Normally once in each biennium, early in Conference years. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXXII-3 and 4, GRO).

Achievement 2000-01

The Sixteenth Session of the Committee on Agriculture supported the Secretariat’s proposal to develop an integrated climate change programme based on current activities, within Regular Budget provisions, and consistent with the legal and political framework of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the technical work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The PAIA on Climate Change Issues in Agriculture, approved in the PWB 2002-03, is coordinated by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Climate Change and Variability in Relation to Food Security.

The Committee recognized the complexity of the international regulatory framework for biosecurity, and emphasized that full use should be made of existing relevant organizations and agreements. It appreciated FAO’s leadership role in two of the international standard-setting mechanisms recognized by the SPS agreement of the WTO - the IPPC and Codex Alimentarius - as well as scope for in-house coordination through the PAIA on Biosecurity, subsequently established in the PWB 2002-03.

The Committee welcomed the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development that took place concurrently with the Sixteenth Session of COAG, and in conformity with the CSD-8 decision in this regard, with the participation of five of the nine major groups identified in Agenda 21: Business and Industry, Farmers, Indigenous Peoples, Workers and Trade Unions, and NGOs. Representatives of some Government delegations attending COAG also were present and joined the Multi-stakeholder Forum’s debate, the outcome of which assisted FAO in completing its Task Manager’s report on “Land and Agriculture” for CSD-10 and in preparing for the Johannesburg Summit in 2002.

CFS (Cat. 1)

Committee on World Food Security (ESA-728)

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Eighteenth Session (1975, Resolution 21/75) as a Committee of the Council.

Purpose

The terms of reference of the Committee, as laid down in Rule XXXIII of the General Rules of the Organization. This rule was amended by the Conference at its Twenty-ninth Session (Resolution 8/97) to take into account the substantial role accorded to the Committee as reflected in Commitment Seven of the Plan of Action adopted by the World Food Summit in November 1996, as well as the transfer of functions of the World Food Council to FAO and WFP. The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:

a)     examine major problems and issues affecting the world food situation and the steps being proposed or taken to resolve them by Governments and relevant international organizations, bearing in mind the need for the adoption of an integrated approach towards their solution;

b)     examine the implications for world food security of other relevant factors, including the situation relating to the supply and demand of basic stuffs and food aid requirements and trends, the state of stocks in exporting and importing countries and issues relating to physical and economic access to food and other food security-related aspects of poverty eradication; and

c)     recommend such action as may be appropriate to promote the goal of world food security.

First Session

April 1976.

Membership

Open to all Members of the Organization and all Member States of the United Nations which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in the work of the Committee. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present Membership for the 2002-2003 biennium is:

Secretary: To be designated.

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session (1976). Revised by the Committee at its Twenty-fourth Session, to make them conform with Rule XXXIII as amended.

Pattern of Sessions

Two sessions during each biennium – in even years after the completion of regional conferences to enable them to report on their progress in following up World Food Summit Plan of Action. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXXIII-3 and 4, GRO).

Achievement 2000-01

Examined and assessed the world food security situation in 2000 and 2001, and approved a new structure for the report of the Committee.

Agreed on the key indicators for monitoring world food security at the international level.

Reviewed the progress in the development of FIVIMS in 2000 and 2001.

Reviewed country progress in the Implementation of Commitments I, II, V and relevant parts of Commitment VII of the World Food Summit Plan of Action in 2000.

Reviewed key documents and procedures for World Food Summit: five years later in 2001.

Initiated negotiations on, through an Open-ended Working Group, text for Declaration at the World Food Summit: five years later.

Held Informal Panel sessions involving NGOs, CSOs and private sector representatives in 2000 and 2001.

AGRICULTURE

ECA (Cat. 1)

European Commission on Agriculture (REU-701)

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Director-General in 1949 on the recommendation of a preparatory meeting of representatives of European Member Nations (Paris, 1949) as the "European Committee on Agricultural Technology"; formally recognized as an Article VI-1 Body and its functions defined by the Conference at its Sixth Session (1951, Resolution 87). The title was changed to "European Committee on Agriculture" by decision of the Council at its Fifteenth Session (1952) and in 1956 changed again to the present title. The Commission's terms of reference were broadened by the Conference at its Ninth Session (1957, Resolution 26/57).

Purpose

To assist Member Governments to undertake joint action and to cooperate in technological agricultural problems, including research, education, extension, review of all nutrition questions, questions relating to agricultural economy not under the purview of the Committee on Commodity Problems, and related activities in or by Member Governments in Europe, as well as to encourage and facilitate cooperation between international governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with agriculture in Europe; and to make recommendations on all matters within its geographical and technical competence. Following a request by the 22^nd FAO Regional Conference for Europe, the Commission is now directly linked to the FAO Regional Conference for Europe and outcome of its deliberations is submitted to the Regional Conference (see CL 119/PV/5).

First Session

September 1949.

Membership

Open to all Member Nations in the FAO European Region. The Sixth Session (1954) recommended that Member Governments should designate representatives to the Commission who could serve in a continuing capacity.

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the Fourth Session (1952). Amended at the Sixth (1954), Tenth (1958), Thirteenth (1963), Seventeenth (1970), Twentieth (1976), Twenty-first (1978), Twenty-sixth (1989) and Twenty-eighth (1993) Sessions.

Pattern of Sessions

1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002.

Subsidiary Body

Working Party on Women and the Family in Rural Development (REU-704) (English) (1).

Achievement 2000-01

Normally reviews selected key issues in European agriculture and formulates recommendations for policy endorsement by the FAO Regional Conference for Europe during its biennial sessions.

The Commission, as recommended by the 119^th Session of the FAO Council, did not meet during the biennium 2000-2001, and dates of future meetings will be linked to those of the Regional Conference for Europe in view of the Commission’s revised mandate (CL 119/PV/5 refers).

ECA:WPW (Cat. 1)

ECA Working Party on Women and the Family in Rural Development (REU-704)

Origin

Established by the European Commission on Agriculture at its Fourteenth Session (1965, Resolution ECA 8/65), under the name ECA Working Party on Home Economics. With the gradual recognition of the important role of farm and rural women in the socio-economic development of rural communities, the Twelfth FAO Regional Conference for Europe held in Athens in 1980 (see Report, para 77) decided to change the party's title to the "Working Party on Women and the Agricultural Family in Rural Development". The change to its present name was recommended at the Seventh Session of the WPW (Athens, 1994) and approved at the Thirtieth Session of the ECA (Nitra, 1997).

Purpose

• Encourage the exchange of information and experience with a view to promoting the role of women and the family in agriculture and rural development;
   
• promote and encourage the professional development of rural women;
   
• cooperate with institutions and agencies striving for the integration of women in rural development,
   
• and formulate policy recommendations on matters pertaining to education, research, extension, training and other related fields within their areas of technical competence.

First Session

Working Party on Home Economics (1966)

Working Party on Women and the Agricultural Family in Rural Development (1982)

Working Party on Women and the Family in Rural Development (1998)

Membership

Open to all Members of the European Commission on Agriculture. The Board of the Working Party, composed of representatives of seven Member Nations (elected at sessions), expedites follow-up activities and acts as an Advisory Committee between sessions.

Working Language

English.

Rules of Procedure

Those of the European Commission on Agriculture.

Pattern of Sessions

1966, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000.

Achievement 2000-01

The Tenth Session of the WPW was held in Innsbruck, Austria from 4 to 7 October 2000 with the theme “Challenges and Opportunities for Youth in Rural Areas”. The Session acknowledged the ripple effect of the activities of the WPW, resulting in regional and subregional workshops, seminars, the dissemination of methodologies and international exchanges of experiences. It emphasised the importance of the continuation of the work of the WPW, as it is the only group within the European Region that works specifically with the issues faced by rural women. The Session pointed to the need to increase the participation of rural youth in the political decision-making processes at all levels, enhance the quality and relevancy of educational structures and processes targeting rural youth and adjust the rural socio-economic structures to the on-going global changes and development framework conditions addressing local employment needs and initiatives.

The 13^th Summer School was held in Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom from 10 to 15 September 2000 with the theme “Networking and Partnership Building for Rural Development”. The overall objective of the event was for participants to build up their capacity, enhance their knowledge and gain skills for networking and partnership building in rural development.

The 14^th Summer School was held in Kiltimagh, Ireland from 16 to 22 September 2001 with the theme “Alternative Initiatives for Rural Development”. The overall objective of the event was for participants to gain knowledge and skills for rural development by learning to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different alternative approaches to rural development and how to use different tools and methodologies to mobilize local communities.

The Workshop on the Implementation of National Action Plans for Women in Development was held in Liptovsky Mijulas, Slovakia from 13 to 19 May 2000. The objective of the Workshop was to reflect on the current situation concerning National Action Plan for Rural Women in Development (NAP for RWID) in the European Region and to develop and/or revise the action plans, on the basis of the lessons learned. The Workshop was fourth in the line of the workshops on the preparation and implementation of the National Action Plan organized by FAO.

IRC (Cat. 1)

International Rice Commission (AGP-723)

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Origin

The Conference, at its Fourth Session (1948), approved the establishment of the Commission and instructed the Director-General to proceed with its organization as soon as the required number of Member Governments had accepted the IRC Constitution formulated by the International Rice Meeting in Baguio, Philippines in March 1948. The Constitution of the Commission came into force on 4 January 1949, and was amended in 1953, 1955, 1961, 1973 and 1982.

Purpose

To promote co-operative action by Member Nations in matters relating to the production, conservation, distribution and consumption of rice (excluding matters relating to international trade)

First Session

March 1949.

Membership

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members that accept the IRC Constitution in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII thereof.

The present Membership is:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session (1949). Amended at the Third (1952), Fourth (1954), Seventh (1960), the Special (1973) and Fifteenth (1982) Sessions.

Pattern of Sessions

Biennial up to 1968 (Second to Eleventh Sessions), and every three to five years from Twelfth Session (1972) onwards. Special Session (1973) recommended that the Secretariat organize Ad Hoc Meetings, Technical Conferences or Expert Consultations on rice problems of particular importance or urgency for a given region or sub-region in accordance with regional priorities between regular sessions; Fourteenth Session (1977); Fifteenth Session (1982); Sixteenth Session (1985); Seventeenth Session (1990); Eighteenth Session (1994); Nineteenth Session (1998); Twentieth Session (2002).

Achievement 2000-01

The Commission continued to promote wider adoption of hybrid rice technology outside China. In 2001, India and Vietnam grew about 150,000 hectares and 340,000 hectares of hybrid rice, respectively, with technical support from FAO in collaboration with IRRI in the Philippines and the National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Centre in China. Also, with technical assistance from FAO, the Philippines grew 2,000 of hybrid rice. Egypt and Indonesia have recently received FAO’s technical assistance on hybrid rice in the context of the Technical Co-operation Programme. FAO, IRRI and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Viet Nam organized the Regional Workshop on Policy Support for Adoption of Hybrid Rice on Large-scale Production in Asia in Hanoi 2000. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by FAO and WARDA in 2000 for the Rapid Rice Technology Diffusion in West Africa (RARIDIWA), under the framework of the Special Programme for Food Security. The Working Group on Hybrid Rice was integrated into the two other activities – rice biotechnology and recurrent breeding- and became the Working Group on Advanced Rice Breeding (GRUMEGA) in Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

The Expert Consultation on Yield Gap and Productivity Decline in Rice Production was held in Rome in 2000 to provide a forum for exchange of information on findings, develop guidelines for classification and identification of yield gap and yield/productivity decline and prepare recommendations for action to narrow the observed yield gaps and reversing yield declines, especially in the intensified production systems. The development and test of Integrated Crop Management Packages for irrigated rice production were continued in collaboration with selected NARS in Asia. Support was provided to the FAO Inter-Regional Collaborative Research Network on Rice in the Mediterranean Climate Areas (MED-RICE) in the organization of the Workshop on Integrated Rice Crop Management held in Edirne, Turkey in 2000; the Workshop on Rice Breeding in Europe held in Krasnodar, Russia in 2001. Particular efforts were made to promote the transfer of NERICA (New Rice for Africa) resulted from O. glaberrima x O. sativa crosses at WARDA to farmers in West Africa, with the aim to promote sustainable increased rice production in the sub-region. The Commission continued to support the Special Programme for Food Security in selected countries. In collaboration with WARDA, the Workshop on Rice Integrated Crop Management Technologies for Irrigated Rice Production Systems in West Africa was organized in Saint-Louis, Senegal in 2001.

The Commission’s Steering Committee met twice in 2000 and 2001 to review its Members’activities, to prepare and organize the 20^th Session to be convened in Bangkok, Thailand from 23 to 25 July 2002. Two IRC Newsletters, volume 49 and 50; the Proceedings of the Expert Consultation on Yield Gap and Productivity Decline in Rice Production, Regional Workshop on Policy Support for Adoption of Hybrid Rice on Large-scale Production in Asia; a document on Speciality Rice in the World: Breeding, Production and Marketing; and the manual on Technology of Hybrid Rice (in Spanish) were published in 2000-01. The Websites of the Commission were updated.

Resolution 2/2001 on the International Year of Rice, whose main sponsor was the delegation of the Philippines, was adopted by the FAO Conference at its 31st session on 13 November 2001. The Conference requested the Director-General to transmit this Resolution to the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to having the United Nations declare the Year 2004 as The International Year of Rice.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH

EUFMD (Cat. 1)

European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (AGA-701)

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Origin

Established upon approval by the Conference at its Seventh Session (1953, Resolution 33) of the Commission's Constitution, which came into force on 12 June 1954. Constitution amended at the Ninth (1962), Twentieth (1973), Twenty-second (1977), Twenty-eighth (1989) and Thirty-second Sessions of the Commission and subsequently approved by the Thirty-ninth (1962, Resolution 3/39), Sixty-first (1973, Resolution 5/61), Seventy-second (1977, Resolution 5/72), and Ninety-sixth (1989, Resolution 2/96) and Hundred and Thirteenth (1997) Sessions of the Council, respectively.

Purpose

To promote and coordinate national and international action for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Europe.

First Session

July 1954.

Membership

Open to such European Member Nations of FAO and to such European Members of the International Office of Epizootics that are Members of the United Nations as accept the Constitution of the Commission in accordance with Article XV thereof. Other European States that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency may be admitted as Members by a two-thirds majority of the Commission's Membership. Membership entails the obligation of contributing to the Commission's budget in accordance with a scale of contributions determined by the Commission.

The present Membership is:

The European Community attends as observer.

Working Languages

English, French.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the Second Session (1955); amended at the Ninth (1962), Eleventh (1964), Twentieth (1973), Twenty-eighth (1989) and Thirty-second (1997) Sessions.

Pattern of Sessions

Annual up to and including 1973, then biennial (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001).

Subsidiary Body

Research Group of the Standing Technical Committee (AGA-705) (English) (3)

• Individuals appointed in their personal capacity as determined by the Commission.

Achievement 2000-01

The Commission continued to monitor the FMD situation in Europe and in neighbouring countries. The Thirty-fourth Session considered and made recommendations on the measures to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of FMD in Europe, the buffer zones in Turkish Thrace and in Caucase, the utilization of new tests to distinguish vaccinated and infected animals, and the risk assessment of FMD.

APHCA (Cat. 1)

Regional Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific (RAP-702)

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Origin

Established under Article XXIII of the Agreement for the Establishment of a Regional Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia, the Far East and the Southwest Pacific which was approved by the Council at its Sixtieth Session (1973, Resolution 1/60). The Agreement came into force on 29 December 1975 and was amended in 1977 and 1979 (Resolutions 2/74 and 1/76 of the Seventy-fourth and Seventy-sixth Sessions of the Council) and again 1986 (Resolution 3/90 of the Ninetieth Session of the Council) to bring the title of the Commission into line with decisions taken by the Conference at its Twentieth Session (1979).

Purpose

To promote livestock development in general, national and international research and action with respect to animal health and husbandry problems in Asia, the Far East and the Southwest Pacific.

First Session

June 1976.

Membership

Open to Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization situated wholly or partly within, or responsible for the international relations of any territory situated wholly or partly within, the area bounded by latitudes 500 North, 500 South and longitudes 600 East and 1300 West that become parties to the Agreement by the deposit of an instrument of acceptance.

The present Membership is:

Working Language

English.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session (1976).

Pattern of Sessions

Proposed to be annual until 1995. Biennial during 1995-96, then back to annual from 1997.

Achievement 2000-01

Organized the Fifty-ninth Executive Committee Meeting and the Twenty-fourth Session of APHCA, (Dhaka, Bangladesh, 6-9 November 2000) and the Sixtieth Executive Committee Meeting and the Twenty-fifth Session of APHCA (Manila, Philippines, 24-26 September 2001).

Organized the following workshops and training courses:

• APHCA-FAO-WHO-OIE Workshop on Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses, and the OIE-APHCA-FAO Workshop on WTO’s Sanitary Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) Agreement (Dhaka, Bangladesh, 7-9 November 2000).
• Regional Workshop on Water Buffalo Development in cooperation with the Japan Livestock Technology Association (JLTA), and DLD of Thailand (Surin, Thailand, 8-10 February 2001).
• Co-operated with AGAL (FAO HQ) in organizing the Regional FAO Brainstorm Workshop “Fostering the Policy Dialogue in Support of Equitable, Safe and Clean Livestock Farming” (Bangkok, Thailand, 19-22 February 2001).
• FAO-APHCA/OIE Regional Workshop on World Trade Organization (WTO)’s Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) Agreement at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University (FVM-CMU) (Chiang Mai, Thailand, 9-12 July 2001) with full co-operation of the Thai Department of Livestock Development (DLD), Free University of Berlin (FU-Berlin), and Japan Livestock Technology Association (JLTA).
• Cooperated with AGAL (FAO HQ) in organizing “Workshop to Formulate Guidelines for the Implementation of Area-Wide Integration (AWI) of Specialized Crop and Livestock Activities” (Bangkok, Thailand, 17-20 September 2001).
• The Regional Workshops on Preparing for and Managing Disease Emergency and the Regional Workshop on Buffalo Development (Manila, Philippines, 25-26 September 2001).
• Co-organized (upon urgent request of the Thai Department of Livestock Development - DLD) the FAO-APHCA/OIE/DLD Regional Workshop on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Diagnosis and Surveillance (Bangkok, Thailand, 19-22 November 2001.
• Scanned and maintained valuable FAO and APHCA publications/papers in the APHCA electronic library.
• Developed and maintained the APHCA Mail Server ([email protected]).
• Published and distributed the electronic version of ASIAN LIVESTOCK both on the APHCA website and via e-mail.
• Placed the APHCA website on a permanent web hosting server available since September 2000 (URL address: http://www.aphca.org).
• Provided and distributed technical information, papers, and publications of FAO, APHCA and the others that are available within the APHCA Information Unit upon request, free of charge.
• Created and maintained an ASCII text only website and e-mail for APHCA Delegates/National Focal Points.
• Cooperated in activities with other International Organizations and Donor Agencies:
• Participated in the Preparation Workshop on M.Sc. (Veterinary Public Health-VPH) Programme which was co-organized by the FU-Berlin and FVM-CMU.
• Cooperated and acted as Focal Point for the German Foundation for International Development (DSE) Training Courses/Programmes to be organized in Germany and in Thailand.
• Supported the ILRI/CGIAR in organizing Workshops on “Identifying Priority Areas for International Action for the Development of Livestock Technologies” (Bangkok, Thailand, 30 April and 1 May 2001, and Hyderabad, India, on 4 and 5 May 2001, respectively).

LDAC (Cat. 1)

Commission on Livestock Development for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC-703)

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Council at its Ninety-second Session (1987, Resolution 1/92).

Purpose

To recommend animal production and health policies for the Members of the Commission; to plan and promote action for the improvement of animal production; to plan and promote action for the survey and control of animal diseases and recommend common standards and practices for this purpose; to plan and promote action for the transfer and adaptation of biotechnology in livestock development; to plan and promote action to establish research and educational programmes to meet the needs of the animal industry; to determine, in consultation with Members concerned, the nature and extent of assistance needed by such Members in order to implement their national livestock development programmes, as well as support regional programmes; to appraise progress reports on the implementation and development of the programme.

First Session

September 1988.

Membership

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organisation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Membership shall comprise those Member Nations or Associate Members, which notify the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

The present Membership is:

Working Languages

English, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

Biennial.

Achievement 2000-01

Three subregional meetings of the Commission on Livestock Development were held in 2001, each one preceded by an Expert Consultation on the Status and Outlook of the Livestock Sector were held in Panama, Peru and Uruguay. It was agreed to establish strategic partnerships between institutions and countries to seek solutions to common livestock problems, and to continue efforts to mitigate and resolve problems relating to the presence of OIE list A diseases and the growing resistance of ecto- and endoparasites to antiparasitic drugs.

_____________________________

¹ Inter alia, Amendment of the Constitution, General Rules of the Organization and Financial Regulations, election of the Chairman of the Council and of the Director-General, election to seats on the Council, Admission of Members and Associate Members, approval of the conventions and agreements for submission to Member Governments (Const. Article XIV), and establishment of Commissions, Committees, Conferences, and Working Parties, and convening of Conferences and Consultations (Const. Article VI).

² Three Special Conference Sessions (1948, 1950, 1956), and a general Commemorative Conference
Session (Twenty-fifth Anniversary - 1970) have been held to date.

³ In addition to its Subsidiary Bodies, CCP may also convene ad hoc consultations on committees for which no standing Subsidiary Body exists.

⁴ Extended to the territories of Cocos (Keeling), Christmas, Norfolk and Coral Sea Islands.