II. ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE ORGANIZATION (continued)
II. ACTIVITES ET PROGRAMMES DE L'ORGANISATION (suite)
II. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS DE LA ORGANIZACION (continuación)

18. Relations and Consultations with International Organizations (continued)
18. Relations et consultations avec les organisations internationales (suite)
18. Relaciones y consultas con organizaciones internacionales (continuación)

18.1 Recent Developments in the UN System of Interest to FAO (continued)
18.1 Faits nouveaux survenus dans le Système des Nations Unies et intéressant la FAO (suite)
18.1 Novedades recientes en el sistema de las Naciones Unidas de interés para la FAO
(continuación)

CHAIRMAN: I now call on the distinguished delegate of Egypt.

A. EL SARKY (Egypt) (original language Arabic): In the name of God the Merciful and the Compassionate, Mr Chairman, the contents of paragraph 7 of this document in the Arabic language gave rise to great concern, in particular regarding the decline of per capita output. Interest payments on external debt have exceeded new lending to developing countries and this has a negative impact not only on relations with developing countries, but also with all other countries. But we are pleased to see that developed countries reaffirm their desire to increase their aid to developing countries to speed up the pace of development, all the more so since these countries have undertaken to provide 0.7 percent of their GNP to ODA.

Egypt would like to reaffirm the vital role of women in social and economic life, especially in the agricultural field. We endeavour to provide them every opportunity for training so that they can play a major role in the field of food security. Egypt held a national seminar on the role of women in agricultural production and it was chaired by an outgoing Minister of Agriculture who was also in charge of the follow-up action. We have also attempted to facilitate Egyptian women's access to senior level positions, including ministerial or diplomatic posts, and Egypt took part in the United Nations World Conference on Women held in Nairobi in July 1985. The Egyptian delegation to that conference was a high level one, and it took part in all the debates at the conference. The delegation provided the conference with a review of national programmes for the promotion of Egyptian women.

My country would like to thank the international community and the international organizations for all their efforts exerted to solve the problem of famine in Africa, but we urge the international community to step up this assistance, in particular for development activities in the African countries.

For our part,. we have set up a fund for technical cooperation in Africa in order to provide, upon request, the necessary technical expertise to solve their development problems. During previous meetings, we have affirmed the importance which we attach to ECDC and TCDC. We are firmly convinced that we can make our contribution thereto by providing opportunities for training of all nationals of our brother countries in the agricultural field because we have a Centre for Agricultural Training which has all the necessary facilities and which, in fact, has received trainees from Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Furthermore, my delegation is delighted to see the constructive echo given to the Remote Sensing System for Agriculture by FAO, in particular for the Satellite Monitoring Programmes. FAO is implementing in my country a survey and classification of land with remote sensing techniques to determine soil fertility. This has been extremely useful, and has made it possible to train a large number of officials to enable the reading of the satellite mapping.

We would like to refer to the importance of investment in agriculture. We are in favour of the setting up of an investment centre in the region to identify and prepare projects, but paragraphs 59 to 61 give rise to some concern, in particular because of the mention made of a decline in financial institutes, loans and in concessional lending.

We would like to say that IFAD's activities are extremely important to serve agricultural development and we hope that the second replenishment will be carried out in the very near future so that IFAD can continue its most useful task.

C.R. SERSALE DI CERISANO (Argentina): En primer lugar, quisiéramos agradecer al Sr. Regnier su presentación del informe, y manifestar nuestro agrado por el mismo, ya que siempre nos trae agrada­bles novedades sobre las actividades de la FAO en el conjunto de la comunidad internacional y de las Organizaciones Internacionales.

Respecto al Documento C 85/9, ya nos habíamos pronunciado en el 87^o período de sesiones dando todo nuestro apoyo al mismo, por lo cual no vamos a referirnos más que al Documento 9-Sup.l. De él nos interesan particularmente tres cosas: la primera, la cuestión africana. Vemos que en el Documento C 85/9-Sup.l, se analizan todas las actividades de la FAO y otros organismos entre los párrafos 49 a 54, y también se reproduce la Resolución del período de sesiones del ECOSOC de julio en el Anexo D. Esta resolución nos parece muy importante y también nos parece fundamental la tarea de la FAO para paliar la crisis que actualmente sufre el Africa, especialmente por la sequía. Estamos convencidos de la necesidad de integrar todos los esfuerzos tanto en materia a cortísimo plazo, como son las ayudas de emergencia, como la rehabilitación prevista a medio y largo plazo que se hace en Africa. En este sentido, entendemos que el estudio`de la agricultura africana o estudio de fondo como se le llama en el documento, anunciado por el Director General en la Comisión I, cuando se introdujo el tema de Africa y en el párrafo 53 de este documento, va a ser muy útil para este fin, máxime ante la convocatoria, o eventual convocatoria, de un período extraordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General para estudiar esta cuestión. En este sentido, aunque las actividades para ayudar al Africa son muchas, nosotros las que más conocemos son las que surgen del Programa de Rehabilitación, al cual damos todo nuestro apoyo. Lo que sí quisiéramos es que, como acá en la Resolución 1985/80 del ECOSOC se habla, en el Artículo 8, sobre el fondo Especial de Asistencia de Urgencia contra la Sequía y el Hambre, lo que sí quisiéramos es saber cómo se integra y cuál es la participación de la FAO en este fondo, que esperamos sea mucha y sirva para orientar el trabajo que ya se viene haciendo en este Organismo desde tan larga data en este tema.

Respecto a la cuestión sobre cooperación económica y técnica entre países en desarrollo (párrafos 60 a 64) nuestra intención es instar a la FAO a que continúe realizando actividades en este terreno de acuerdo. con los exámenes del PCT.

En cuanto al Comité de alto nivel del PNUD encargado de examinar la cooperación técnica entre los países en desarrollo, a nosotros nos parecen muy acertadas las indicaciones de este alto Comité tal como constan en el párrafo 70 de este documento.

En el caso de las asignaciones de fondos mencionadas en el párrafo 71, sería también para nosotros muy útil conocer o tener más información sobre las actividades previstas según este párrafo 71, en cuanto a los programas especiales del PNUD y a los fondos asignados. ¿Por qué pedimos nosotros esta mayor información? Porque nosotros en repetidas oportunidades hemos puesto a disposición de la FAO la capacidad del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria de la República Argentina, para que, a través de la FAO misma participe en la investigación, extensión y capacitación en materia de cooperación técnica entre países en desarrollo y, particularmente, con países africanos. Sería interesante ver qué actividades conjuntas se pueden hacer.

En materia del Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación sobre el que acabamos de conocer un informe de la reunión de París, nos parece muy útil la difusión de la recomendación de los Ministros que está sobre todo, en el párrafo 48 en el Anexo .A. Esperamos que esta difusión masiva sea una ayuda para la implementación de las mismas.

Un último tema que queremos mencionar es sobre la relación FAO/PNUD a la que ya alguna delegación anteriormente se ha referido. Para nosotros, las relaciones FAO/PNUD eran un tema que había quedado, al menos desde nuestro punto de vista, saldado en el 87^o período de sesiones del Consejo, me refiero al párrafo 182 del Documento CL 87/REP., donde se instaba a que se aplicaran en todo momento los procedimientos de consulta ya convenidos entre el PNUD y la FAO. Nosotros creemos que ahí están las reglas del juego, claras y lo suficientemente discutidas, de cómo seguir trabajando entre estas dos importantes Organizaciones.

En cuanto a cuál es el papel del consejo de Administración del PNUD en la aplicación de las políticas en materia de proyectos o en sus relaciones con la FAO, nosotros creemos que la FAO lo que principalmente debe hacer es responder a los mandatos de la Conferencia y del Consejo de la misma FAO. Y, en todo caso, en lo que hace a las relaciones con el Consejo de Administración del PNUD, existen estos mecanismos de consulta entre la FAO y el PNUD, a los cuales nos referíamos en el 87^o período de sesiones; pero vuelvo a repetir que la FAO responda a los mandatos de su Consejo y de la Conferencia, donde nosotros, los Estados Miembros, le decimos lo que creamos más conveniente.

Una última cuestión. Si nos referimos al documento C 85/LIM/17 sobre relaciones con otras organizaciones intergubernamentales, lo haría ahora; si no pediría la palabra más tarde.

CHAIRMAN: I would request the distinguished delegate from Argentina to defer this item until we come to that item after the discussion on Item 18.1 is completed. We are running behind schedule, and we will therefore have to move in a brisk and businesslike manner. I would appeal for brevity in your presentations.

M. LENSTRA (Netherlands): Referring to document C 85/9-Sup.l my delegation would like to make brief remarks on paragraphs 47 to 54, Critical Economic Situation in Africa. In the light of the deteriorating emergency situation in Africa, the Secretary-General last year, on the basis of a General Assembly resolution on Africa, took the initiative to establish a special unit to coordinate the response of the United Nations and mobilize the international community. This unit is called, as you can read in this paragraph, the Office for Emergency Operations in Africa (OEOA). My delegation would like to emphasize that the objective of OEOA is that it shall not take on the functions of other United Nations organizations. Rather, it is meant to help them to mobilize additional resources and strengthen their capacity to perform their functions more effectively within the framework of the African emergency response system. We are glad to note that OEOA provides a unique and encouraging example of how the United Nations family can move in unison.

Regarding the internal structure, OEOA is supported by an inter-organizational task force composed of senior staff, primarily from United Nations organizations such as FAO, relating to the Office of the Secretary-General, including UNDRO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP and WFP. Now, after almost a year, OEOA is in operation. The Netherlands Government has heard alarming voices saying that the participation of FAO in OEOA has been minimal, and we are very eager to hear FAO's comments on these matters. May I pick up two alarming observations? First, the FAO senior officer in New York was only present three times in the Task Force meeting, while other United Nations agencies concerned participated on a rather permanent basis.

Secondly, concerning FAO project proposals sent to OEOA for financing, it became obvious after a thorough discussion in the Emergency Group in the capitals of the recipient countries - and I would like to emphasize that this Emergency Group is composed of representatives of multilateral agencies and bilateral donors - that those project proposals were not well adjusted to the immediate emergency aid activities in the country itself. It is not my purpose to go into further details. What remains is the concern of the Netherlands Government that the cooperation between FAO and OEOA gives room for further improvement.

It is true that FAO has a vital and important role to play in the solution of the critical situation in Africa, but it is not realistic to think that FAO has the monopoly of solutions, thereby denying the urgent need for a multi-sectoral approach.

For the coming period, in which the transfer of emergency aid to rehabilitation is essential, the involvement and participation of FAO is very much needed. My country thinks that in order to coordinate and monitor this process, it would be valuable and necessary that this process should be done by organizing round tables and consultative groups to which FAO should be invited.

Furthermore, allow me to say something about the relationship with intergovernmental and govern­mental organizations, Item 18.2 on the Agenda. As my delegation said in an earlier statement under the item on Field Programmes -

CHAIRMAN: May I request the delegate of the Netherlands to defer this subject until we come to the item at a later stage? We are now on Item 18.1 and the topic he wishes to raise belongs under Item 18.2. Would he like to take the floor when we come to discussions on that?

M. LENSTRA (Netherlands): Yes, if you wish.

Mrs A. BERGQUIST (Sweden): I will restrict my intervention to a few items that are of particular importance to my delegation. The items I would like to address are contained in document C 85/9-Sup.l. My first remark relates to the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade. The Strategy was reviewed and appraised earlier this year and an agreed document is now before the 40th United Nations General Assembly. Sweden took an active part in this review exercise.

My Government continues to give strong support to the Development Strategy and hopes to see it implemented-by the United Nations, its organs and organizations of the United Nations System, as the international community as a whole.

My second remark relates to the UNEP, United Nations Environmental Programme. At its 30th Governing Council in May a number of resolutions of special interest to FAO covering a wide range of subjects such as soil, desertification and anti-water toxic chemicals etc. were adopted. We strongly support close cooperation between UNEP, FAO and other concerned organs and agencies of the United Nations System in the implementation of these resolutions.

The UNEP Governing Council also adopted the so-called SWMTEP which stands for System-wide Mid-term Environmental Programme. This Programme is of interest not only to UNEP but to the whole of the United Nations System, and it contains a number of joint UNEP/FAO activities. The work on the new SWMTEP programme for the period 1988-89 will soon start and we have called for intensified cooperation between UNEP and FAO in the process of elaborating this new Programme.

M. MOMBOULI (Congo): Permettez-nous tout d'abord de remercier M. Régnier pour sa brillante introduction des documents C 85/9 et C 85/9-Sup.l traitant des faits nouveaux intéressant la FAO survenus dans le système des Nations Unies. Nous l'en félicitons.

Etant entendu que les faits rapportés ici concernent les autres agences du système des Nations Unies au sein desquelles nos gouvernements sont également représentés, c'est à titre d'information que nous recevons les faits portés à notre connaissance. Ce faisant, nous en prenons bonne note sans chercher à les commenter outre mesure.

Toutefois, nous aimerions remercier vivement le Secrétariat qui a bien voulu se faire l'écho des diverses initiatives entreprises de par le monde en faveur de l'Afrique, spécialement depuis le 21ème Sommet des chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement de l'OUA, sommet qui a adopté une résolution demandant la convocation d'une session spéciale de 1'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies sur la situation de crise alimentaire de l'Afrique et sur sa dette extérieure.

A ce sujet, nous tenons à rappeler que la Commission I de notre Conférence, qui s'est penchée sur la situation alimentaire critique de l'Afrique, a déjà saisi la Commission des résolutions de notre Conférence, dont la session a lieu en ce moment, d'un projet de résolution auquel nous espérons que toutes nos délégations pourront souscrire sans difficultés.

Beaucoup de sujets abordés dans les documents mis à notre disposition concernent des thèmes dont nous avons déjà abordé certains des aspects, et sur lesquels nous ne souhaitons pas revenir. Ceci pour faire gagner du temps à notre Commission. C'est le cas de la CTPD et de la CEPD, que nous avons fermement appuyées, ainsi que les rapports PNUD/FAO abordés par la délégation du Canada une fois de plus ce matin.

Nous aimerions d'ailleurs, au passage, répéter que nous nous félicitons objectivement des rapports actuels existant entre le PNUD et la FAO et ne blâmons ni l'action de l'un ni celle de l'autre. Nous avons exprimé notre préoccupation devant la baisse de la part des projets FAO financés par le PNUD, baisse imputable selon nous aux pays bénéficiaires par le jeu de leur propre choix de priorités, mais baisse aussi imputable aux pays donateurs qui, par la réduction de leur participation aux fonds fiduciaires du PNUD destinés à l'agriculture, ont limité les moyens d'intervention.

Enfin, cette baisse, nous l'attribuons au PNUD lui-même, qui, dans l'attribution de l'exécution des projets financés par lui au Bureau d'exécution des projets qu'il a lui même créé, doit tenir compte du domaine prioritaire de compétence de la FAO.

Nous regrettons que l'objectif demandé aux pays développés donateurs de consacrer 0,15 pour cent de leur PNB pour l'aide publique au développement des pays n'ait pas encore été atteint, et nous nourrissons l'espoir que des efforts appropriés seront faits prochainement pour y parvenir.

Nous appuyons l'idée lancée par la délégation du Venezuela, proposant à notre Conférence d'adopter au cours de sa présente session une résolution sur la participation des femmes et leur intégration au système de développement économique de leurs pays respectifs.

Nous nous félicitons des nombreuses relations fructueuses qu'entretient la FAO avec d'autres organi­sations du système des Nations Unies. Dans ce cadre, nous voudrions, pour terminer, attirer l'attention de notre Conférence sur les paragraphes 42 et 43 du document C 85/9-Sup. 1 pour dire combien nous souhaitons que le PNUE, dans la préparation de ses rencontres futures sur l'environnement et touchant l'agriculture, associe non seulement l'OUA et la CEA dans la préparation de ces rencontres, mais aussi la FAO, dont les compétences touchent la gestion des terres, des mers, des ports, des bassins hydrographiques, des engrais etc.

SRA. G. SOTO CARRERO (Cuba): Señor Presidente, ante todo, la delegación de Cuba agradece a la Secretaría la preparación del Suplemento 1 al Documento C 85/9 que se analizó en el 87° período de sesiones del Consejo y especialmente al Sr. Regnier por la presentación de este tema.

Mi delegación considera que este tema de la coordinación entre agencias de sistema de Naciones Unidas nos parece muy importante. Reiteramos nuestra consideración de que la FAO ha jugado un papel muy destacado en materia de coordinación. Esta coordinación, en realidad, la lleva a cabo la FAO cumplimentando el mandato que le otorgan sus órganos rectores, es decir el Consejo y la Conferencia, lo cual se traduce en que son los propios países quienes dictan la política de coordinación. Para nosotros coordinación quiere decir cooperación entre las distintas agencias, pero sin la supremacía de una agencia sobre otra.

En este momento nos referiremos específicamente al Suplemento 1. En primer término no podemos menos que lamentar el incumplimiento de las metas de la estrategia internacional del desarrollo para el tercer decenio de las Naciones Unidas para el desarrollo. Sin embargo, consideramos dignos de elogio los esfuerzos desplegados por la FAO en lograr los aspectos de la estrategia referidos al mejoramiento de la agricultura y la alimentación, en términos generales, habiéndole dado prioridad a la crítica situación económica de Africa.

En lo que se refiere a la participación de la FAO en la Conferencia de Nairobi para la evaluación de los logros del Decenio de las Naciones Unidas para la Mujer, consideramos que la FAO jugó un impor­tante papel y nos pareció muy acertado el que se hiciese hincapié en los aspectos que sobre el papel de la mujer en la agricultura está contenido en el Programa de Acción de la Conferencia Mundial de Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural, y que se subrayase la necesidad de apoyar con carácter prioritario la participación de la mujer en la producción de alimentos y en la seguridad alimentaria, y elaborar en consecuencia planes específicos al respecto.

La delegación de Cuba apoya el proyecto de Resolución sobre la situación de la mujer en el medio rural presentado por la distinguida embajadora de Venezuela y espera que dicho proyecto pase rápida­mente al Comité de Resoluciones y posteriormente a esta Comisión y a la Plenaria de esta Conferencia para su aprobación.

También mi delegación considera que debe mantenerse la estrecha relación de trabajo que existe entre la FAO y la ONUDI, mucho más ahora que dicha agencia se ha convertido en una agencia especializada del sistema de las Naciones Unidas. Entendemos que esa relación, en particular en el sector de las industrias de base agrícola, es fundamental para el logro de los objetivos de la FAO. En tal sentido mi delegación solicita a la Secretaría que, de ser posible, nos ofrezca alguna información sobre aspectos específicos en los cuales se prevé la colaboración inmediata entre ambas agencias, tales como ejecución de proyectos en común, talleres, seminarios u otros aspectos que hayan sido identificados.

En. cuanto a la recomendación de la 11^a reunión del Consejo Mundial de la Alimentación mi delegación considera que la FAO ha contribuido ampliamente al cumplimiento de los objetivos perseguidos para la eliminación del hambre.

Sobre el 13^o período de sesiones del Consejo de Administración del PNUMA, la delegación de lucha considera muy pertinente el programa que se señala en el párrafo 43 del documento que analizamos, específicamente los acápite d) y e); solamente quisiéramos llamar la atención al hecho de que no se efectúe duplicidad en la ejecución de estas acciones.

Sobre la situación económica crítica en Africa, la delegación de Cuba ya ha expresado que las acciones de la FAO para eliminar la misma, particularmente en la distribución de recursos alimentarios y en la rehabilitación de la agricultura en este continente, son dignas de elogio.

También quisiera referirme con satisfacción a la constante preocupación de la FAO por el seguimiento del Plan de Acción de Buenos Aires referido. a la cooperación técnica entre países en desarrollo. El hecho de que en el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto; tanto en el actual bienio como en lo propuesto para el próximo bienio, se ha considerado que estos aspectos son un ejemplo patente de la importancia que la FAO da a este tema de la cooperación técnica entre países en desarrollo.

Asimismo quisiera referirme a las actividades de la FAO sobre el Decenio Internacional del Agua Potable y de Saneamiento Ambiental. Consideramos que, efectivamente, los proyectos de la FAO ofrecen excelente oportunidad para promover en los países programas relacionados con este decenio.

También el hecho de que recursos del Programa Ordinario de la FAO y del Programa de Cooperación Técnica se han dedicado a acciones relacionadas con la vinculación entre la agricultura y el fomento de las aguas son buen ejemplo, si bien esperamos que la FAO tenga en cuenta las preocupaciones expresadas por el ECOSOC y que aparecen en el párrafo 81 de este documento, a fin de dar la mejor utilización posible a los recursos destinados a las actividades del decenio.

Finalmente, mi delegación quisiera reiterar su preocupación por la falta de recursos para la segunda reposición de los fondos del FIDA por la importancia que representa ese fondo para el desarrollo de la agricultura y la alimentación en los países en desarrollo.

S.M. MATIUR RAHMAN (Bangladesh): At the outset the Bangladesh delegation wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the FAO Secretariat for presenting the two excellent documents which are comprehensive and informative. We also thank Mr Régnier for his excellent introduction and for the information in the document. Our delegation particularly commends FAO for its increasingly accurate and constructive cooperation with all the agencies of the United Nations system in order to complement, coordinate and reinforce the activities amongst each of them. We endorse and encourage FAO to continue this role in the future also.

The Bangladesh delegation particularly notes with great satisfaction the leading role played by the FAO in the ACC Task Force on Rural Development. We fully support these activities of the FAO in close collaboration with other agencies in the follow-up of WCARRD. The holding of regional inter-agency meetings is very useful as it provides the opportunity for discussing and sharing experiences on rural poverty and rural development problems at the regional and country level. The work of the Task Force and of its sub-committees in the field of nutrition, control of vitamin A and iodine deficiency and in other areas is also particularly praiseworthy.

FAO's cooperative action with other international agencies in connection with meeting other critical and economic and food shortages in Africa are of special importance. FAO's contribution to preparation and deliberation of the World Conference on Women held recently in Nairobi also needs special mention.

My delegation is particularly pleased to note FAO's active participation in the preparation of the mid-term global review of the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the least developed countries. It is a matter of serious concern to my delegation,as to all others, that the situation in the LDCs, instead of improving has further worsened since the adoption of the SNPA in 1980 in the Paris Conference. In view of this, the mid-term global review of the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action was very important. In this connection my delegation has listened with interest to Mr Régnier's recommandations which came out of this review.

We would urge the donor countries and aid-giving agencies to fulfill their commitments, made under SNPA and renewed recently, to assist the least developed countries in their efforts to increase their food production, agricultural and economic improvement.

At the present time of worsening economic conditions and deteriorating food situation in most of the developing countries, and particularly in the LDCs,the drop in the concessional aid commitments to agriculture is a source of serious concern to my delegation. We would therefore urge for an early agreement on the secondary replenishment of IFAD at an adequate level, as well as for the provision of adequate resources to other soft-lending agencies, like IDA and Regional Development Banks.

In conclusion, we lend our full support to all the excellent and increasing cooperative activities which are being performed by FAO. They should extend this work in the future.

Relations with Intergovernmental and International Non-Governmental Organizations
Relations avec les organisations intergouvernementales et les organisations internationales non gouvernementales
Relaciones con organizaciones intergubernamentales y organizaciones internacionales no gubernamentales

A. REGNIER (Director, Office for Inter-Agency Affairs): The Conference has before it for this agenda item document C 85/17, entitled Relations with Intergovernmental and International Non-Governmental Organizations. It provides information on important selected aspects of relations between the FAO and the international community of IGOs and INGOs during the recent biennium. I would also like to call your attention to document C 85/INF/17, reporting on the informal meeting of international non-governmental organizations held on 12 November.

The main document under consideration does not - and indeed could not - include an exhaustive list of all of the forms of cooperation which have taken place during this period, nor does it include information on ongoing activities of a permanent nature. It limits itself, as mentioned in paragraph 1, to a number of the most significant developments during 1984-85. The document is submitted for your consideration but no action is necessarily requested of the Conference in this connection. Allow me a few introductory remarks on the content of the paper. We are fully aware of the importance of close cooperation with international organizations. As you know, the rules regulating arrangements for cooperation with international organizations are embodied in the FAO Basic Texts. The regulations provide, inter alia for the establishment of formal relations with those international organizations which are qualified and have made the necessary requests. In the past biennium, formal relations have been established with 22 international organizations, of which 13 are IGOs and 9 international NGOs, bringing the total to the respectable number of 268.

A register of international organizations that have formal relations with FAO has been published and is regularly updated. Formal cooperation between FAO and intergovernmental organizations is established through either a formal agreement or, in most cases, through the more flexible procedure of an exchange of letters. It provides for the exchange of information, documents, publications, invitations to meetings, etc., and also enables joint action to be undertaken.

In trying to select a few examples of cooperation between FAO and intergovernmental organizations, I would like to stress the excellent cooperation FAO has received from regional and sub-regional economic groupings. These include formulation of development strategies, preparation of agricultural and related projects, as well as preparation and implementation of emergency operations. In this critical period of the African crisis, our cooperation with OAU and several sub-regional groupings has been particularly important.

As another example of successful cooperation with IGOs, I would mention the World Fisheries Con­ference held in Rome in June last year in which specialized regional organizations, such as those from Latin America and the Caribbean, played a prominent role.

Regional and sub-regional integration in economic and other fields is being intensified today in many parts of the world, and I am confident, therefore, that FAO cooperation with these regional and sub-regional groupings will grow further through an extension of our existing cooperative arrangements and maybe through new ones.

Allow me now a few words about our collaboration with INGOs. FAO is also well aware of the impor­tance of close cooperation with international non-governmental organizations. According to the FAO Basic Texts, formal relations with these organizations take one of the three following forms: consultative status, specialized consultative status or liaison status, according to the importance of their field of activity in relation to the activities of FAO. Formal status enables the INGOs to participate in meetings organized by FAO, and to receive documentation and information. INGOs having consultative and specialized consultative status, may, under the authority of their governing bodies, submit written statements to the Director-General who may communicate them to the Council.

Over the 1984-85 biennium, cooperation with NGOs has been intensified, and ways and means to strengthen further the collaboration between INGOs and various technical units of FAO is under review. In reporting some examples of cooperation, I would like to mention the field of rural

development in which NGOs play an increasing role. The follow-up to the WCARRD Plan of Action remains here the main framework for collaboration, and the activities which are carried out for its implementation by trade unions, farmers' groups, womens' organizations and other NGOs merit our full support. As successful examples of FAO/NGO cooperation I would like to mention regional con­sultation on the role of agricultural trade unions in rural development held in Arusha, Tanzania, in October 1984, organized jointly by FAO and the Pan-African Federation of Agricultural Trade Unions in which leaders of 32 agricultural trade unions from 14 African countries discussed the participation of rural workers in rural development planning and the execution of projects at a national and local level.

Another example is a joint mission of FAO/ILO and the International Cooperative Alliance to various African countries for the preparation of the Cooperative Development Decade, 1985-95. The ten-year action programme developed in support of the Cooperative Development Decade includes several important activities such as cooperative legislation, education and training, and manpower development and FAO/ICA cooperation in these sectors will certainly develop further.

Last but not least, Î wish to mention and commend the cooperation from NGOs in the celebration of the World Food Day and the 40th anniversary of FAO. These peoples' organizations in various ways have called the attention of millions of their members to the goals FAO is pursuing in the fight against hunger. I am sure that the role of NGOs as partners in development will increase in the coming year, they will certainly find an appropriate place and become more involved in activities which aim at the development of the rural world. With these few words, I submit the document for your consideration.

CHAIRMAN: I thank Mr Regnier for the excellent introduction he has given on Item 18.2 which we are about to commence debating.

C.R. SERSALE DI CERISANO (Argentina): En primer lugar, volvemos a agradecer al Sr. Regnier su presentación y nos referiremos al párrafo 19 del documento C 85/17 que se refiere al Comité de Acción sobre Seguridad Alimentaria Regional del Sistema Económico Latinoamericano. Queremos actualizar la información que ahí se da. En primer lugar, los miembros ya no son 10, sino 13 los países que componen el Comité de Acción de Seguridad Alimentaria Regional.

La otra información adicional es acerca de las actividades del CASAR que han sido aprobadas recien­temente en su segunda reunión. El plan para el próximo bienio del CASAR se va a centrar en sola­mente tres áreas muy específicas: la primera es el apoyo a los planes alimentarios nacionales de emergencia; la segunda va a atender el objetivo de profundizar las actividades referidas al comercio interregional e intrarregional de alimentos; y la tercera área es el establecimiento de un programa regional de asistencia en especies o a través de mecanismos financieros para graves emergencias agrícolas. Es un programa modesto pero creemos que focalizando en pocas cuestiones el Comité de Acción podrá tener objetivos concretos a pesar de su corta historia.

Permítame, Sr. Presidente, volver a agradecer el apoyo que hasta ahora ha dado la FAO a esta Orga­nización que nació recientemente, en 1983; ello se manifestó en un programa de cooperación técnica que ya ha concluido entre la FAO y el CASAR y queremos en este foro expresar nuestra esperanza de que este tipo de cooperación va a continuar existiendo entre la FAO y el CASAR con las nuevas acti­vidades que han salido de esta reunión reciente del Comité Ordinario del CASAR.

M. LENSTRA (Netherlands): We appreciate the action taken by FAO, as elaborated on by Mr Regnier in his introductory statement. However, the Netherlands Government would like first to encourage FAO to strengthen the participation of NGOs in FAO, in the work of FAO, especially on a local level. The emergency situation in Africa has given ample proof of their expertise, knowledge and flexibility. We would also plead for consultation of NGOs by FAO and other United Nations agencies in policy matters on a regular as well as an ad hoc basis.

When my delegation is speaking about NGOs, we also think of trade unions and we also support the need for a focal point in FAO to cooperate more closely with NGOs, and this need was stated in document C 85/17. In this context, may I ask you to give your attention to the statement made by the representative of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers in Commission I this morning.

A. RODRIGUES PIRES (Cap-Vert): Ce document est riche en valeur informative et la présentation qu'en a faite M. Régnier, pour le Secrétariat, est très claire. Permettez-moi d'emblée de féliciter la FAO pour sa coopération fructueuse avec l'Organisation de l'Unité africaine (OUA). Nous souhaitons que cette coopération soit renforcée, surtout en ce qui concerne le programme dégagé par les Chefs d'Etat, lors de leur sommet à Addis-Abeba, en Ethiopie.

En ce qui concerne l'aide que la FAO apporte dans le cadre de la coopération sub-régionale, permettez-moi aussi de citer la coopération avec la Communauté économique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Notre pays constitue un exemple de coopération très positive.

Avant de terminer, compte tenu du fait que mon pays est membre du 'CILSS, Comité permanent inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse dans le Sahel, nous tenons à remercier la FAO et le Secrétariat pour toute l'aide qu'ils ont fournie à notre organisation sub-régionale, surtout en ce qui concerne la sécurité alimentaire et les projets relatifs à cette sécurité alimentaire dans la région sahélienne.

En ce qui concerne le document C 85/INF/17, nous tenons également à demander à la FAO de continuer à coopérer avec les organisations non gouvernementales qui, pensons-nous, constituent d'excellents partenaires.

J.S. NIELSEN (Denmark): We have studied with great interest the report on this item, including the recommendations in Part IV of document C 85/INF/17. In particular we would draw attention to para­graph 22, mentioning improved arrangements for a more meaningful and active participation of the INGOs. People's participation and great involvement of NGOs and INGOs has, in recent years, been advocated. It was our advice at the WCARRD Conference and it is also an important section of the proposed Compact on Food Security where these ideas are strongly supported.

We are all responsible for assuring the closest possible relationship between NGOs and public administrations, be they national government administrations or international organizations, as for in­stance the United Nations system. We constantly have to demolish all ivory towers around public organizations and the NGOs, or professional organizations, also have to combat their mixed feeling of fear and reservations towards civil servants. This applies to developed and developing countries as well. In Denmark and in several other countries, or country groupings, as for instance the EEC, we have been trying to develop close contacts on a formal or an informal basis with professional organizations or NGOs. Thereby we substantially enhance the quality of our exploratory studies and analyses and even more importantly,we facilitate the political decision process by removing techni­calities from the agenda of decision makers at the policy making level.

As to how the FAO should strengthen its links with NGOs, we believe that this should mainly be in an informal way and on an ad hoc basis and within the existing economic resources of FAO. To give an example, in preparing the study on price policies dealt with in Commission I this morning,it is essential that the FAO draws rather heavily on data and experience gathered in an organization like the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, and other similar private organizations, as these organizations emphasized this morning. On other matters the main emphasis should be placed on other NGOs, for example NGOs representing rural workers or consumers. I can just mention the importance of cooperating with NGOs specialized in emergency relief, that is NGOs who have a very substantial support and sympathy in the public opinion.

With your permission I would just mention something which belongs to the previous item on the agenda. It is that we wholely support the efforts by FAO to have a closer cooperation with the other international organizations and we think that, given the result from the joint Task Force from the United Nations and FAO on the country food programme matters, we have come on a good track.

In finishing let me reiterate my appeal to demolish all ivory towers in order to benefit concurrently from all signals from the external environment. Thereby we can adapt ourselves to the challenges of the outside world and currently restructure the priorities in our programme of work. This does not only concern FAO. It applies to all of us, national administrations and NGOs alike.

R. SEVCOVIC (Czechoslovakia): At first permit me to congratulate the director of the Office of Inter-Agency Affairs for his comprehensive introduction of this item. According to our views both documents we have before us are of worth in a qualified manner. We regard the FAO cooperation with non-governmental organizations as an integral and important element of FAO's overall activities and we wish their further strengthening.

I would like to come back very briefly to the paragraph 48 of document C 85/17 and to part four, the recommendations of the document C 85/INF/17. As to the WCARRD follow-up, allow me to express from this rostrum our appreciation for all efforts aimed at FAO collaboration in training programmes and other economic projects in favour of rural workers.

As a representative of the host country of one of the international trade union organizations, I would like to express our sincere interest in establishing a focal point in FAO to provide it with support services, and in expressing our support for ITU cooperation at the local and national, regional and international levels from the point of view of quality, consistency and continuity. In this context we welcome and support the paragraph 48 of the above-mentioned document.

M. MUKOLWE (Kenya): I would like to start by thanking the Director-General and his staff for producing document C 85/17 and C 85/INF/17 which is precise and informative. I would also like to thank Dr Regnier for the clear presentation of both documents. My delegation would endorse the contents of the document and would like FAO to give special attention to FFHC which if the official NGO window on NGOs within FAO.

Over the last five years my government has witnessed considerable progress in the work of Freedom From Hunger and Action for Development, particularly in the area of training. In these areas, many training programmes have taken place, particularly in Africa where the NGOs have been developing programmes on participatory project formulation. We think this is a very, very important area as the NGOs work is assuming a greater proportion of our development in Africa. My government recognizes the role of NGOs in my country and indeed is working very closely with the national and various local NGOs in promoting rural development . In our delegation for this meeting,the NGO's representatives are included as part of the delegation. This attests to the importance of NGOs in my country.

I would like to call upon the Director-General to give special consideration to Freedom from Hunger Campaign and Action for Development, work particularly in Africa where there is considerable need for training among the NGOs that are already involved in promoting rural development through participatory approach. This approach has been mentioned in various documents here without reference to the serious implications that are involved in implementation. A number of NGOs are currently experiencing problems in implementing this approach. The implementation requires that one goes practically through the process. One should not assume that the participatory approach can be something that can be picked from textbook; it has to be experienced.

I would like to refer to section twelve of document C 85/INF/17 where Freedom from Hunger projects were then identified-, this was from the Coordinator. Regarding the Early Warning Systems I believe NGOs have an important role to play here in informing FAO of some of the problems that involve food production in various countries. This is so because NGOs work at the grassroots level with farmers, and we have learned from experience that most of our farmers are quite aware of many of the problems, such as climate. These factors have always been ignored because most of the information that is sent to FAO takes a bit of time to collect at the government level. Since the NGOs are working at the community level, however, it is possible to send Warning Systems based on regions, even based on communities, as opposed to national governments. I would therefore like to call on the Director-General to strengthen the activities of this particular section because it is very clear that in the next few years time there will be more

and more NGOs that will be calling upon the Freedom From Hunger section for backstopping, particularly in the areas of training. We wish to request in the future that a report from FFHC be included as part of the various documents because for the last three years much work has taken place from this area. I believe that most of the participants would like to share their work with you because during the last consultation with FFHC, work results were made available and we found them particularly valuable to the governments of Africa. Therefore, we suggest that this document be made available, even in very brief form, and that the subject be treated more seriously instead of giving it a quarter page in the whole document.

Mrs S. PILLAY (Observer for the International Alliance of Women): I am taking the floor particularly as the Chairman of the NGO Group in FAO, the NGO group that are observers here at the FAO Conference, in order to reiterate the support of the NGOs that they are prepared to give the FAO in its unique task of eliminating hunger from the world. As Mr Regnier said the NGOs observers' representative here at the Conference met with the representatives of FAO on the 12th to consider ways to further the collaboration and cooperation of NGOs when realizing the objectives of FAO programmes for work 1986-87.

A summary of our deliberations is set out in document C 85/INF/17 which I am sure has been distributed to all of you and which I shall therefore not repeat now. Nevertheless I would like to stress that there is far more room for practical actions in the field of people's participation at the grassroots level by actually involving rural people in the planning stages of the small farmer and community development programmes that are meant to benefit them; It is important not to tell them what to do for their benefit but to ask them what kind of benefit they wish for their own betterment and developing programmes they propose to suit their requirements. A somewhat different approach is required to suit different situations and, indeed, in development thinking on the whole.

At the end of the Decade for Women very little has been achieved to alleviate the social economic position of women who form part of this world's population and contribute to more than 50 percent of its total food production. It has been fashionable to speak of development programmes for women but in actual fact there has been very little benefit for us. By and large, women have still no ownership to land, no credit facilities, no specialized training,-and no relief from the traditional drudgery of every day; this in spite of the fact that governments speak of having special ministerial departments to deal with women's affairs.

On behalf of the NGOs therefore I would like to congratulate the delegate of Venezuela for introducing a draft -resolution this morning on rural women and their multiple roles as agricultural women, mothers and spouses. We also thank the other delegations that supported the resolution and would like to record here the NGOs' full support for that resolution. However, we would like to stress that training and participatory opportunities for rural women should be provided in all three of these cases, for field workers, mothers and spouses, since they need training and assistance not only in the fields of food production but also in family and infra-nutrition, family planning and child care, improved food preparation, preservation and storage, and other related home economics areas.

Furthermore, we recommend that men in all countries could also benefit from exposure to information and training in these fields so that they could better understand the roles and potential contribution of women to rural development.

Ms A. SAMAD (Observer for the Associated Country Women of the World): I would like to underline, as has already been done by Mr Regnier and other delegates, the important role that NGOs and women's organizations can play in economic development and, particularly, in the rural development. It is common knowledge that one of the causes for the little success in development projects is poor implementation. It is here that NGOs can be of significant importance.

First I would recapitulate the strong points which put NGOs in a comparatively advantageous position in improving project implementation. The NGOs can address microlevel needs and variations, they can mobilize private resources, they can stress capacity building at local level, and their low profile insulates them from political battles. They emphasize the informal process and local role in decisions. However, there are quite a number of factors which so far have prevented them from playing an effective role. They often lack legitimacy and are viewed with suspicion. They have little leverage and are limited to small areas. They have little access to top level decision makers. They often have no technical qualifications and have little effect on formal systems. Therefore, I consider a very constructive effort that will greatly contribute to agricultural and rural development is to try to remove these weaknesses. I do not propose to suggest the solutions now, which are complex and lengthy and over-ridden by administrative details and trivia. I would conclude in the hope that the Member Governments and the FAO will act to remove these weaknesses.

Ms G. PELA (Observer for the International Federation of Agricultural Producers): IFAP has actively participated in the preparation and operation of the INGOs' Meeting which was held on 12 November and fully shares its conclusions and representations as reported in document C 85/INF/17. IFAP concerns and activities are closely related to those of FAO. Our aims are the same; FAO at the Government level and IFAP at the farmers' level. We all strive for the same objectives.

Document C 85/17 does not mention IFAP. Permit me to say that this does not mean, as Mr Regnier noted before, that there has been no collaboration or interaction in the last biennium. The FAO register of international organizations issued in April 1984 clearly reports that among the 17 international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with FAO,IFAP maintains contact with a large number of FAO divisions and services, and the list is not complete.

In addition to the working relationship we maintain with many sectors of FAO and the reciprocal attendance at meetings, I would like to mention that IFAP has collaborated with FAO on a two-year study on pricing policy.

The FAO cooperation on agricultural pricing policies basic strategy for farmers' organizations is not only considered to be of considerable help to farm leaders in developing countries, but is also used by FAO staff, both at Headquarters and in the field, as well as by other international organizations to develop a more effective approach and better technique. More than 40 percent of IFAP members are from developing countries and their number is growing. The majority of producers in developing countries are small farmers, and most IFAP members represent the interest of this important group. Small farmers and their organizations have a key role to play in the sound economic and agricultural development of their country. It is surprising how little reference is made to farmers' organizations in FAO documents. Indeed over the past forty years the farmers and the organizations have received little encouragement to actively participate in FAO in shaping policies and in implementing programmes.

We call on governments to encourage the FAO Secretariat to bring the farmers' organizations and their farmer members into the FAO policy-making and development process. Governments can facilitate this process by coordinating more closely with the farmers' organizations in their own countries and by creating a climate which encourages the self-help effort of farmers. It must be clear that when I talk about farmers, I mean men and women farmers. Farmers' organizations exist in many developing countries but only in very few of these has their potential been adequately developed to serve their members effectively.

IFAP is actively building up a programme to help strengthen farmers' organizations in developing countries through a farmer-to-farmer approach. In this context we are very pleased to report that FAO and IFAP are jointly planning a project to analyze the functions and functioning of farmers' unions in Africa so that ways and means can be explored to promote this type of organization in as many countries as possible. These activities are also mentioned in document C 85/INF/17 on page 5 in paragraph 10.

In Commission I this morning, IFAP made reference to a proposal for a procedure to enable farmers' organizations to participate in and contribute to the work of FAO, especially as it relates to commodity policies and programmes, and I thank the delegate of the Netherlands for having mentioned this just a few minutes ago.

G. DESESQUELLES (Communauté économique européenne) : Bien que parlant dans une enceinte spécialisée des Nations Unies, après l'Association internationale des femmes, l'Union mondiale des femmes rurales et la FIPA, je voudrais préciser que je m'exprime bien au nom de la Communauté économique européenne, importante organisation intergouvernementale qui collabore avec la FAO.

Je voudrais à cet égard me féliciter des excellentes relations de travail entre la Communauté économique européenne et la FAO et nous souhaiterions que cette collaboration se renforce. Je peux vous assurer que les services de la Commission des Communautés européennes réfléchissent à l'heure actuelle sur les moyens appropriés qui permettraient un tel renforcement.

Je voudrais maintenant me référer au document C 85/17 et à son paragraphe 19 qui rapporte la coopération entre la FAO et la CEE en matière de pêche. Si nous nous félicitons de cette collaboration, j'aimerais que nos relations ne se limitent pas à ce secteur.

En effet, je me permets d'indiquer les actions de sensibilisation auprès des gouvernements et de l'opinion publique que la Commission des communautés européennes a organisées dans le cadre de l'Année internationale de la foret. Lors de la récente Commission européenne des forêts qui s'est tenue à Budapest, la CEE a présenté un bilan des actions en la matière.

De plus, d'autres formes de coopération existent. Ainsi, au Rwanda, la CEE a financé un projet de sécurité alimentaire de stockage identifié par le Programme d'action pour la sécurité alimentaire de la FAO. De même, au Bangladesh, la CEE a mis en oeuvre le projet stockage avec la FAO. Enfin, et cette énumération n'est pas exhaustive, je citerai le projet du Sri Lanka, mis en oeuvre par la CEE et la FAO.

Je voudrais également rappeler que, dans le sens souhaité par le Directeur général de la FAO, et, sans attendre la mise en oeuvre concrète de LOME III, la Communauté économique européenne va lancer un plan de réhabilitation et de relance des pays africains les plus affectés par la sécheresse. Dans sa session plus récente du 4 novembre 1985, le Conseil des Ministres des Communautés européennes a fixé les grandes orientations de ce plan dont l'objectif final est fixé à hauteur de 200 millions d'écus, soit environ 180 millions de dollars. Cent millions d'écus sont immédiatement mobilisables au titre du Fonds européen de développement selon les procédures de décision propres à ce fonds.

Les projets de relance de la production vivrière en Afrique de la FAO ont le même objectif que le plan de la Communauté économique européenne. Dans le cadre de la mise en oeuvre du Plan de la CEE, qui sera déterminé par la Communauté, en collaboration étroite avec les pays concernés, il est évident que la FAO sera associée aux consultations, notamment avec les représentants de la FAO dans les différents pays concernés.

CHAIRMAN: I would like to thank the distinguished representative of the EEC; apologies are called for, I deeply regret the oversight and omission that caused the Chair to put him after the NGOs, I agree he should have spoken before the NGOs. I want to assure the distinguished representative of the EEC that it was unintentional that we have placed him at the end of the list of speakers. We have all very high regard for the Organization that he represents. I hope that with this he will be satisfied. Thank you.

I would now like to ask Dr Regnier if he would like to respond to some of the questions raised during the debate.

A. REGNIER (Directeur, Bureau des affaires interinstitutions): Le Secrétariat a pris note avec grand soin de toutes les observations qui ont été présentées par les distingués représentants qui ont pris la parole dans ce débat.

11 n'a pas eu, me semble-t-il, à proprement parler, de questions spécifiques auxquelles je doive répondre. Mais je voudrais sincèrement remercier les délégations pour l'encouragement qu'elles nous donnent à poursuivre dans la voie, je crois bien engagée, de la coopération entre la FAO et les organisations internationales et les organisations non gouvernementales.

Nous avons en particulier pris note de la suggestion de faire un rapport à l'avenir sur les activités de la campagne mondiale contre la faim dans le document qui vous est soumis à la Conférence ou de toute autre manière, et je pense que le Secrétariat réfléchira à cette proposition.

Nous avons également noté les remarques des distingués représentants du Danemark et du Kenya concernant le rôle que les organisations non gouvernementales pourraient jouer en cas de catastrophe et, à cet égard, je voudrais dire que nous reconnaissons le rôle que les organisations non gouvernementales peuvent jouer en fournissant des informations utiles dans la mesure où elles sont au plan local, et même sur le plan opérationnel. Je voudrais rappeler que des contacts ont déjà été pris avec un certain nombre d'organisations non gouvernementales, en particulier pour renforcer la collaboration avec le Système d'information et d'alerte rapide. Ces organisations sont disposées à collaborer plus étroitement avec le Système mondial d'information et d'alerte rapide de la FAO. D'autres organisations non gouvernementales seront approchées dans les mois à venir afin de susciter leur intérêt. Nous pensons qu'il s'agit là d'un point important et que la collaboration avec le Système pourrait utilement se développer.

Je voudrais faire une dernière remarque. Le représentant de la FIPA et le représentant de la Commission des Communautés européennes ont mentionné que le document sous référence ne contenait pas toutes les informations, toutes les collaborations qui se développent entre la FAO et ces deux organisations. Nous le reconnaissons bien volontiers, mais la période de référence de ce document a été précisément indiquée dans le document et dans mon intervention, nous nous sommes bornés à rappeler les principales interventions qui se sont développées au cours de la dernière période biennale. Il se peut qu'en ce qui concerne les Commissions européennes un projet forestier, par exemple, la contribution de la Commission des Communautés européennes à l'Année internationale de la forêt ait été oubliée. Nous nous en excusons. Les projets de stockage au Bangladesh ou au Sri Lanka sont eux beaucoup plus anciens que la période examinée. C'est la raison pour laquelle ils ne sont pas mentionnés.

CHAIRMAN: I thank the Directeor for his intervention in clarification of some of the points which were raised during the debate. I would like to ascertain if there is anyone who would like to make any comments whatsoever. There being none, I now proceed to sum up the debate on this item 18.2.

The Commission again noted - when I say again I refer to the previous item 18.1 - that the documents before it were very informative and that the introductory statement by Mr Regnier added further insight into FAO's collaboration with inter-governmental and international non-governmental organizations. . Six delegations participated in the debate and full support was expressed for the on-going work of the Organization with numerous inter-governmental bodies, at regional and sub-regional levels. In particuliar collaboration with organizations in Africa was mentioned and endorsed. Concerning the non-governmental organizations, delegation after delegation noted the report of the recent informal meeting and their support for developing new flexible and dynamic mechanisms for cooperation between FAO and various types of non-governmental organizations. It was stressed that these organizations were well placed to promote the people's participation in rural development. The work of the FFHC was supported in this connection.

Finally, I believe I speak for all the members of the Commission when I say that the statements made by the observers were noted by the Commission with deepest interest.

G. Bula Hoyos, Chairman of Commission II, took the chair
G. Bula Hoyos, Président de la Commission II, assume la présidence
Ocupa la presidencia G. Bula Hoyos, Presidente de la Comisión II

16. Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides
16. Code de conduite pour la distribution et l'utilisation des pesticides
16. Código de conducta para la distribución y utilización de plaguicidas

EL PRESIDENTE: Vamos a continuar ahora con el tema 16. Esta tarde sólo podremos sesionar hasta las 6 o máximo hasta las 6.15 horas, porque el Presidente del Comité de Redacción nos ha informado de que el mismo deberá reunirse temprano esta tarde.

El Sr. Brader, Director de la Dirección de Producción y Protección Vegetal, va a presentarles el tema 16 que, como todos ustedes saben, tratan del código de conducta para la distribución y la utilización de los plaguicidas.

L. BRADER (Director, Plant Production and Protection Division): While introducing this agenda item 16, I am referring to document C 85/25 Rev.1 and C 85/LIM/16. There is general agreement that pesticides have made very substantial contributions to the expansion of agricultural productivity throughout the world. Pesticides frequently offer the only means to control outbreaks of pests, diseases, weeds and other noxious organisms and, in many areas, production would be quite unprofitable without them. Over the last 40 years various alternative control measures have been developed within the framework of the integrated pest management approach. These concern mainly the more intensive use of pest resistant crop varieties and of biological control. As such, much more effective use can be made of pesticides. But it has also been clearly demonstrated that, in the foreseeable future, pesticides will continue to be an essential tool in plant protection.

During recent years, however, the introduction and widespread use of pesticides in agriculture have prompted much discussion and created wide concern. Pesticides have attracted attention, because they can have a detrimental effect on the environment, because they have caused poisoning of humans and domestic animals, and because some of their residues have been found in places where they were unexpected and unwanted. Their occurrence, for example, could create impediments to trade or have an impact on the environment.

Twenty-three years ago, Rachel Carson published her book "Silent Spring", about the dramatic impact of pesticides on the environment. This book became, to a large extent, the beginning of the organized public concern about the over-use of pesticides. It stimulated authorities and research workers to increase their efforts to develop alternative pest control measures.

The environmental effects of pesticides are related in particular to the pesticides from the so-called organo-chlorine group; DDT is the best example. The side effects occur as a result of the very slow breakdown of this type of pesticides and their capacity to accumulate in various living organisms. The ultimate contamination of mother's milk and the decrease in reptorial bird population are some of the examples often quoted.

As a result, this type of pesticide has been replaced by other types of compounds that generally break down much faster after application. But a number of them have higher toxicity for human beings and domestic animals than, for example, of DDT. Thus during the course of the 1970s this high toxicity has gradually become the major concern about the use of pesticides, in particular in developing countries.

Early in the 1980's, a situation was arrived at where continuous alarm was being raised by environmental groups; authorities of various countries were examining ways and means to reduce the problem and the pesticides industry was increasingly concerned about the hazards of their products to human health and the environment. But each of these groupings offered different solutions based on their different interests and responsibilities.

However, it was clear that a matter of such importance and complexity needed a common approach to ensure that the benefits of pesticides for public health and agriculture were maintained. Thus, in the autumn of 1981, the Director-General launched the idea of the development of a Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides.

For many years, FAO has been fully aware that pesticides have potentialities for harm to the community as well as for benefit to agricultural productivity.

The FAO programme has long been aimed at promoting safe practices in the introduction, distribution and use of pesticides. There has been much concern over toxic hazards and environmental problems associated with their misuse. As a consequence, for some 30 years, FAO's programme on pesticides has emphasized and provided assistance to its member countries on their safety as well as their efficacy aspects.

In this regard, two government consultations were held in 1977 and 1982 to promote international harmonization of pesticide registration requirements. Although an increasing number of countries have adopted registration and control schemes, the second of these consultations noted that there were many other countries - with serious deficiencies in technical personnel and facilities -where there were no immediate prospects for the effective adoption of such schemes. It is mainly for this reason that the 1982 consultation strongly supported the proposal for an International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides.

The Code is a highly technical document and has received detailed attention by experts throughout the world. The Code, as it is presented in document C 85/25 Rev.1, was prepared in consultation with various other international organizations concerned. This draft represents a consensus of views expressed by member governments. A number of amendments proposed by various members of the Council have been taken into consideration by the Director-General in preparing the Code.

The previous version has received strong support by the last sessions of the FAO Committee on Agriculture and the FAO Council. In fact, the Eighty-seventh Session of the Council noted that the Code was the end-result of wide and extensive consultations with Member Nations, appropriate UN organizations, other international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the pesticide industry - over a period of more than three years. In fact, the Code has gone through a process of ten drafts submitted for scrutiny. The main aim, as recommended by the Eighty-seventh Session of the Council, was to further clarify and improve the text, and not weaken its substance. The further amendments proposed in the draft now before you are consistent with the Council's views, and were fully endorsed by the Eighty-eighth Session of the Council.

As noted above, different groupings have different interests. It is, therefore, certainly not surprising that it has taken considerable effort and time to develop a Code that could, on the one hand, reflect everybody's concern and interest while, on the other, serve the purpose of encouraging the safe use of pesticides, and achieve acceptance by all involved. However, it is the Director-General's strong conviction that the Code offers a framework that can be subscribed to by all concerned. In this respect, it may also be recalled that the Council emphasized that the Code should be considered as a dynamic text which should be brought up-to-date as required, taking technical, economic and social progress into account.

The principles and practices embodied in this Code can help in reducing the occurrence of adverse effects of pesticides on humans and the environment, while permitting the effective use of pesticides in improving agricultural production and human, animal, environmental and plant health. At the same time, it should lead to the elimination of unacceptable practices, on a basis on which governments, industry, public-sector groups and concerned citizens can judge whether their actions and the actions of others are acceptable.

EL PRESIDENTE: Gracias al Dr. Brader por su presentación muy clara; espero que todos tengan el documento C 85/25-Rev.l donde aparece la última versión del texto del Código, versión elaborada a . la luz de los debates celebrados en el último período de sesiones del Consejo.

R. SEVILLA (Ecuador): Agradezco al Sr. Brader por la muy amplia explicación que ha dado de la situación de los plaguicidas y de cómo se llegó también a este último formato del Código Internacional de Conducta.

La delegación ecuatoriana considera que el tema 16 es fundamental para dar un importante paso en la protección del medio ambiente y muy especialmente en el cuidado de la salud humana. Por esta razón esta delegación considera fundamental que la FAO adopte el Código de Conducta para la distribución y uso de plaguicidas; sin embargo, mi país no puede dejar de expresar su enorme preocupación porque el último borrador, esto es el séptimo, haya sido debilitado sustancialmente al eliminar el artículo 9.6 del Código que implantaba el principio del consentimiento informado previo o prior informed consent o PIC.

Esta omisión en el Código lo vuelve lamentablemente un toque incompleto. No es desconocido para la mayoría de los distinguidos representantes aquí presentes el hecho de que algunos países industrializados exportan plaguicidas al Tercer Mundo a pesar de que estos productos químicos tóxicos han sido prohibidos, severamente restringidos o voluntariamente retirados del mercado en el país de origen por ser peligrosos para la salud, esto es, ser fetotóxicos, keratogénicos, mutagénicos, o que afectan el medio ambiente al contaminar intensamente el suelo, las aguas o el aire.

Comprendemos que este proceso conocido con el término de dumping sea un importante negocio para la empresa que lo practica, pero es indiscutible que los gobiernos de los países exportadores tienen una responsabilidad moral de vigilar que la exportación se haga sólo luego de informar al país importador de los peligros que el producto encierra y las razones por las que fue prohibido en el país exportador. Sólo si el gobierno importador luego expresa su consentimiento por escrito se debería realizar la exportación.

El PIC no es más que lo anotado anteriormente, o sea, que ningún pesticida prohibido o severamente restringido, y quiero ser muy claro en esto, no cualquier plaguicida sino uno que sea altamente tóxico y peligroso para la salud humana y el medio ambiente y que sea prohibido en el país de origen, podrá ser exportado excepto bajo las siguientes condiciones: a) que el país exportador haya provisto al país importador el detalle de las prohibiciones o severas restricciones que afectan al respectivo plaguicida, conjuntamente con la información de los peligros que hayan conducido a dichas restricciones;. y b) que luego de recibir la información el país importador haya dado su consentimiento oficial y, por escrito,de la exportación del plaguicida.

Algunos países exportadores han esgrimido el hecho de que esto limitaría o demoraría el comercio internacional. Esto es cierto, esto reduciría el comercio internacional de venenos no deseados por los gobiernos del Tercer Mundo.

Por otro lado, no incluir en el Código de Conducta el principio PIC llevaría a la FAO a estar por detrás de una serie de organismos nacionales o internacionales que ya lo aceptan o lo practican, y daré algunos ejemplos: La Asociación de Productos Químicos de Norteamérica, la NACA, aceptó en septiembre de-1985 aplicar el principio PIC entre sus miembros;. el gobierno de Holanda también ha expresado su apoyo al PIC al comentar el Código de Conducta de la FAO. No deseo entrar en detalles de otros órganos como la Unión Internacional de Conservación de la Naturaleza y la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas que también recomienda lo mismo.

Resulta, por tanto, contradictorio que mientras algunos países y organismos han implantado el principio PIC, la FAO y organismos por excelencia encargado de la agricultura, no lo implanten.

Preocupa a nuestra delegación que los países que ya lo han implantado o que lo están discutiendo en este momento al ver que la FAO no lo introduce dentro del Código de Conducta aflojen o liberen ese control y eliminen la obligación PIC. Por esta razón la delegación del Ecuador propone que esta sala estudie la forma más adecuada para incluir el principio PIC en el tiempo más corto posible en el Código de Conducta de distribución y uso de plaguicidas.

H. CARANDANG (Philippines): First of all, we would like to thank Dr Brader for his very clear introduction. He has given us a clear picture of how pesticides can be useful for increasing productivity and for eliminating pests, but at the same time he has given us a clear picture of how pesticides can be harmful if not used properly. We believe that the Code will indeed help countries achieve the objective of safe use of pesticides.

The Code which is before us is indeed a very great improvement over the previous drafts which were presented to us, but the point made by the delegate of Ecuador is of course of great concern. The Philippines delegation therefore fully supports the proposals made by the delegate of Ecuador. In this Article 9.6 we are dealing with pesticides which are banned, which are severely restricted, which are so highly toxic that they can no longer be sold in their countries of origin because of the harm they can do to humans, to animals, and to the environment - and even to future generations. I shall not go into the issue of why such pesticides which can no longer be sold in the developed manufacturing country can be sold in another country. If they are dangerous in the country of origin, they are also dangerous in the country to which they are going to be exported - and with much more reason, because the infrastructures in the countries to which they are going to be imported are less. The people are less informed, so that the danger of mishandling pesticides is even greater. Therefore, if they are dangerous in the country where they are manufactured, they are going to be more dangerous in the countries where they are going to be imported in the developing world.

The present Article 9.6 is already an improvement over the previous article, where there was a provision that sometimes it would not be possible to provide information on pesticides which are banned: now we read that it is indeed the intention of the exporting countries to provide this information about banned pesticides before they can be exported to other countries, particularly the developing countries. But we believe that the reintroduction of the so-called "prior informed consent" would be a great improvement to the present text. Many countries and many international organizations have already adopted the principle that such exports should not be permitted without the explicit consent of the importing countries. This crucial principle, called "prior informed consent", is the only way to ensure that decisions about trade in dangerous pesticides are firmly in the hands of the importing countries, particularly the developing countries.

The proposal, therefore, of Ecuador to reintroduce this principle in Article 9.6 merits our support, and the precise amendment that would be introduced would be to delete everything after "control action" in line 4 in Article 9.6 and substitute the following words: "information should be provided prior to export, such export to take place only following the explicit written consent of the importing country".

We believe that this would be a great improvement to the present Code. It will help to ensure the better use of pesticides and also ensure a better world which is free from pollution for our generation and future generations.

J. WINKEL (Federal Republic of Germany) (original language German): The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has welcomed from the very beginning the initiative of FAO to prepare an international voluntary Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides and to submit it to the Conference for adoption. It therefore took an active part in the formulation of the Code, as it did in the preparation of similar conventions in UNEP, OECD and similar organizations.

It is very gratifying that the draft as well as the draft resolution have now been put into a version that is acceptable and can be adopted. The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany sees in the Code of Conduct an important supplement to our own national provisions under Plant Protection law that will in the future also contain provisions on the marking of pesticides destined for export.

This regulation should support the efforts of those countries that import German pesticides and do not yet have their own regulations to improve environmental and health protection in the application of these pesticides.

It is also the firm intention of my Government to continue to take an active part in implementing the Code, for we cannot do without the application of pesticides to ensure the production, in terms of quantity and quality,of adequate food and feed in view of a rising world population. But it is also equally unrenounceable that the negative impacts of the application of pesticides on the environment and on human and animal health must be combatted by vigorous measures all over the world. As we see it, this also includes extension measures and advice to those who apply pesticides but cannot read the written instructions that are enclosed with the pesticides.

Also, it is important that progress in plant protection be promoted, and this includes the rational use of pesticides within the framework of Integrated Plant Protection. This aim is met by the Code, and we can hope that the improvements aspired to will become tangible by means of the envisaged reporting procedures.

H. VANDEPUTTE (Belgique): Ma délégation se félicite de ce que le code international de conduite pour la distribution et l'utilisation des pesticides soit soumis pour approbation à notre conférence. En tant qu'Etat membre de la Communauté économique européenne assumant la présidence devant cette Conférence, je vous saurais gré de bien vouloir accorder la parole à l'observateur des Communautés économiques européennes afin qu'il puisse exposer les vues de la Communauté en la matière.

EL PRESIDENTE: Señores, han oído ustedes la propuesta del distinguido colega y amigo Representante de Bélgica. Si no hay objeción, podemos ahora conceder la palabra al Representante de la Comunidad Económica Europea.

G. DESESQUELLES (CEE): La Communauté économique européenne et ses Etats Membres félicitent la FAO d'avoir présenté à notre Conférence ce document tellement important au niveau mondial.

En effet, ce Code international de conduite examine la plupart des aspects qui se.rapportent aux activités dans les domaines des pesticides; c'est pourquoi nous considérons le Code comme une initiative particulièrement bienvenue de la FAO.

A l'issue de la quatre-vingt-huitième session du Conseil quia précédé notre Conférence, la Communauté économique européenne, qui attache une grande importance à l'application du Code, se félicite qu'une disposition lui permette de participer pleinement, ce qui, par ailleurs, permettra une portée aussi large que possible du Code. Toutefois, il serait nécessaire que la clause reprenne l'expression même proposée par le Directeur général de la FAO et retenue par le Conseil, à savoir "groupements régionaux d'Etats" et cette formulation devrait être identique dans toutes les versions linguistiques.

La Communauté économique européenne et ses Etats Membres espèrent que toutes les parties concernées prendront sans délai les dispositions nécessaires pour une mise en oeuvre rapide du Code.

EL PRESIDENTE: Puedo asegurarle al distinguido Representante de la Comunidad Económica Europea que, como sabe, la decisión del Consejo respecto a las Organizaciones Regionales está incorporada en la versión que ahora se discute.

ESHETU DEBABU (Ethiopia): First of all we would like to thank the FAO Secretariat for the excellent work they have done in preparing the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides as submitted to this Commission in document C 85/25. We also appreciate the introduction given us by the Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO.

This work is a very commendable one and we do not have much to comment on it, except for only three small matters. First, in Article 3.3.1, provision is made for governments of exporting countries and chemical companies to provide technical assistance and to assist countries with a shortage of technical expertise in assessing relative data on pesticides. We have no objection to governments of exporting countries giving assistance to needy countries, in fact we support this and urge them to do so. But this would be a big responsibility to be given to chemical companies; after all, the main concern of these companies is to sell their products and not to give technical assistance to needy countries. Therefore we think the phrase in Article 3.3 which reads "or through their pesticide industries" could be deleted without incurring any damage to the remaining parts.

Secondly, on the exchange of information in Article 9.3, the country of export is required to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to provide the national authority of importing countries with relevant information on exported pesticides. This is pertinent, but commodities change hands; somebody can buy them not for use but to sell to another party. In that case, who should be required to provide the necessary information to the ultimate user? This does not seem to be adequately covered in the Draft Code.

Thirdly, we are also concerned with the points raised by Ecuador and the Philippines on Article 9 as a whole. We believe that if a pesticide is dangerous, it should be banned and not exported.

These are only observations which do not in any way belittle or cloud the excellence of the Code to which we give our full support. My country has already prepared a proclamation on pesticides registration, control and regulation and this proclamation, which will be enacted soon, incorporates all the salient features contained in the Code of Conduct in front of us.

Srta. M. HURTADO (Colombia): La Delegación de Colombia comparte la opinión de muchos delegados que han hablado antes sobre la necesidad de que el PIC sea incluido cuanto antes en el texto del Código. Colombia no desea que se interrumpa ahora el largo proceso que ha conducido a esta versión del texto. Por ello, en esta instancia, nosotros nos resignamos a apoyar el texto como está, pero a condición de que en el Informe aparezca un párrafo claro y definido sobre el hecho de que en una próxima revisión del texto de este Código se incluya definitivamente el concepto PIC.

M.A. FREDETTE (Canada): My delegation supports the resolution submitted under this item and endorses this voluntary International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides. Indeed, Canada continues to support more generally FAO's work in the area of the relationship between pesticides and food production. I would only add three brief remarks to this endorsement.

First, my delegation would welcome clarification from the Secretariat as to FAO's follow-up activities in monitoring and supporting the implementation of this Code, particularly in those countries which currently lack adequate regulations to deal with this issue.

Secondly, since Canada is an active participant in the International Programme on Chemical Safety, my delegation urges the Secretariat to work closely with those in ILO, WHO and UNEP who are jointly involved in this programme, with a view to benefiting fully from existing expertise in this field, as well as to making its own contribution to the work of that Programme.

Finally, we are very happy to see this Code of Conduct come to the Conference for adoption after long, painful perhaps, but nonetheless successful, negotiations, we hope. We are particularly struck by the close attention that the Director-General has given to both securing the support and addressing the concerns of FAO members in the preparation of this Code. Governments, individuals and the private sector have all been consulted extensively. I refer here to paragraph 118 of the report of the Eighty-seventh Session of the Council. The Code has gone through three years and some ten drafts as a result of these close consultations. This process, while doubtless time-consuming, is noteworthy and represents an excellent, concrete illustration of the cooperative dimension inherent in multilateralism.

We would certainly commend this aspect in the future. Indeed it would have served a useful purpose had it been applied to recent initiatives such as the World Food Security Compact and both the International Undertaking and the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources.

EL PRESIDENTE: Estoy seguro de que los colegas que intervendrán mañana seguirán el buen ejemplo de quienes han sido breves hoy, porque se trata de un claro proceso, bien conocido por todos nosotros. Les agradezco su colaboración. Mañana, como ya les he dicho, deberemos concluir este tema y por lo tanto consideraremos el tema de fondo del programa de esta Comisión: Programa Mundial de Alimentos. Gracias.

The meeting rose at 18.05 hours
La séance est levée à 18 h 05
Se levanta la sesión a las 18.05 horas