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 24 November 1999)

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

a)    if at any regular session the Conference decides, by a majority of the votes cast, to meet in the following year;

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

The Thirty-first Session is scheduled to be held in Rome in November 2001.

CL (Cat. 1)

Council of FAO (CC-702)

(Article V of the Constitution)

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 2000

Membership from 1 January 2001 to November 2001

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 Nineteenth Session is scheduled to be held in Rome from 20-25 November 2000.

Mr Sjarifudin Baharsjah was re-appointed Independent Chairman by the Conference at its Thirtieth Session in 1999 until the close of the Thirty-first Session of the Conference in 2001.

PC (Cat. 1)

Programme Committee (CC-703)

(Article V of the Constitution)

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 2001) 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-fourth Session is scheduled to be held in September 2000.

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 2001) is:

Secretary G.C. Flood (AFPE)

Working Languages

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section F.

Present Position

The Ninety-fifth Session is scheduled to be held in September 2000.

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 2001) is:

Secretary: L.M. Bombín (LEGA)

Working Languages

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Present Position

The Seventy-second Session is scheduled to be held in October 2000.

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 2000-01 biennium is:

Secretary: Ms P. Fortucci (ESCD)

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 34 to 46.

Achievement 1998-99

Assessed the world commodity market situation and outlook and examined the medium-term prospects for major agricultural commodities based on FAO projections of supply, demand, trade and prices to the year 2005 under alternative scenarios.

Undertook a preliminary assessment of 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 Negotiations and the World Food Summit Plan of Action.

Reviewed the work of the CCP Subsidiary Bodies, including the Intergovernmental Commodity Groups and the Consultative Sub-Committee on Surplus Disposal, and introduced a number of actions to strengthen their organization and functioning.

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.

Reviewed developments in protectionism in agricultural trade as follow-up to the Conference Resolution 2/79, and advised the Secretariat on further work to be undertaken related to protectionism, including assistance to developing countries in preparation for the forthcoming continuation of the reform process in the WTO.

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:

a)    Review the work programmes of the Organization in the field of fisheries, and their implementation;

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

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

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;

e)    report to the Council or tender advice to the Director-General, as appropriate, on matters considered by the Committee.

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 2000-01 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 47 to 48.

Achievement 1998-99

Noted the increasing important role of inland capture fisheries and aquaculture in fish production and human nutrition. Emphasized the benefits of integrated resources management, the need to combat adverse impacts on the environment, as well as the need for enhanced cooperation between fishers, government agencies and other stakeholders. It discussed experiences in implementing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and made a number of recommendations stressing the high priority it placed on the implementation of the three International Plans of Action (on the management of fishing capacity for the management and conservation of sharks and for reducing incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries) adopted at the session, as well as on activities to support sustainable aquaculture and address the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

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:

a)    Conduct periodic reviews of international forestry problems and appraise these problems with a view to proposing concerted action to be undertaken by Member Nations and the Organization in their resolution;

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

c)    advise the Director-General on the future work programmes of the Organization in the field of forestry and on 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;

e)    report to the Council and tender advice to the Director-General, as appropriate, on matters considered by the Committee.

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 2000-01 biennium is:

Secretary: J. Ball (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). If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXXI-3 and 4, GRO).

Achievement 1998-99

The Committee discussed the Follow-up to UNCED, including implications of the work of the IFF; the Global forest sector outlook; the national and international challenges on national forest policies for sustainability; the FAO Strategic Framework (2000-2015) and its implications for the medium-term for forestry programmes; and recommendations made by the Forestry Regional Commissions and other Statutory Bodies concerned with forestry.

The Committee recommended: (a) the formulation of national forest programmes (nfps) and their implementation should not be limited to developing countries; (b) to strengthen partnership between FAO, IFAD and the Secretariat of the Global Mechanism for the Convention to Combat Desertification, among others; (c) continued support to regional processes on criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management (SFM); (d) to promote cooperation through existing regional groups and processes to identify criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management; (e) to continue to give high priority to Regional and Global Outlook Studies in FAO's programme of work regarding the global forest sector outlook, to analyze the full range of policies playing a critical role in the implementation of SFM, and to broaden the work on collection, exchange and dissemination of information in order to improve the quality of the Regional and Global Outlook Studies; (f) FAO should play a major role in addressing inter-sectoral issues regarding national forest policies for sustainability, lay more emphasis on assisting countries in policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation; (g) increased support for related capacity-building and technology transfer implementation of criteria and indicators, monitoring of progress and support to regional processes; (h) to support workshops on trade-related aspects and on planning, monitoring, evaluation and legislation for sustainable management of all types of forests; (i) documentation should include qualitative information and analysis on the impact of decentralization and on progress in gender mainstreaming; (j) to give forestry greater prominence in the Strategic Framework and ascertain that mission, goals and objectives in the Strategic Plan for Forestry be more closely integrated into the Strategic Framework; (k) to increase allocation of resources to the Forestry Department in order to implement the Strategic Plan, including continuing to build cooperation and partnerships with countries and other agencies.

The Committee also recommended that FAO (a) examine the various recommendations of the Regional Forestry Commissions, prioritize them in line with FAO priorities in the Strategic Framework, and take necessary steps to implement them; and (b) continue its efforts to increase the activities and relevance of these Commissions.

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:

a)    Conduct periodic reviews and appraisals, on a highly selective basis, of agricultural and nutritional problems, with a view to proposing concerted action by Member Nations and the Organization;

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;

c)    review, with similar emphasis, the biennial work programmes of the Organization and their implementation in areas falling within the competence of the Committee;

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;

e)    report to the Council and tender advice to the Director-General, as appropriate, on any other matter considered by the Committee.

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 2000-01 biennium is:

Secretary: E.A. Kueneman (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 1998-99

The Fifteenth Session of the Committee on Agriculture recommended the development of Organization-wide, and coordinated cross-sectoral programmes. In response to this recommendation, the Director-General established an Inter-Departmental Working Group on Biotechnology, an Inter-Departmental Working Group on Organic Agriculture and an Inter-Departmental Working Group on Food for the Cities.

The last Session of the Committee endorsed the priority given to pest and disease prevention including IPM, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC), noting the need for adequate Regular Programme resource allocation to the Interim PIC Secretariat.

FAO and UNEP have jointly established the Interim Secretariat to the Rotterdam Convention. The Secretariat is located at UNEP Chemicals in Geneva (chiefly industrial chemicals) and the FAO Plant Protection Service in Rome (chiefly pesticides). Much of its operations rely on extra-budgetary, voluntary resources. At the request of the Thirtieth Session of the Conference, FAO made additional Regular Programme resources available (US$ 200,000 in 2000). These resources cover the equivalent of the additional staff costs in FAO for the Rotterdam Secretariat.

The Committee agreed on the preparation of periodic reports on the State of The World's Land and Water Resources and FAO's participation in the preparation of a periodic World Water Development Report.

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 2000-2001 biennium is:

Secretary: Ms B. Huddleston (ESAF)

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. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXXIII-3 and 4, GRO).

Achievement 1998-99

Agreed on procedures and reporting formats for monitoring implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action.

Examined and assessed the world food security situation in 1998 and in 1999, and approved a new structure for future assessment reports.

Agreed on the establishment and terms of reference for an Inter-Agency Working Group on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems and on Guidelines for Establishment of National FIVIMS.

Reviewed progress in implementation of Commitment 7.4 on clarification of the meaning of the right to adequate food and welcomed the General Comment prepared by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the subject.

Examined reports on the Importance of Food Quality and Safety for Developing Countries and on Broadened Participation of Civil Society and Other Partners in the work of the CFS.

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.

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.

Subsidiary Body

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

Achievement 1998-99

The Commission during its biennial session reviews selected key issues in European agriculture and formulates recommendations for future activities.

The Thirtieth Session of the ECA (1997) reviewed the status of pandemic livestock diseases in the Region and the contribution of agricultural research to sustainable agricultural development. The Thirty-first Session of the ECA (1999) reviewed technical issues related to conservation and sustainable utilisation of agricultural genetic resources and international and regional cooperation in this field, in particular through the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It also exchanged views on the Multi-functional Character of Agriculture and Land (MFCAL) following the Maastricht Conference (12-17 September 1999) dealing with this subject.

The Commission also reviewed the activities of the ECA Working Party on Women and the Family in Rural Development (WPW) in 1998 and 1999, as well as the activities of the European System of Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture (ESCORENA) in the changing environment of the European agricultural research scene in the context of interregional cooperation.

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

• To promote the role of rural women and their families in development processes;
• to encourage the professional development of rural women;
• to formulate policy recommendations regarding research, extension, training and education; and
• to promote cooperation between institutions, agencies and organizations for the integration of rural women in development throughout Europe.

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.

Achievement 1998-99

The WPW organized a Workshop on Women's Participation in Policy-making Processes in Rural Communities (Gausdal, Norway, 1998). The Workshop's objective was to facilitate rural women's access to policy-makers and to advance their own participation in decision-and policy-making in their communities. In addition, it assisted the organization of the first all European SEAGA Training of Trainers Workshop (Malaga, Spain, 1999) that aimed at building regional and national capacity on the socio-economic and gender analysis.

It organized an International Rural Development Summer School on Microfinance Models and their Role in the Socio-economic Development of Rural Communities (Tripoli, Greece, 1998) and an International Rural Development Summer School (Roosta Village, Estonia, 1999) on the Role of NGOs in Rural Development.

The Ninth Session of the WPW (Yerevan, Armenia, 1998) assessed the evolution of rural women's involvement in rural development in the European Region over the past decade and discussed the challenges faced by women both in the public and private sectors, using six countries as case studies. It also discussed the obstacles which limit rural women's participation in the various levels of the decision-making process, and identified examples of progress and good practices in order to improve the status of rural women in their families and the European society during the next decade.

The WPW Network, as a dynamic network of individuals, groups, institutions and organizations, provided an even broader forum for discussing and addressing the issues that are relevant to rural women in the FAO European Region.

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. The 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).

Achievement 1998-99

The Commission continued to promote wider adoption of hybrid rice technology outside China. In 1998, India and Viet Nam grew about 120,000 ha and 200,000 ha 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, hybrid rice was grown to 20,000 ha during the Boro season of 1998 in Bangladesh and to several hundreds ha in Myanmar and the Philippines. Egypt and Indonesia recently received FAO's technical assistance on hybrid rice in the context of the Technical Co-operation Programme.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by FAO and IRRI to strengthen the collaboration in promoting wider adoption of hybrid rice under the framework of the International Task Force for Hybrid Rice (INTAFOHR). Through INTAFOHR, the Asian Development Bank approved the funding of a project on Hybrid Rice Development and Use in Asia, implemented by IRRI. A Regional Workshop on Hybrid Rice was organized in Goianas, Brazil for the Latin America and the Caribbean Region in 1999.

The Expert Consultation on Bridging the Rice Yield Gap in the Asia and the Pacific was organized in Bangkok, Thailand in 1999 to identify issues of and approaches to reverse the deceleration of the growth of rice production in the Region. The development and test of Integrated Crop Management Packages for irrigated rice production was initiated 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 in the organization of the Workshop on Water Management in Rice Production at Shaka, Egypt in 1998 and the Workshop in Bucharest, Romania in 1999. Particular efforts were made to promote the transfer of varieties resulted from O. glaberrima x O. sativa crosses at WARDA to farmers in West Africa to promote sustainable increased rice production in the Sub-region. Information on promising varieties for rice production in West Africa were collected and analyzed, in collaboration with WARDA. Support was provided to co-ordinators of Special Programmes for Food Security in selected countries and their counterparts in national rice programmes to undertake working visit WARDA, aimed at promoting collaboration among them.

The Commission's Steering Committee met twice in both 1998 and 1999 to review its Members' activities, to prepared and organized the Nineteenth Session in Cairo, Egypt from 7 to 9 September 1998 and to prepare for the Expert Consultation on Yield Gap and Productivity Decline in Rice Production to be held in Rome, Italy from 5-7 September 2000. Two IRC Newsletters, Volumes 47 and 48, the Proceedings of the Nineteenth Session of the IRC and the second issue of FAO Rice Information were published during the biennium of 1998-99. RiceInfo or Rice Information System was made available at FAO's site in the Internet.

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).

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 1998-99

The Commission continued to monitor the FMD situation in Europe and in neighbouring countries. The Thirty-third Session considered and made recommendations on quality control of FMD vaccines, FMD contingency plans in Member Nations, availability of vaccines for emergency situations, and risk assessments for FMD.

APHCA (Cat. 1)

Regional Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific (RAPA-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 in 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 1998-99

The Twenty-Second and the Twenty-Third General Sessions of the Commission were organized in Bangkok, Thailand in November 1998 and in Kochi (Cochin), India in September 1999, respectively.

One Executive Committee Meeting was held in conjunction with the Twenty-Second Session in Bangkok in 1998 and two consecutive Meetings were held in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in February 1999 and in Kochi (Cochin) in September 1999 together with the Twenty-Third Session.

The Commission actively deals with livestock information exchange through the APHCA Homepage (URL address: http://members.xoom.com/aphca) and its ASIAN LIVESTOCK quarterly technical magazine which also appear electronically in this APHCA Homepage. The Commission has several joint training programmes, workshops with FAO AGA, EMPRES, GREP and the OIE during the recent years especially on area-wide integration of crop-livestock activities (AWI), information networking on both animal production and health, disease contingency, disease control and animal disease risk analysis.

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 1998-99

This biennium the Commission changed its sessions modality, and the Sixth Session was organised by Sub-regions in connection with a technical event organised by FAO. This resulted in more active participation and cost reduction. The event for Central American countries took place in Costa Rica and was linked with a Seminar on Intensification of Animal Production Systems. The encounter for South American and Andean countries occurred during the second week of December 1999 in Santiago Chile, and was linked with a Seminar on the Barriers for Livestock International Trade. During both convocations, several recommendations concerning SPS, TBT and TRIPS agreements were addressed. The Organization was also requested to continue and increase its advice to Member Nations on modern livestock information and policy analysis.

COMMODITIES AND TRADE

CCP:SD (Cat. 1)

Consultative Sub-Committee on Surplus Disposal (ESC-702)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Twenty-third Session (1954), with the decision that it should meet in Washington, D.C., USA.

Purpose

The Sub-Committee's terms of reference were laid down by the CCP at its Twenty-third Session and restated at its Thirty-first and Forty-fourth Sessions. They require it to keep developments in the disposal of agricultural surpluses under review, and to assist Member Nations in developing suitable means of surplus disposal; to provide a forum for consultations and notifications of food aid transactions of Member Nations including usual marketing requirements, as listed in the register attached to the terms of reference, and any other types of transactions subsequently agreed to by CCP. In essence, the purpose of the Sub-Committee is to provide a forum for the examination of any difficulty that may arise in light of the Guidelines and Principles of Surplus Disposal as endorsed by the Conference and to promote observance of the principles recommended by FAO.

First Session

July 1954.

Membership

Open to all Members and Associate Members of FAO.

The present Membership is:

Working Language

English.

Rules of Procedure

Revised rules were adopted at the Sixty-fifth Session (1960). The CCP, at its Thirty-third Session, made amendments to the rules of the Sub-Committee which the latter subsequently adopted.

Pattern of Sessions

Approximately ten per year.

Achievement 1998-99

The Sub-Committee continued its regular review of notifications of food aid transactions to ensure that this assistance did not adversely affect commercial trade and did not create disincentives to domestic production in the recipient countries. A recent major accomplishment by the Sub-Committee was a comprehensive examination of the catalogue of food aid transactions and reporting obligations in light of the incorporation of the Principles of Surplus Disposal in the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. The Sub-Committee's report with recommendations on improving notification, consultation and reporting procedures, including the replacement of the catalogue of transactions with a new Register of Transactions, were endorsed by the FAO Council in November 1997. These are now being prepared for publication as a revision to the CSSD Handbook on the Principles of Surplus Disposal.

CCP:RI (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Rice (ESC-703)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Twenty-sixth Session (1955), the Intergovernmental Group on Rice was originally called the Consultative Sub-Committee on the Economic Aspects of Rice and later the Study Group on Rice.

Purpose

To provide a forum for consultations on the economic aspects of rice, paying particular attention to any special difficulties which exist or are likely to arise in the international trade in rice.

First Session

November 1956

Membership

Opened to all Members and Associate Members that are substantially interested in the production, consumption of and trade in rice. Interested non-Member Nations of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted to Membership by the FAO Council.

Members having attended the Thirty-ninth Session:

Working Languages

English, French and Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Revised Rules of Procedures were adopted at the Twenty-fifth Session (April 1982).

Pattern of Sessions

Once per biennium.

Achievement 1996-97

The Thirty-ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Rice was held jointly with the Twenty-eighth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Grains for the first time. The joint meeting was convened in Rome from 24-26 November 1999. Its main achievements were:

1. To review the situation in world rice production, utilization, stocks and prices in 1998-99 and the outlook for 1999-2000;
2. To present the results of the medium-term cereal projections to the year 2005;
3. To examine the developments in the research on biotechnology as related to cereals and their potential implications for cereal trade;
4. To review major developments in government rice policies during the 1996-99 period within the context of the Guidelines for National and International Action on Rice;
5. To discuss matters related to the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), and
6. To examine the implications of the recommendations of the Sixty-second Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) relative to the mandate and operational procedures of the Intergovernmental Groups.

CCP:GR (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Grains (ESC-709)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Twenty-eighth Session (1957).

Purpose

To consider matters relating to all grains, other than rice, including review of national grain policies and their international effects. To study the production and consumption of, and trade in, grains. To consider how best to deal with any special difficulties which may exist or may be expected to arise. The Group gives special emphasis to problems related to coarse grains, to grains used as animal feed, and to developing countries. The Group is also designated an ICB for purposes of submitting projects for financing by the Common Fund for Commodities on grains, pulses, roots and tubers.

First Session

May 1957.

Membership

Open to all Members and Associate Members of FAO that are substantially interested in the supply, utilization and/or trade in grains. Interested non-Member Nations of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted to Membership by the FAO Council. At its Forty-eighth Session (1967), the Council approved the participation of the USSR in the Group.

Members having attended the Twenty-eighth Session:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Revised rules were adopted at the Twenty-first and Twenty-seventh Sessions.

Pattern of Sessions

Normally once per biennium.

Achievement 1998-99

The Twenty-eighth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Grains was held jointly with the Thirty-ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Rice for the first time. The joint meeting was convened in Rome from 24 to 26 November 1999 where the Groups conducted a review of the world supply and demand situation and outlook for wheat, rice and coarse grains and analyzed selected major issues of the world cereal economy during 1998-99; reviewed the projections to the year 2005 for the supply, utilization and trade in cereals; examined the developments in the research on biotechnology as related to cereals and their potential implications for cereal trade; reviewed the major developments in Government rice policies during 1996-99 within the context of the Guidelines for National and International Action on Rice; endorsed the sponsorship by the IGG on Grains of the cassava project Industrial Utilisation of Cassava Starch and By-Products in Malawi and the setting up of a Sub-group of the IGG on Rice composed of the Chairperson and the two Vice-Chairpersons who would act, between Sessions, in all matters pertaining to the Common Fund for Commodities, except in project supervision. The Session also endorsed proposals to organise further joint sessions including, whenever appropriate, other related commodity groups and generally supported the idea of holding an International Conference with a view to improving understanding of broad commodity issues and encouraging private sector participation and recommended that the Terms of Reference of the two IGGs be re-examined by the CCP for possible revision, in conjunction with the intention of the CCP to re-examine the functioning of its IGGs, including their role under changing international trading conditions and follow-up to the World Food Summit.

CCP:CI (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Citrus Fruit (ESC-710)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Thirty-second Session (1959) for a period of two years. Following an extension, the period was indefinitely extended by the CCP at its Thirty-eighth Session (1965).

Purpose

To study problems affecting the long-term equilibrium of production and consumption of citrus products and the economic aspects of problems arising from the perishable nature of citrus fruit. To consider how best to deal with any special difficulties which may exist or may be expected to arise.

First Session

May 1960

Membership

Open to all Members that are substantially interested in the production or consumption, and trade in, citrus fruit and citrus products. Interested non-Member Nations of FAO that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted to Membership by the FAO Council.

Members having attended the Twelfth Session:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Revised rules of procedure were adopted at the Second Session (1961), and at the Seventh Session (1986).

Pattern of Sessions

1960, 1961, 1963, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1998.

Achievement 1998-99

Undertook an analysis of current market developments and short-term prospects for citrus fruits, including the market situation in economies in transition; assessed the market outlook for mandarins in the United States; reviewed the situation of the market for organic food and beverages; undertook analysis of global supply, demand, exports and imports to the year 2005; reviewed recent policy developments affecting trade in citrus fruit; considered various aspects of dietary promotion and marketing strategies; established an inter-sessional mechanism to deal with activities related to projects financed, and project proposals seeking financing, by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC); provided supervision to one project financed by the CFC; re-endorsed two previously submitted project proposals seeking CFC financing; and endorsed one new project outline for submission to the CFC for possible financing.

CCP:JU (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres (ESC-712)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Thirty-sixth Session (1963).

Purpose

To provide a forum for consultations on, and studies of, the economic aspects of production, marketing, trade and consumption of jute, kenaf and allied fibres; to study marketing practices and their improvement; to consider the causes of disequilibrium between production and consumption; to develop suitable measures to deal with special difficulties which may exist or may be expected to arise.

First Session

September 1964.

Membership

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members that are interested in the production or consumption of, and trade in, jute, kenaf and allied fibres. Interested non-Member Nations of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted to Membership by the FAO Council.

Member Nations having attended Thirty-second session; held jointly with the Thirtieth Session on the IGG on Hard Fibres:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Revised rules were adopted at the Seventeenth Session (December 1981).

Pattern of Sessions

Biannual to 1976, then normally annually until 1995 and then once in two years.

Achievement 1998-99

The Session was held jointly with the Thirtieth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres. It evaluated market developments and short-term outlook for jute, kenaf, and allied fibres, including competition from synthetics and established indicative prices for jute. It assessed food security implications of production and exports of jute in Bangladesh, and recommended further work on the subject.

CCP:OF (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Oilseeds, Oils and Fats (ESC-714)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Thirty-eighth Session (1965). This body was formerly the Group on Coconut and Coconut Products, whose terms of reference were widened to cover oilseeds, oils and fats.

Purpose

To provide a forum for studies and consultations on the economic aspects of production, processing, consumption, trade and marketing of oilseeds, oils, fats, oilcakes and meals, with particular attention to the problems of developing countries; to identify specific problems calling for short-term action, and to consider all measures which could contribute to the solution of medium- and long-term problems and to submit practical proposals for intergovernmental arrangements.

First Session

September 1966

Membership

Open to all Members and Associate Members that are substantially interested in the production or consumption of, and trade in, oilseeds, oils and fats or their products. Interested non-Member Nations of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted to Membership by the FAO Council. The Council, at its Forty-eighth Session (1967), approved the participation of the USSR in the Group.

Members having attended the Twenty-eighth Session:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Revised Rules were adopted at the Sixteenth Session (March 1982).

Pattern of Sessions

Normally, one per biennium.

Achievement 1998-99

Although the Group was not convened durint the 1998-99 biennium, its work plan in particular continued through (a) the regular dissemination of information on the current market situation for oilseeds, oils and fats and oilcakes and meals, (b) the monitoring of policies affecting production and trade, (c) the assessing of medium term prospects for the global oil and oilmeal market, (d) the monitoring of regulations affecting production, trade and consumption of commodities produced through biotechnology, and (e) participation in the formulation and implementation of commodity development projects.

CCP:BA (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Bananas (ESC-716)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at is Sixty-second Session (1999). It replaced the former Intergovernmental Group on Bananas (ESC-716).

Purpose

To provide a forum for consultations on and studies of the economic and technical aspects of production, marketing, trade and consumption of bananas and tropical fruits. To improve statistical services and provision of information regarding the supply and demand position of bananas and tropical fruit. To study the economic aspects of consumption and the possibilities of increasing world consumption, with special reference to the relations between consumption and prices, population, income, market access, and trade barriers. To study the efficiency and social aspects of the banana and tropical fruit industries. To study the economic problems of production, processing, transportation, marketing and distribution of bananas and tropical fruits.

First Session

May 1999

Membership

Open to all Members and Associate Members of the Organization that are substantially interested in the production or consumption of and trade in bananas and/or tropical fruits. Interested non-Member States of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted by the Council of the Organization to Membership in the Group.

Members having attended the First Session:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session (1999).

Pattern of Sessions

Normally once per biennium.

Achievement 1998-99

Adopted its rules of procedure and approved the reports of its two Sub-Groups.

Sub-Group on Bananas

Reviewed the current situation and short-term outlook for the banana market; monitored and analysed the banana demand situation in emerging markets; undertook analysis of supply, demand, exports and imports to the year 2005; assessed the global market for organic and "fair trade" bananas; monitored production and trade policy developments affecting the banana economy; studied the impact that changes in supply and demand could have on income, employment and food security in the banana sector; provided supervision to the Banana Improvement Project which was financed by the Common Fund for Commodities and endorsed two new project outlines for submission to the CFC for possible financing.

Sub-Group on Tropical Fruits

Reviewed the current market situation for tropical fruits; analyzed the prospects for the tropical fruit market in China; reviewed policy developments affecting the trade in tropical fruit; analyzed alternatives to treatment by methyl bromide and undertook cost benefit analyses of alternative quality control systems; established working relations with the International Tropical Fruit Network; agreed to act as International Commodity Body for CFC purposes for cashew nuts, cut flowers, essential oils, medicinal herbs and spices and endorsed one project proposal for CFC funding.

CCP:HF (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Hard Fibres (ESC-720)

Origin

Established by the Committee Problems (CCP) at its Fortieth Session (1966).

Purpose

To provide a forum for consultation on and studies of the economic aspects of production, local processing, marketing, trade and consumption of abaca, sisal, henequen and other hard fibres, individually, and as a group. To study marketing practices and their improvement; to consider the causes of disequilibrium between production and consumption, including competition with synthetics and the development of new uses; to consider, implement and monitor measures to deal with special difficulties which may exist or may be expected to arise. Coir has since been added to the list of hard fibres falling within these terms of reference.

First Session

September 1966.

Membership

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members that are substantially interested in the production or consumption of, and trade in, hard fibres. Interested non-Member Nations of FAO that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted to Membership by the FAO Council.

Member Nations having attended Thirtieth Session; held jointly with the Thirty-second Session of the IGG on Jute:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session. Amended at Twenty-ninth Session in 1996.

Pattern of Sessions

1966, 1967, 1972, 1973 (twice), 1974, 1975 (twice), 1976 (twice), 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998.

Subsidiary Bodies

Sub-Group of Sisal and Henequen Producing Countries (ESC-731) (English, French, Spanish) (1)

• Member Nations producing sisal and henequen.

Achievement 1998-99

Met jointly for the first time with the Intergovernmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres in 1998. Continued to be the principal intergovernmental forum assisting countries interested in the production, trade and manufacture of hard fibres in finding solutions to the problems facing this group of commodities, especially those affected by the increased threat of synthetics, including environmental implications; reviewed market prospects for hard fibres and products and established indicative prices for abaca and sisal fibres and for sisal harvest twines and assessed the market prospects for selected non-traditional fibre products; sponsored an Intersessional Consultation on Fibres in 1999. As an International Commodity Body in relation to the Common Fund for Commodities, developed project proposals for sponsoring and financing by the Second Account of the Fund and supervised the execution of projects which had been approved.

CCP:TE (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Tea (ESC-722)

Origin

Established by the Committee of Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Forty-fourth Session (1969) as the Consultative Committee on tea, following a series of ad hoc intergovernmental consultations under FAO auspices beginning in 1965 and an emergency meeting of tea-exporting countries in 1969 which agreed on an informal export quota arrangement for 1970. The title of this Body was changed in 1971 to that above.

Purpose

To provide a forum for consultations on and studies of all problems connected with tea. In particular, to conduct a continuing review of short and long term developments in tea production, consumption, trade and prices, to study market structure and the promotion of tea consumption, and to consider international action and prepare proposals for submission to Governments.

First Session

December 1969.

Membership

Open to all Members and Associate Members of the Organization that are substantially interested in the production or consumption of and trade in tea. Interested non-Member Nations of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted by the Council of the Organization to Membership in the Group.

Members having attended the Thirteenth Session:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Revised and adopted at the Sixth Session of the Group (1985).

Pattern of Sessions

1969, 1970, 1974 (Special Session), 1976, 1977 (twice), 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999.

Achievement 1998-99

Continued to provide a global forum to monitor market and policy developments for tea. In recognizing the recent volatility in the world tea market, particularly the vulnerability to downward price pressure due to strong supply potential, the Group concluded that continued efforts to enhance demand growth were necessary to strengthen and improve longer-term price prospects, The Group endorsed the implementation of the CFC-funded project on Tea Consumption and Human Health, and noted its satisfaction with the project results. With respect to arrangements for the use of the Tea Mark, the Group established eligibility criteria for the use of the mark and agreed that FAO would be responsible for the licensing, monitoring and surveillance of the Tea Mark worldwide. The Group further agreed that the activities of the FAO Tea Mark Control Centre should be self-financing through the levying of an annual license fee.

CCP:ME (Cat. 1)

Intergovernmental Group on Meat (ESC-727)

Origin

Established by the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) at its Forty-fifth Session (1970). Originally called the Study Group on Meat.

Purpose

To provide a forum for consultations on and studies of international trade, production and consumption of meat, with emphasis on problems involved in livestock development and meat marketing. To analyse programmes related to the expansion of meat production and their influence on trade; analyse short-, medium- and long-term production, consumption and market prospects for meat and meat products; to exchange information on up-to-date techniques to improve productivity of the livestock sector in developing countries, while adhering to strict meat hygiene and veterinary and sanitary regulations; to identify problem areas in world trade and to inform the competent bodies of their scope and magnitude.

First Session

June 1971.

Membership

Open to all Members and Associate Members of FAO that are substantially interested in the production or consumption of, and trade in, meat and meat products. Interested non-Member Nations of the Organization that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be admitted to Membership by the FAO Council.

Members having attended the Seventeenth Session:

Observers: Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), International Meat Secretariat.

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session and revised at the Tenth Session (1983).

Pattern of Sessions

Generally, once per biennium.

Subsidiary Body

Sub-Group on Hides and Skins (ESC-706) (English, French, Spanish) (1)

• All Members of the Group.

Achievement 1998-99

The Group reviewed the current world meat market situation in 1998 and short-term outlook for 1999; examined national and international livestock and meat policies and progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Guidelines for International Cooperation in the Livestock and Meat Sector; considered the possible revisions of the Guidelines; discussed the results of FAO meat projections to 2005; assessed the main thrusts of biotechnology in the area of livestock and meat products; reviewed developments regarding the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and established procedures to deal with CFC in intersessional intervals.

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).

²Three 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.