FAO Council (CC-702)

Next Session

Council - 165th Session - 30 November - 4 December 2020

Previous Sessions and documents

Council - 164th Session - 6-10 July 2020
Council - 163rd Session - December 2019
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Legal Framework

Article of Constitution

Origin

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

Rules of Procedure

See Basic Texts, Vol I - Section B, General Rules of the Organization and
Section D, Rules of Procedure of the Council of FAO

Category

Cat.1

Purpose

The Council, within the limits of the powers delegated to it by the Conference, acts as the Conference's executive organ between sessions. In particular, it exercises functions dealing with the world food and agriculture situation and related matters, current and prospective activities of the Organization, including its Programme of Work and Budget, administrative matters and financial management of the Organization and constitutional matters (Rule XXIV of the General Rules of the Organization).

The Council may establish Commissions, Committees and Working Parties under Article VI of the Constitution and approve, for submission to Member Nations, Agreements provided for under Article XIV.2 of the Constitution (Rule XXIV.4(a) and (b) of the General Rules of the Organization).

Note on methods of work of the Council

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Secretary-General

Mr Rakesh Muthoo, Director, Governing Bodies Servicing (CSG)

Membership

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

Chairperson

Mr Khalid Mehboob

Number of Members

49 Member Nations:

Afghanistan¹
Andorra⁵
Angola³
Argentina³
Australia¹
Azerbaijan⁶
Bahamas³
Belgium³
Brazil³
Burkina Faso³
Cameroon¹
Canada³
China²

Congo²
Costa Rica⁴
Cuba¹
Dominican Republic⁴
Egypt¹
Equatorial Guinea²
Eritrea¹
Germany¹
Guinea³
India¹
Indonesia¹⁴
Israel⁷

Italy⁸
Japan²
Jordan²
Kuwait^3,9
Mexico³
Monaco¹
Myanmar¹⁰
Nicaragua²
Pakistan¹
Peru¹¹
Qatar³
Republic of Korea²

Saudi Arabia¹
South Africa¹
South Sudan⁴
Spain¹²
Sri Lanka²
Sweden¹
Thailand^{1, 13}
Tunisia¹
Uganda¹⁵
United Kingdom¹
United States of America³
Zimbabwe³

¹ Term of office: 1 July 2020 – end of the 43rd Session of the Conference (2023)
² Term of office: 1 July 2018 – end of the 42nd Session of Conference (2021)
³ Term of office: end of the 41st Session of the Conference (June 2019) to 30 June 2022
⁴ Term of office: end of the 41st Session of the Conference (June 2019) to end of the 42nd Session of the Conference (July 2021)
⁵ Andorra replaced North Macedonia from 1 July 2019 to the end of the 42nd Conference (July 2021)
⁶ Azerbaijan replaced Estonia from 1 July 2019 to the end of the of 42nd Session of the Conference (July 2021)
⁷ Israel replaced Austria from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2022
⁸ Italy replaced France 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2022
⁹ Sudan to replace Kuwait from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2022.
¹⁰ Myanmar replaced the Philippines from 1 January 2020 to the end of the 42nd Session of the Conference (2021)
¹¹ Peru replaced Chile from the end of the 41st Session of the Conference (2019) to the end of the 42nd Session of the Conference (July 2021)
¹² Spain replaced the Russian Federation from 1 July 2020 to the end of the 42nd Session of the Conference
¹³ Malaysia will replace Thailand from 1 January 2022 to the end of the 43rd Session of the Conference
¹⁴ Indonesia replaced Viet Nam from1 January 2020 to the end of the 42nd Session of the Conference
¹⁵ Deemed to have resigned in accordance with Rule XXII.7 GRO

* The composition of the Council membership for the 164^th Session was maintained as that foreseen for the Session as originally scheduled on 8-12 June 2020 (see CL 164/2, para 25).

Current term of office

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Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish

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Frequency of Sessions

Normally holds at least five sessions in a biennium

Division

Governing Bodies Servicing (CSG)

Contact information/email

[email protected]

First Session

Washington, 4-11 November 1947