ACTIVITIES OF FAO AND WFP

Report of the Twelfth Session of the Committee on Agriculture
(Rome. 26 April - 4 May 1993)1

-Abolition of the Panel of Experts on Emergency Action Against the Desert Locust and Other
Crop Pests and Abolition of the Advisory Panel on Epizootiology

-Procedures for Global Harmonization of Plant Quarantine

35. The Council expressed appreciation for the COAG Report and endorsed the recommendations contained therein. The Council noted that the follow-up to the ICN, the Medium-term Plan and the Summary Programme of Work and Budget were to be discussed in subsequent agenda items and agreed to defer further discussion until the appropriate item.
36. The Council noted COAG's appreciation of the new Programme Implementation Report for the agricultural sector which, following the decision of the FAO Conference in November 1991 on improved reporting procedures, reviewed both the Regular and Field Programme activities. It supported the overall objectives and priorities of the Major Programme Agriculture, and welcomed FAO's response to international concerns regarding environment, sustainable development, people's participation, the integration of women in development, and the particular focus on policy and planning work.
37. COAG's conclusions in respect of its discussion of the item on "Livestock and Improvement of Pasture, Feed and Forage" were endorsed. In particular, COAG had recommended increased emphasis on cereal substitutes from high biomass-producing plants and on local protein sources. It had also recommended on-farm and on-station testing and demonstrations, and dissemination of the results by establishing and by supporting regional networks on better use of feed resources and by promoting systems that integrated arable farming with both ruminant and monogasteric livestock.
38. The Council noted COAG's discussion of the item dealing with the "Role of Agricultural Education and Extension in Agricultural Development", and endorsed the view that education in agriculture be considered a prerequisite to investment in new agricultural production technology and sustainable development programmes. The Council reiterated its concern about the low level of women's education in many developing countries and recommended increased efforts to increase the enrolment of girls and women in agricultural schools at the vocational, intermediate and higher levels.
39. The Council endorsed the view expressed by COAG when debating the issue on "The Role of Financial Services in Rural Development: Changing Perspectives" that there had been changes in the role of rural financial intermediation in recent years, and stressed that rural finance should have a high priority in FAO's work, with particular emphasis on alternative financial systems based on cooperatives. COAG had noted the generally unsatisfactory performance of specialized State-owned agricultural credit institutions, but had felt that the privatization of such institutions alone did not automatically improve financial services in rural areas.
40. The Council noted the concern expressed by COAG over the substantial reductions in allocations to technical programmes in such key areas as natural resource conservation, plant and animal genetic resources, human resource development, women in development, agricultural information and analysis, and policy and planning assistance to developing countries.
41. The Council stressed the importance of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC). It requested FAO to make funds available to facilitate the travel of TCDC experts.
42. In considering the question of the Abolition of the Panel of Experts on Emergency Action Against the Desert Locust and Other Crop Pests, the Council unanimously endorsed COAG's recommendation to abolish this Panel of Experts, which had been established under Conference Resolution 17/69. The Council stressed the danger that desert locusts represented and the need to encourage preventive action coordinated by FAO in their control. Similarly, on the basis of the document prepared at COAG's request, the Council recommended the abolition of the Advisory Panel on Epizootiology which had been established under Conference Resolution 35/65 and confirmed by Resolutions 17/69 and 33/75. The Council noted that the mechanism for access to the Working Capital Fund to finance initial control activities in case of emergencies would be maintained and that the Director-General would be required to consult with the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, or another member of that Committee designated by the Chairperson, before accessing the Working Capital Fund. The Council then recommended the following draft Resolution for adoption by the Conference:

DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR THE CONFERENCE

ABOLITION OF THE PANEL OF EXPERTS ON EMERGENCY ACTION AGAINST
THE DESERT LOCUST AND OTHER CROP PESTS AND OF THE
ADVISORY PANEL ON EPIZOOTIOLOGY

THE CONFERENCE,

Recalling that, at its Thirteenth Session in 1965, by Resolution 35/65, it had authorized the Director-General, after consultation with the Chairman of the Finance Committee or another member of that Committee designated by him, and in the light of the recommendations of an Advisory Panel of technical experts, to withdraw up to US$500 000 from the Working Capital Fund to finance initial emergency measures for the control of outbreaks of livestock diseases under emergency circumstances which constitute a potential epizootic threat to livestock of other countries and had requested the Director-General to establish under Article VI.4 of the Constitution an Advisory Panel on Epizootiology,

Recalling further that, by Resolution 17/69, adopted at its Fifteenth Session in 1969, it had authorized the Director-General to withdraw up to US$750 000 from the Working Capital Fund:

1. to finance initial emergency measures for the control of outbreaks of livestock diseases under emergency circumstances which constitute a potential epizootic threat to the livestock of other countries; and
2. to finance initial control activities against the desert locust in emergencies

and had requested the Director-General to establish under Article VI.4 of the Constitution an Advisory Panel on desert locust control, which was later called Panel of Experts on Emergency Action Against the Desert Locust and Other Crop Pests, while it maintained the Advisory Panel on Epizootiology,

Recalling also that, by Resolution 33/75 adopted at its Eighteenth Session in 1975, it had increased to US$1 000 000 the authority given to the Director-General to withdraw funds from the Working Capital Fund:

1. to finance initial emergency measures for the control of outbreaks of livestock diseases under emergency circumstances which constitute a potential epizootic threat to the livestock of other countries;
2. to finance initial control activities against locusts and other migratory or introduced crop pests creating a major potential threat

provided that no more than US$700 000 be withdrawn in any one biennium under either of the above headings and had decided that both Panels established under Conference Resolutions 35/65 and 17/69 would be maintained and that for the purpose of recommending withdrawals from the Working Capital Fund the role of the Panel on Desert Locust Control would be extended to cover also the control of other migratory or introduced crop pests creating a major potential threat,

Noting that the Advisory Panel on Epizootiology had met only once and that the Panel of Experts on Emergency Action Against the Desert Locust and Other Crop Pests, not having fulfilled its mandate, had been superseded by more effective mechanisms,

Having examined the proposals endorsed by the Council that the Advisory Panel on Epizootiology and the Panel of Experts on Emergency Action Against the Desert Locust and Other Crop Pests be abolished,

Concurring in the proposals likewise endorsed by the Council that the mechanism for access to the Working Capital Fund to finance initial control activities as set out in Resolutions 35/65, 17/69 and 33/75 be maintained:

1. Decides to abolish the following Panel of Experts which had been established under paragraph 4 of Article VI of the Constitution:

1. Advisory Panel on Epizootiology; and
2. Panel of Experts on Emergency Action Against the Desert Locust and Other Crop Pests;

2. Authorizes the Director-General, after consultation with the Chairman of the Finance Committee or another member of that Committee designated by him, notwithstanding the provisions of Financial Regulation 6.3, to withdraw up to US$1 000 000 from the Working Capital Fund:

1. to finance initial emergency measures for the control of outbreaks of livestock diseases under emergency circumstances which constitute a potential epizootic threat to the livestock of other countries;
2. to finance initial control activities against locusts and other migratory or introduced crop pests creating a major potential threat;

provided that no more than US$700 000 be withdrawn in any one biennium under either of the above headings;

3. Requests the Director-General to report to the Council or to the Finance Committee,

whichever meets first, immediately after funds have been withdrawn from the Working Capital Fund in accordance with this Resolution.

43. The Council took note of the COAG discussions on the programme of harmonization of plant quarantine standards and guidelines, and its conclusions on the document "Principles of plant quarantine as related to international trade". The Council supported the "principles" document. It noted that the Fifth Technical Consultation among Regional Plant Protection Organizations held in May 1993 had reviewed the amendments to the document as suggested by delegates at COAG, and that the meeting had recommended maintaining the original text. One member recalled the amendments it had proposed at COAG and stated that it wished to reserve its position on them. The Council agreed that the Secretariat would finalize the text in close consultation with Council Members for submission to the Twenty-seventh Session of the Conference (November 1993). The Council considered the harmonization mechanism as agreed by COAG and recommended that the Conference establish a Committee of Experts on Phytosanitary Measures that would consist of experts nominated by Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs) and a limited number of experts from members not represented by RPPOs, and appointed by the Director-General. The need was expressed for the process of harmonization to be carried out in accordance with the text of the International Plant Protection Convention. The Council requested the Secretariat to take into account the size of the Regional Plant Protection Organizations in determining the membership of the Committee of Experts.

Matters Arising from the Commission Plant Genetic Resources2

45. The Council discussed and endorsed the Report of the Fifth Session of the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources (PGR). It noted mat the session marked the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Commission. The Council expressed satisfaction with the changes that had taken place in the attitudes of members of the Commission which had made it possible to achieve notable cooperation amongst all interested parties. It also expressed satisfaction that during the session, the Commission had received reports from the FAO Secretariat and from sixteen other organizations, including United Nations agencies, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Centres and relevant International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs), on their respective PGR programmes and activities, and had made recommendations as appropriate.
46. The Council noted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) recommendations to strengthen the FAO Global System on Plant Genetic Resources, to realize farmers' rights and to convene the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources for the Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources mat the 1991 Session of the FAO Conference agreed be financed with extra-budgetary funds. The Council recommended that FAO collaborate with the interim Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and considered that the FAO Conference should provide recommendations to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.
47. The Council endorsed the Resolution CPGR 93/1 adopted by the Commission recommending that the Director-General be requested to provide a forum for negotiations among governments for the adaptation of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity. This process, which would commence with integrating the existing International Undertaking with its annexes, would also include the issues of access to PGR on mutually agreed terms and the realization of farmers' rights. It recognized that to implement the Resolution, regular and extraordinary sessions of the Commission would be needed, and that this would have considerable financial implications, both budgetary and extra-budgetary. The Council then recommended that the following Draft Resolution be submitted to the Conference for adoption:

DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR THE CONFERENCE

REVISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNDERTAKING ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES

THE CONFERENCE,

Noting that

(a)      the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Chapter 14 of its programme of action, Agenda 21, recommended that the Global System on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Sustainable Agriculture be strengthened, and that the System should be adjusted to be in line with the outcome of the negotiations of the Convention on Biological Diversity,

(b)     the Convention on Biological Diversity, signed at UNCED by 156 governments and the European Communities, covers plant genetic resources, and recognizes that the authority to determine access to genetic resources rests with the national governments, that access to genetic resources shall be subject to the prior informed consent of the Contracting Party providing such resources, and shall be on mutually agreed terms,

(c)      the Final Act of the Nairobi Conference for the adoption of the agreed text of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in a resolution on the interrelationship between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the promotion of sustainable agriculture, urged that ways and means should be explored to develop complementarity and cooperation between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global System for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for food and sustainable agriculture, and recognized the need to seek solutions to outstanding matters concerning plant genetic resources,

(d)      the Fourth Session of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources agreed that conditions of access to plant genetic resources needed further clarification,

Recognizing

(a)      the importance and urgency of revising the International Undertaking, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, on a step-by-step basis, starting with the integration of the International Undertaking and its annexes,

(b)     the need to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits with the countries providing plant genetic resources,

(c)      the need to consider agreement on the terms of access to samples of plant genetic resources, including those preserved in ex situ collections, and not addressed by the Convention on Biological Diversity,

(d)     the need to realize farmers' rights,

(e)      the importance of close collaboration, including mutual reporting, in these matters, between the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources and the Governing Body of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and before the entry into force of the Convention, the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as the Commission on Sustainable Development,

1.       Requests the Director-General to provide a forum for negotiations among governments:

(a)      for the adaptation of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity,

(b)      for consideration of the issue of access on mutually agreed terms to plant genetic resources, including ex situ collections not addressed by the Convention; as well as

(c)      for the issue of realization of Farmers' Rights,

2.       Urges that the process be carried out through regular and extraordinary sessions of the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources, convened, if necessary, with extra-budgetary financing, and with the help of its subsidiary body, in close collaboration with the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention on Biological Diversity, and after the entry into force of the Convention, with its Governing Body;

3.       Expresses the hope that the process be concluded in time for the FAO International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources; and

4.       Suggests that the outcome be submitted to the International Technical Conference, and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

48.         The Council expressed strong support for initiating preparatory activities so that the Fourth

International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, recommended by the Twenty-sixth Session of the FAO Conference (November 1991), could be held. It agreed that this preparatory process would include an assessment of the state of the world's plant genetic resources and a costed Plan of Action on PGR to address the issues. It emphasized the urgent need to initiate this work as a participatory and country-driven process. The Council welcomed the pledges of financial support for preparations and for the Conference already made by member countries, as well as the offer to host the Conference by Germany. The Council noted that in spite of these pledges and indications of future support, the amount so far committed for the programme and Technical Conference was still short of that required and urged member countries to make further pledges in order to complete preparations and the holding of the Conference as soon as possible. It also noted that no extra-budgetary resources had actually been made available to FAO and requested those who had pledged to make funds available immediately so that the Secretariat would be able to initiate in July 1993 the preparations for the Conference.

49.          Some members suggested that consideration be given to using Regular Programme resources during 1994-95 to augment extra-budgetary resources should they be necessary to bridge a potential initial shortfall in ensuring that the Technical Conference and its associated preparatory work proceed on schedule.

50.          In relation to the offer made by the International Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs) to put their active and base collections under the auspices of FAO, the Council agreed with the Commission's request to the Director-General to negotiate and seek an agreement with the centres on the basis of the model agreement proposed, while clarifying the concepts of trusteeship and ownership, and the role of the Commission on policy decisions related to these collections.

51.          The Council expressed satisfaction with the decision of the Commission to endorse the technical standards for Genebanks that were prepared by an FAO/IBPGR (International Board for Plant Genetic Resources) group of experts.

52.          The Council endorsed the Draft International Code of Conduct for Plant Germplasm Collecting and Transfer.³ It noted that this code had been requested by the FAO Conference in 1989 and that a previous version had been considered by the Twenty-sixth Session of the Conference (November 1991) which, in general, had agreed with its contents and had returned it to the Commission for further elaboration. The Council also noted that the current version was the final result of long and difficult negotiations and represented a compromise text that could be acceptable to all countries. The Council agreed that the Code would be voluntary and it requested the Director-General to submit the following Draft Resolution to the Conference for adoption:

DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR THE CONFERENCE

INTERNATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PLANT GERMPLASM COLLECTING
AND TRANSFER

THE CONFERENCE,

Reaffirming that

(a)      the conservation of plant genetic resources is a common concern of humankind,

(b)      nations have sovereign rights over their plant genetic resources in their territories,

(c)      plant genetic resources should be made available for plant breeding and other scientific purposes of human benefit,

Noting that

(a)      the best way to guarantee the maintenance of plant genetic resources is to ensure their effective and beneficial utilization in all countries,

(b)      the farmers of the world have, over the millennia, domesticated, conserved, nurtured, improved and made available plant genetic resources, and continue to do so today,

Recognizing the close and traditional dependence of many indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles on plant genetic resources,

Adopts the Voluntary International Code of Conduct for Plant Germplasm Collecting and Transfer, the overriding purpose of which is to contribute, within the context of the FAO Global System on Plant Genetic Resources, to the conservation and rational use of plant genetic resources for sustainable development by providing broad guidelines for plant germplasm collection and transfer.

53.          With respect to the Code of Conduct on Biotechnology as it affected the conservation and utilization of PGR, the Council noted the recommendations of the Commission that (a) the element on biosafety should constitute an input from FAO to the work of the interim Intergovernmental Committee for the Convention on Biological Diversity on this matter, possibly for the development of a protocol on biosafety and (b) other parts of the preliminary Draft Code should form the basis of a revised Draft Code.

54.          While some members gave strong support to the development of a code on biotechnology with wide scope and coverage, others expressed doubts about the need for such an instrument and felt that if developed, the Code should be more limited in scope to avoid duplication with on-going activities of other organizations and fora.

Report of the Twentieth Session of the Committee on Fisheries (Rome, 15-19 March 1993)4

-Proposals for an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing

55.          The Council unanimously endorsed the Report of the Twentieth Session of the Committee on Fisheries and complimented the Organization on the work done under Major Programme 2.2 Fisheries. Concern was expressed at the proposed reduction in the level of the budget of the Fisheries Department for 1994-95, and it recommended that this proposal be reconsidered.

56.          The Council strongly endorsed the concept of, and need for, an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing to be elaborated by FAO in consultation with relevant international organizations. It was pointed out that the Code should be consistent with the 1982 United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration of Cancún, Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) and the outcome of the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The Council stressed that the proposed Agreement on the Flagging of Vessels Fishing on the High Seas to Promote Compliance with Internationally Agreed Conservation and Management Measures should be an integral part of the Code of Conduct.

57.          With respect to the scope of the Code of Conduct, the Council generally supported the guidelines provided by FAO, but some members were opposed to the inclusion of fishery research. This issue and the definitive title of the Code were to be decided at a later stage. In addition, there was no clear consensus on the structure of the Code since some members expressed a preference for a single Code covering both Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and high seas areas, while some others preferred that they be treated separately. It was suggested that this aspect should be further addressed pending the outcome of the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The Code should be implemented on a voluntary basis. However, the Council noted that some parts of the Code or its annexes might be used to formulate multilateral and bilateral agreements, or national legislation.

58.          The Council requested FAO to elaborate the draft of the Code of Conduct as a matter of priority and noted that this process should not be hindered by efforts to develop the proposed Agreement on the Flagging of Vessels Fishing on the High Seas to Promote Compliance with Internationally Agreed Conservation and Management Measures. On the contrary, the Agreement should help to promote the analysis and provision of ideas which the Code of Conduct would cover. Some members pointed out that the Code should include dispute settlement provisions and that the role of regional and sub-regional organizations should be recognized.

59.          The Council noted with appreciation Canada's offer to host a Technical Consultation on technical standards for the Code. Canada was ready to host the Consultation as soon as arrangements could be finalized.

60.          The Council supported the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Fisheries Research (ACFR) to replace the existing Advisory Committee on Marine Resources Research (ACMRR) and requested the Director-General to submit his proposals as to structure, composition and functions to the Sixty-first Session of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (CCLM) in September 1993. It was suggested that organizations such as the International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) should be associated with the work of the Committee and that there should be equitable participation from all regions.

61.          The Council expressed regret for the termination of UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) funding for the African Regional Aquaculture Centre (ARAC) at Port Harcourt in Nigeria. It was pointed out that the centre played an important role in aquaculture development in Africa. The FAO was urged to seek alternative funding to support ARAC's activities.

62.          The Council was informed about the intended revisions to the criteria of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for protected species which could have implications for FAO's role as responsible agency in the UN system for fisheries management. If the revision were approved, commercially important target species might be included in the CITES appendixes. This situation could have a major effect on fisheries management arrangements and trade in fish products.

- Draft Agreement on the Flagging of Vessels Fishing on the High Seas5

63.          The Council recalled that it had agreed at its Hundred and Second Session in November 1992 that the issue of fishing vessels reflagging into flags of convenience for the purpose of avoiding

compliance with internationally agreed conservation and management measure's, while forming part of the issues that would be covered by the proposed Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing, should be addressed immediately by FAO with a view to finding a solution which could be implemented in the near future. It had also agreed that there was a need for an international agreement on this matter and had requested that, if possible, a draft proposed text of such an agreement be presented to the Twentieth Session of the Committee on Fisheries.

64.          The Council noted that the draft text of such an agreement had indeed been presented to the Twentieth Session of the Committee on Fisheries, and that the draft agreement had been the subject of discussions in an open-ended Working Group established by COFI to carry out a general debate on the issue and to review the draft agreement. While substantial progress had been made and the text had been reviewed, it had not been possible for the COFI Working Group to finalize the text of an agreement. The Working Group had therefore considered it necessary that the draft agreement, as well as comments thereon, be further reviewed before being submitted to the Conference for approval, in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the FAO Constitution.

65.          The Council had before it the working paper elaborated by the Secretariat on the basis of the discussions conducted in the COFI Working Group which incorporated the draft agreement and some initial comments made thereon by members of the Working Group, supplementary comments submitted by FAO members, a possible rewording of some articles of the draft agreement submitted by the Secretariat, and a document summarizing available information and data relating to the problem of flagging and reflagging of fishing vessels and the problems caused by such practices for the conservation and management of living marine resources.

66.          After some initial discussion, the Council decided to establish an open Technical Committee under Rule XXV. 10 of the General Rules of the Organization (GRO) to further review the draft agreement and, if possible, reach technical agreement on a final text. The Technical Committee was invited to report the outcome of its discussions to the Council later in its session. In view of the broad potential interest in the draft agreement, the Council decided that, in addition to members of the Council, FAO members that were not members of the Council and observers from non-Member Nations and from interested fisheries management organizations should also be invited to participate freely in the discussions of the Technical Committee. The Council elected Mr Samuel Fernández Illanes (Chile) as Chairman of the Technical Committee. The Technical Committee elected the representatives of the United States of America, the Republic of Korea and Spain as Vice-Chairmen.

67.          The meetings of the Technical Committee were held simultaneously with the Council meetings over a period of five days between 17 and 23 June 1993. The meetings of the Technical Committee were attended by: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, European Economic Community, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Russian Federation and the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency.

68.          The report to the Council of the Technical Committee, which consisted of a revised text of the draft agreement resulting from the Committee's discussions, is set out in Appendix E to this report. In presenting the report, the Chairman of the Technical Committee indicated that there were a number of provisions in the text of the draft agreement which remained in square brackets. In some cases, these indicated provisions on which delegations had reserved their positions pending consultations with their governments, while in others they indicated provisions on which there was still a difference of opinion on the substance of the provisions. However, he pointed out that substantial progress had been made and that the delegations had come very close to reaching agreement on the entire text.

69.          In considering the report of the Technical Committee, the Council stressed the fact that an international agreement on the flagging of fishing vessels operating on the high seas would form an integral part of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. The adoption of an agreement on flagging should also not in any way delay progress on the preparation and adoption of the Code of Conduct. In this context, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to expedite the elaboration and adoption of the Code of Conduct. It was also noted that the agreement on flagging could always be amended at a later date to bring it into line with the content of the Code of Conduct, should this prove necessary.

70.          The Council decided that it would not be appropriate to discuss the substance of the draft agreement elaborated by the Technical Committee in view of the fact that the Council members had not had time to consult with their governments and the various ministries concerned on the new text. The Council therefore took note of the report of the Technical Committee and the draft agreement contained therein and requested the Director-General to take the necessary steps to bring the draft agreement before the Twenty-seventh Session of the Conference in November 1993 for its consideration and approval under Article XIV of the Constitution and Rule XXI. 1 (GRO). It noted that the draft agreement would be circulated to members and associate members of FAO for comment, along with the Provisional Agenda of the Conference.

71.          The Council further decided that the agreement should be referred to the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (CCLM) at its Sixty-first Session in October 1993 to review its formal constitutional and legal aspects, including matters relating to the participation of Member Organizations in the agreement. The report of the CCLM on this matter would be taken up at the Hundred and Fourth Session of the Council in November 1993, and the views of the CCLM and Council, including possible compromise provisions on the matters remaining in brackets, could then be brought to the attention of the Conference in considering the draft text prepared by the Technical Committee.

72.          In the meantime the Council saw merit in the continuation of informal consultations among all interested potential parties to the agreement, with a view to reaching understanding on some of these outstanding points for a possible compromise. In this connection, the forthcoming session of the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks could provide a useful opportunity for carrying out these informal discussions. It was, however, stressed that decisions regarding the text could only be reached within the formal framework of the Governing Bodies of FAO. In this connection, it was suggested that the product of any informal consultations could be reported to the CCLM and thus brought to the attention of the Council and Conference for decision.

Report of the Eleventh Session of the Committee on Forestry. (Rome. 8-12 March 1993)6

- Recommendations on the Establishment of a Consultative Group on the Tropical Forests Action Programme (TFAP/CG)7

73.          Before entering into the subject of the debate, the Council was informed of the tragic demise of Dr Y.S. Rao, former Senior Programme Adviser of the Forestry Research Support Programme for Asia and The Pacific (FORSPA) and Regional Forestry Officer at the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. The Council observed one minute of silence in his memory.

74.          The Council unanimously endorsed the report of the Eleventh Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO).

75.          The Council reaffirmed the important responsibility of FAO in the follow-up to UNCED (the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development) in forestry and requested the Organization to exercise its lead technical role in this regard through, inter alia, its Committee on Forestry, its Regional Forestry Commissions, and the Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics (CFDT). Members recognized the importance of the five main priority areas proposed by FAO, namely: support to TFAP, forest resources assessment, sustainable forest resource management, capacity-building and the "greening of the world" through afforestation/reforestation, desertification control and the rehabilitation of degraded lands using fast-growing species.

76.          Some members stressed the need to address sustainable forest development and desertification control in the Mediterranean region. They welcomed, therefore, the formulation of the Mediterranean Forests Action Programme as a viable framework for regional cooperation and implementation of National Forestry Action Plans (NFAPs).

77.          The Council recalled that UNCED had attached central importance to the preparation of NFAPs for sustainable forest development. Many members recognized the TFAP as an effective framework for action in this regard.

78.          The Council supported the view of the Committee on Forestry that linkages between forestry and nutrition and the interaction between forestry and agriculture were of interest well beyond the confines of the forestry sector. It welcomed the request of the Committee to bring these linkages to the attention of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

79.          The Council took note of the Committee's views on the Medium-term Perspectives and Programme Priorities for Forestry, 1994-99, and on the Summary Programme of Work and Budget 1994-95. Most members agreed with the programme priorities for forestry and stressed the importance of forest resources assessment, greening of the world, sustainable forest management and capacity-building. Members of the Council observed that these represented an essential core of activities which FAO must undertake.

80.          The Council strongly shared the concern of COFO that the proposed budget levels in the Summary Programme of Work and Budget 1994-95 were inadequate to respond to demands for action by FAO and did not reflect the importance given to forestry by governments at UNCED. The Council reiterated the deep regret of COFO over the proposals to cut the forestry allocations for the 1994-95 biennium. The Council recommended that, within the context of no programme growth for the Organization, FAO maintain and strengthen its lead technical role in forestry. The Council, reaffirming its repeated appeals and exhortations for increased allocations to forestry, unanimously endorsed the view of COFO and of the Programme Committee that a special case be made for forestry, and that the highest priority be accorded to forestry in any eventual revision of budgetary allocations for the 1994-95 biennium. The Council recommended that Member Nations give consideration to increasing the forestry budget in subsequent biennia.

81.          With respect to the establishment of TFAP/CG, the Council expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Independent Chairman in preparing this report. The Council recalled that it had discussed and deliberated the matter since its Ninety-eighth Session, and expressed the hope that a conclusion could be reached without further delay.

86.          The Council requested the Director-General to take such action as necessary, including securing extra-budgetary resources, to convene the first meeting of the TFAP/CG. It encouraged FAO members and TFAP partners to provide the necessary funds for this endeavour.

World Food Programme

- Eighteenth Annual Report of the WFP Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes8

87.          In presenting the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) noted that 1992 had been an extraordinary year for WFP as regards challenges and achievements. Challenges had been posed by complex emergencies and extensive refugee operations in many parts of the world. Achievements could be reported in terms of total resources pledged to WFP, which for the 1991-92 biennium had amounted to nearly three thousand million dollars, more than 70 percent higher than for the previous biennium. In 1992, the total expenditure had been nearly US$1 700 million and the Programme had handled an all-time record of 5.2 million tons of food. In human terms, some 42 million people had benefitted from WFP assistance during the year.

88.          The Deputy Executive Director pointed out that the burgeoning demands of emergencies had swung the balance of WFP's total available resources towards relief with only about one-third going to development. He informed the Council that as part of a new approach that had been endorsed by the CFA in 1992, WFP would examine on a regular basis how the development projects it assisted could be used to mitigate the effects of disasters and, conversely, the extent to which the large flow of relief food aid could be used to serve both relief and development purposes. He also appraised the Council of the particular situation in Africa, whereby the worst drought in recent history had exposed some eighteen million people to potential famine. Not only was WFP the major supplier of relief food, but it also had the task of coordinating food aid aspects of large-scale humanitarian operations on behalf of the international community. The crisis in large parts of the world had tested the Programme, and proven its capability for humanitarian responses under the worst circumstances. The Deputy Executive emphasized that thirty years after its inception as an experimental programme WFP had emerged as the largest source of multilateral grant assistance to developing countries. He also drew attention to the fact that the annual report of the CFA contained a draft resolution requesting the Council to support the Pledging Target for the 1995-96 biennium at US$1 500 million, of which not less than one-third would be cash in aggregate.

89.          The Council commended the Programme and its Executive Director for its considerable achievements during the year under review, and presented its congratulations to WFP for its Thirtieth Anniversary which would be commemorated later in 1993.

90.          The Council commended WFP's emergency activities but expressed concern that a large proportion of WFP assistance had been utilized to support them. It regretted the fact that the need to provide assistance to an increasing number of victims of war and civil unrest had affected the balance of resources of the Programme between relief and development. This was particularly worrying at a time when the overall availability of such food aid resources was still uncertain. The need for increasing contributions to the Programme, particularly for development activities, was stressed.

91.          Several members expressed appreciation for the Executive Director's efforts to establish and maintain a process of consultations between the CFA sessions. The initiative of the Programme's Secretariat to keep Member Nations informed of the restructuring of the United Nations system, its intergovernmental bodies and the Economic and Social Council, were also commended. In this regard, many members expressed their concern for the fact that some of the proposed reforms in the economic and social fields could have implications on the CFA after three years of efforts by its members to achieve its present structure, and urged its involvement in the ongoing discussions.

92.          The Council endorsed the Eighteenth Annual Report of the CFA and also supported the pledging target for the regular resources of WFP for the 1995-96 biennium at US$1 500 million.

93.          The Council adopted the following resolution, to which was attached a draft resolution on the same question for approval by the Conference.

Resolution 1/103

TARGET FOR WFP PLEDGES FOR THE PERIOD 1995-96

THE COUNCIL,

Noting the comments of the CFA concerning the minimum target for voluntary contributions to the Programme for the period 1995-96,

Recalling resolutions 2462 (XXIII) and 2682 (XXV) of the General Assembly, which recognized the experience gained by WFP in the field of multilateral food aid,

1.   Submits for consideration and approval of the Conference the attached Draft Resolution;

2.   Urges States Members of the United Nations and Members and Associate Members of the Food and Agriculture Organization to undertake the necessary preparation for the announcement of pledges at the Sixteenth Pledging Conference for the World Food Programme.

DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR THE CONFERENCE

TARGET FOR WFP PLEDGES FOR THE PERIOD 1995-96

THE CONFERENCE,

Recalling the provisions of Resolution 4/65 that the World Food Programme is to be reviewed before each pledging conference,

Noting that the review of the Programme was undertaken by the Committee on Food Aid Policies and by the FAO Council at its One Hundred and Third Session,

Having considered Resolution 1/103 of the FAO Council as well as the recommendations of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes.

Recognizing the value of multilateral food aid as implemented by WFP since its inception and the necessity for continuing its action both as a form of capital investment and for meeting emergency food needs:

1.   Establishes for the two years 1995 and 1996 a target for voluntary contributions of US$1 500 million, of which not less than one-third should be in cash and/or services;

2.   Urges Member States of the United Nations and Members and Associate Members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and appropriate donor organizations to make every effort to ensure the full attainment of the target:

3.   Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of FAO, to convene a pledging conference for this purpose at United Nations Headquarters in 1994.

-WFP Audited Accounts 1990-919

94.          The Council endorsed the Financial Statements and the External Auditor's Report for the World Food Programme for the biennium 1990-1991. The Council agreed that the WFP Audited Accounts 1990-91 be included in the draft Resolution to the Conference that it had approved at its Hundred and Second Session (November 1992). The Council further agreed to forward the following resolution to the Conference for adoption:

DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR THE CONFERENCE

AUDITED ACCOUNTS 1990-91

THE CONFERENCE,

Having considered the reports of the Hundred and Second and Hundred and Third Sessions of the Council,

Having examined the following Audited Accounts and the External Auditor's Reports thereon:

Regular Programme 1990-91 C 93/5

United Nations Development Programme 1990-91 C 93/6

World Food Programme 1990-91         C 93/7

Adopts the above Audited Accounts.

Recent Developments in the UN System of Interest to FAO 10

95.          The Council welcomed the clear and concise information provided in the document, and orally by the Secretariat, on recent developments in the UN system of interest to FAO. It was recognized that the document was selective rather than exhaustive, as FAO's work with other organizations was also covered under other substantive items of its agenda. The Council stressed the importance it attached to the document as a means of keeping the Governing Bodies informed of developments elsewhere in the UN system and noted with appreciation its coverage of FAO's extensive participation, often in a leadership capacity, in inter-agency and system-wide activities. It was noted that debate under this item had also become a vehicle for the exchange of information among Member Nations, several of whom provided details of activities which they were undertaking in relation to the subjects covered in the document.

96.          The Council recognized FAO's essential involvement in UN system follow-up to UNCED (the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development), including its active role within the ACC (Administrative Committee on Coordination) and its Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development. It noted with satisfaction that the Organization was participating in the currently ongoing session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and encouraged continued full support by FAO to its work. It also welcomed FAO's input to various other initiatives, including in particular the preparatory processes of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, the elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification, and work under way on plant genetic resources. It was pointed out that, in a number of areas linked to UNCED follow-up, FAO had a natural lead role in collaborative work with other agencies and with NGOs, and could synergize multilateral efforts focused on agro-environmental problems such as integrated pest management and animal genetic resources.

97.          The Council attached importance to efforts aimed at alleviating poverty as reflected in a number of resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Attention was drawn to linkages with food security, trade, rural development and sustainable development in general, and to FAO's activities in these areas. The establishment of a new Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation by UNCTAD VIII, and FAO's support to this Committee, was welcomed, as was the work of the ACC Task Force on Rural Development, under the chairmanship of FAO, as a system-wide mechanism for coordination of activities in the area of rural poverty. The Council expected that FAO would continue to play its due role in international efforts to alleviate poverty, which was a development priority throughout the UN system.

98.          The Council underlined the importance of FAO's activities in the area of drug abuse control, in cooperation with the UN Drug Control Programme and other organizations of the UN system. It took note of the resolutions relating to this subject adopted by the UNGA in 1992 and attached importance to the updating of the UN System-Wide Action Plan on Drug Abuse Control, to which FAO had contributed. FAO was encouraged to continue its work on sustainable agriculture and rural development strategies, as part of a comprehensive approach to the problem of supply. The Organization's efforts to perfect satellite imagery techniques for identifying areas of illegal crop production were also noted with interest. It was recognized, however, that such activities would have little impact unless there was a concomitant reduction in demand and illicit trafficking.

99.          The Council appreciated the Organization's contribution to the World Conference on Human Rights, currently ongoing in Vienna, including the Director-General's statement to the Conference, which had been made available to Council members. In his address, the Director-General had focused on humanity's fundamental right to be free from hunger, as well as on the Organization's role and mandate concerning the right to food. He had drawn attention to the successive reaffirmations of this right, most recently by the International Conference on Nutrition, and had proposed that the World Conference include in its report a short text drawn from the relevant portion of the World Declaration on Nutrition.

100.        The Council also took note with interest of the preparations for several other international conferences. These included the International Conference on Population and Development (Egypt, September 1994), the World Summit for Social Development (Denmark, 1995), the Fourth World Conference on Women (China, September 1995) and the UN Conference on Human Settlements -Habitat II (Turkey, June 1996). The Council stressed the importance of these conferences for Member Nations and for the Organization, and agreed that FAO should actively participate in them and contribute to their preparatory processes.

101.        The Council stressed the importance of agricultural commodities and trade to the economies of developing countries in particular, and to the world economy in general. It called upon FAO to strengthen its work in this area, particularly its contribution to other international fora, and noted with appreciation that the Organization had been requested by the UN to prepare a study on the need for and feasibility of a commodity diversification fund for Africa.

102.        The Council expressed satisfaction with the continuing collaboration between FAO and the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs on inter-agency missions, reports and consolidated appeals, including FAO participation in the numerous inter-agency exercises relating to emergencies, disaster management, NIS (New Independent States) countries and displaced persons. It encouraged further inter-agency cooperation in this important sphere of emergency relief and humanitarian assistance.

103.        Concerning operational activities, the Council noted that a full report would be provided to the Conference on progress in implementing UNGA resolutions 44/211 and 47/199, covering inter alia the issues of decentralization, system-wide input to national programmes and the role of the Resident Coordinator. The Council was informed of FAO's approach and efforts in the formulation of country strategy notes, the harmonization of rules and procedures relating to Trust Fund projects, inter-agency and internal training programmes, and national execution. The representative of the UNDP supplemented the information available to the Council on the outcome of the June 1993 session of the UNDP Governing Council.

104.        With regard to other developments in the UNGA, reference was also made to the consideration of food and agriculture, and FAO's expected role in the preparation of the Secretary-General's report on this subject to the Forty-ninth Session of UNGA. The Council noted that no decision had yet been taken by the UNGA concerning the future of the World Food Council, which was being considered as part of the ongoing discussion of restructuring of the United Nations in the economic, social and related sectors, and recalled its discussion of this matter when considering the report of the Committee on World Food Security. Some members informed the Council of the contributions their governments had made to the UN restructuring process and to the preparation of an Agenda for Development. Other members refrained from giving the positions of their governments on the issue, in view of the fact that such matters were being considered in another forum and that no decision had yet been taken in this respect. The Council noted that a full report would be provided to the Governing Bodies, indicating the implications for FAO, once the deliberations in the UNGA were completed.

Follow-up to the International Conference on Nutrition11

105.        The Council reviewed the progress made in follow-up to the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN). It took note of previous reviews of ICN follow-up contained in the reports of COFO (Committee on Forestry), COAG (Committee on Agriculture), and CFS (Committee on World Food Security), all of which had endorsed the proposed FAO follow-up to the ICN which had been previously adopted by the Hundred and Third Session of Council. Council Members and one observer therefore submitted statements for the record, upon which the following paragraphs were based.

106.        The Council expressed its support for the ICN follow-up proposed by FAO and emphasized the need for strong follow-up at the country level. It stressed the need for close collaboration with WHO and other involved international agencies, and noted the role of the ACC/SCN (Administrative Committee on Coordination/Sub-Committee on Nutrition) in this regard. It also called for active involvement of non-governmental organizations and the private sector in ICN follow-up activities

and underlined the multidisciplinary and multisectoral nature of the programmes and activities to improve nutrition. The Council strongly supported the special role of FAO in promoting food and agriculture-based approaches to improve food supplies, access to food, and food trade, in domestic and international markets. It noted that these were key factors in improving nutritional status and in strengthening national economies. The role of ICN regional preparatory meetings in promoting eventual ICN success was recognized and support was given to the holding of further ICN follow-up regional and sub-regional meetings to enable sharing of experience on successful ICN implementation activities, as well as on the difficulties encountered.

107.        Several members provided details on ICN follow-up activities that were under way, including the preparation of national plans of action to improve nutrition by multisectoral and multidisciplinary groups; the formation of high-level national committees on nutrition and the formulation of project proposals to enable implementation of specific activities within national nutrition plans. The Council noted that considerable extra-budgetary funding would be needed for implementation of ICN follow-up activities, particularly at the country and regional levels, and appreciated the information given on support which was to be provided to developing countries and regions in implementation of ICN recommendations. Some members, while fully endorsing the ICN Declaration and Plan of Action and the proposed FAO follow-up, called for more detailed analytical review and assessment of ICN progress in future ICN follow-up reports, particularly for country level activities. They noted that this would help to identify obstacles to success and areas where technical assistance should be directed, and would promote better regional sharing of methodologies and expertise. Additional information was also requested in future reports on the utilization of relevant FAO Special Action Programmes (SAPs) in promoting more effective ICN implementation.

The Revitalization of the Restricted Committees12

108.        The Council noted that this item had been included in the agenda at the request of two members. At the outset of its debate, therefore, the Council noted the views of these two members as to the reasons why they felt the subject merited consideration.

109.        They informed the Council that the subject was intended to cover essentially the Programme and Finance Committees and the CCLM. They did not intend any criticism of the Committees or of the existing members of these Committees. Nor was it the intention to suggest reopening of the issue of regional representation on these Committees, which had already been considered in recent years. Their intention was to draw attention to their perception of problems, in order to consider improvements in the methods of work and performance of these Committees. They suggested that the Committees themselves review their Rules of Procedure in the light of the views of the Council.

110.        Examples of issues which they felt merited consideration were the closed sessions of these Committees; access by Member Nations not participating in these Committees to its documentation; the nature and volume of documentation; the method of preparation of reports; the possible merits of considering arrangements for deputies or alternates to members; the method of election and role of the Chairmen; and possible improvements in their Rules of Procedure. Some members requested that the subject of regional representation be included in the consideration of the work of the restricted committees.

111.        The Council, in general, expressed appreciation to the two members for having raised an interesting subject for discussion. A number of members indicated their own perceptions of the issues

raised. At the same time, many other members expressed the view that while the subject was of interest and merited further attention, insufficient information had been available to the Council to consider the subject with the attention it deserved and, consequently, it would be premature to draw conclusions at this stage.

112.        The Council noted that the subject had been addressed in the FAO Review concluded by the Twenty-fifth Session of Conference in 1989. It also recalled that the CCLM had already undertaken a review of its terms of reference which had been considered by the Council at its Hundred and Second Session, and it had decided to transmit amendments to these for adoption by the Conference at its Twenty-seventh Session.

113.        The Council accordingly agreed that the subject merited discussion in the first instance by the Programme and Finance Committees themselves in their separate and joint sessions, and that the views, reactions and recommendations of these Committees could then constitute a basis for further discussion by the Council at future sessions.

Consideration of a Proposal for a Field Programme Committee13

Preparations for the Twenty-seventh Session of the FAO Conference

- Arrangements for the Session and Provisional Timetable14

119.        The Council examined the draft Conference document prepared by the Director-General on arrangements for the Twenty-seventh Session of the Conference.

120.        The Council approved the Provisional Agenda and the general arrangements for the Conference, including the Provisional Timetable.

- Nomination of the Chairman and Other Officers of the Conference15

121.        The Council noted that consultations had taken place among the Heads of Delegation represented at the Council in order to designate the candidate who would be approached to serve as Chairman of the Conference. However, they had deferred until the Hundred and Fourth Session in November 1993 proposals for the posts of Chairmen of Commissions I, II, III. Paragraph 8 of CL 103/11 would be amended accordingly.

- Deadline for Nominations for Independent Chairman of the Council16

122.        The Council noted that the Conference at its Twenty-seventh Session would be required to appoint the Independent Chairman of the Council, the term of the present incumbent expiring in November 1993.

123.        The Council also noted that with regard to nominations for this office, Rule XXIII-1 (b) of the General Rules of the Organization laid down that the Council determined the date for such nominations which had to be submitted by Member Nations and addressed to the Secretary-General of the Conference. The Council accordingly established the deadline for the receipt of such nominations at 12.00 hours on Friday 3 September 1993. Nominations would be circulated by the Secretary-General to all Member Nations by Friday 10 September 1993.

124.        Some members from the Latin America and Caribbean Region informed the Council that the candidate already proposed by the Government of Mexico for the Post of Independent Chairman of the Council had their support.

¹ CL 103/9; CL 103/LIM/2; CL 103/PV/4; CL 103/PV/18.

² CL 103/16; CL 103/16-Sup.l; CL 103/PV/4; CL 103/PV/5; CL 103/PV/19.

³  CL 103/16-Sup.l.

⁴ CL 103/7; CL 103/PV/5; CL 103/PV/19.

⁵ CL 103/7, paras 77-82; CL 103/20; CL 103/20-Sup.1; CL 103/20-Sup.1 Corr.l; CL 103/20- Sup.1 Add.1; CL 103/20-Sup.2; CL 103/20-Sup.3; CL 103/20-Sup.4; CL 103/LIM/6; CL 103/PV/10; CL 103/PV/17; CL 103/PV/19.

⁶  CL 103/8; CL 103/PV/7; CL 103/PV/8; CL 103/PV/19.

⁷  CL 103/8, paras 16-37; CL 103/19; CL 103/PV/7; CL 103/PV/8; CL 103/PV/19.

⁸ CL 103/13; CL 103/PV/8; CL 103/PV/19.

⁹  C 93/7; CL 102/17, paras 4.5-4.8; CL 102 REP, para. 183; CL 103/PV/8; CL 103/PV/19.

¹⁰  C 93/9; CL 103/PV/15; CL 103/PV/19.

¹¹ CL 103/18; CL 103/PV/15; CL 103/PV/19.

¹² CL 103/LIM/3; CL 103/PV/15; CL 103/PV/16; CL 103/PV/19.

¹³ CL 103/12; CL 103/PV/15; CL 103/PV/16; CL 103/PV/19.

¹⁴  CL 103/11; CL 103/PV/16; CL 103/PV/19.

¹⁵  CL 103/11 para 8; CL 103/PV/19.

¹⁶  CL 103/15; CL 103/PV/16; CL 103/PV/19.