Esteemed Prof. Dr. Eckert, President of the Codex Alimentarius Commission,
Distinguished Representatives of the Member States of the Commission,
Distinguished Delegates,
Allow me, in the first place, to great you by expressing our satisfaction for participating in this XV Period of Sessions of the Codex Alimentarius, in the common effort to achieve concrete results allowing to avance the work of the Organization, that of International Standardization and, in particular, that of Food Standardization.
At the same time, we want to show our gratitude to the Board of the Commission and, particularly, to Mr. G.O. Kermode, Head of the Joint FAO/WHO Programme on Food Standards, for the opportunity they have given us to use this Forum to accomplish the duty of reporting on the antecedents, achievements, results, and agreements taken at the First Meeting of Experts in Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control from the Non-Aligned Countries' Movement and other Developing Countries, which was held in Havana, from 28 to 30 September, 1981.
Thus, I fulfill Agreement 24 of the said Meeting, the mandate of which has provided our country with the responsibility of giving this information before those international organizations concerned with standardization, metrology and quality control.
In such direction, we have to emphasize, in the first place, that strengthening of economic cooperation relations among States constitutes a significant factor in the economic and social development of our peoples, as well as an important element for ensuring world peace.
Taking these judgements into account, the Sixth Summit Conference of Heads of State or Goverment from the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana in 1979, affirmed that it was essential to strengthen the Movement's Programme of Action for Mutual Economic Cooperation, and also stated that its implementation needed to be hastened through the adoption of more dynamic measures, particularly realistic and viable plans and proposals which are of interest to developing countries, and through national initiatives and joint efforts in connection with those political measures that would contribute to improve the quality and effectiveness of this Programme.
Based on this premise, in the Final Declaration of the Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Non-Aligned Countries, held in New Delhi, in February 1981, it has been stated that “… Taking into account the role played by standardization, metrology and quality control activities in the processes of industrialization, technology transfer, and industrial cooperation amog developing countries, as well as their importance to encourage and promote trade relations, the Ministers welcomed with pleasure the creation of a working group from member countries interested in drawing up a Programme of Action for Cooperation among Non-Aligned Countries in this Sphere”.
It was also added that “… Is this regard, the Ministers acknowledged that the rapid progress attained by developing countries in this sphere constitutes an essential component of the efforts made for implementing a new International Economic Order. Accordingly, the Foreign Ministers charged the working group with the task of submitting concrete proposals to the Coordinating Bureau for the Drafting of a Coopeation Programme for the Sphere of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control to be adopted at the Seventh Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government from Non-Aligned Countries”.
The said working group was then constituted by India, Yugoslavia, and Cuba, who became coordinating countries in this sphere.
In order to fulfill the task imposed, such countries made consultations, in which it was decided to convene the First Meeting of Experts in Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control from Non-Aligned and other developing Countries, which had to be held in Havana City, in September 1981.
As a result of this decision, the Meeting of Experts, which was attended by 29 countries and 2 international organizations, United Nations Development Programme (PNUD), and International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), was held in the foreseen date. The Codex Alimentarius Commission was invited to participate in the event but, unfortunately, none of its officials could attend it due to justified reasons.
At the Meeting, a general debate on the role played by Standardization, Metrology, and Quality Control regarding the establishment of a new International Economic Order, and the need for coordinating the efforts and strengthening the involvement of Non-Aligned Countries in those international organizations concerned with these activities, took place.
It was pointed out the particular importance given to these activities by developing countries to attain their industrialization, technology transfer, agricultural and industrial cooperation goals, and to increase their involvement in international trade under fair economic conditions.
When making a balance of the present situation and the role played by Standardization in the international arena, it could be noted how International Standards, in general, do not take into consideration the economic interests and possibilities of developing countries, this placing them in an open disadvantage as to their possibilities of competing in the international market with favourable results.
It was thus noted how all this is linked to the use of standards by developed countries and, in a very special way, by transnational enterprises as an instrument of penetration in the economies of developing countries.
It was also pointed out how the latter are now facing great difficulties regarding acquisition, adaptation, development, and diffusion of industrial technology, given their limited economic and technological possibilities, which does not give a margin to choose appropriate options so that, therefore, they are subject to the impositions of transnational enterprises in many cases.
Moreover, it was considered the imperious need for developing countries to gain greater representativity in international organizations concerned with standardization, metrology and quality control activities, and for each of them to have a national structure allowing them to obtain effective results from their participation in the works of such organizations.
At the same time, it was evidenced the importance of training and general education in matters of standardization, metrology, and quality control to increase comprehension level of these activities and their incidence on the economic and social development of each country.
At the Meeting of Experts, the Programme of Action for Cooperation among Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries in the Sphere of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control was submitted to discussion and finally agreed.
It considers its main guidelines the following:
Research on problems of Standardization, metrology and quality control in Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries;
Formulation of a common strategy for Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries for an effective participation in the work carried out by international organizations concerned with standardization, metrology and quality control;
Exchange of scientific and technical standards and standard-type documentation relating to standardization, metrology and quality control;
Organization of technical assistance in Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control;
Training and upgrading of specialists in Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control;
Setting-up and improvement of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control systems and their material base;
Organization and development of certifying systems for production quality;
Harmonization of national standards, metrological standards and technical regulations;
Formulation of a common strategy on Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control for the prevention and removal of technical - barriers to trade among nations;
Implementation of educational and information programmes dealing with Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control at the grassroots level in Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries.
Some mechanisms were also discussed and agreed at the Meeting of Experts, so as to be used in monitoring and coordinating in the future the works to be carried out in the Sphere, among which are the following:
dissemination of information to those countries interested in the Programme of Action;
performance of bilateral and multilateral negotiations in order to send consultants to those countries interested in the development of these activities, as required;
coordination of interests of developing countries participating in the international organizations in charge of programming these activities;
organization of periodical meetings of developing countries interested in the Programme of Action for monitoring the implementation of its earlier decisions and formulating new areas, forms, and ways of cooperation.
Besides, the Meeting welcomed with pleasure Nicaragua's desire to join the group of Coordinating Countries in this Sphere, and invited other nations to follow the same line, since it will be of benefit for the whole work to be developed in this regard.
Finally, it was agreed that the Second Meeting of Experts in Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control from Non-Aligned and other Developing Countries would be held after the Seventh Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government approved the Programme of Action, and a preliminary meeting of Coordinating Countries was also held in order to prepare this Second Meeting.
As it can be noted, the analysis made on the need for developing countries to put forward Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control activities in order to develop their economies emphasizes particularly important subjects. Among them, we can find the increase of their involvement in the tasks of International Standardization and, specially, in the International Organization framework.
Deeply engaged in this objective, the Meeting of Experts held in Havana urged these international organizations to contribute with a drive towards the participation of our countries in their works, by taking different effective and concrete measures leading to this purpose.
Among these measures, Non-Aligned Countries have pointed out the convenience to their national standardization, metrology and quality control organizations of getting greater representativity in the management bodies from international organizations; receiving an increased financial support by these organizations through the increase of free technical assistance or under advantageous economic conditions, scientific and technical information, and materials for teaching these activities; total or parcial financing of investments designed to create or reinforce the material base of these countries, and a greater amount of fellowships for these nations concerning the formation and upgrading of specialized staff.
Thus, Non-Aligned Countries have expressed their interest in reciving facilities from international organizations in order to establish previous unofficial contacts leading to identify their needs and problems when holding events of international organizations. Likewise, it was con considered to be a great opportunity to request those international organizations linked to these activities to include in their official publications information regarding the results of this Meeting of Experts in Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control from the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, as a dynamic and effective way to make people aware of our interests and to raise the consciousness about the problems we are now facing.
The agreements reached at the Meeting of Experts held in Havana were further ratified and enriched by differents events of the Movement. Among them, we could mention the following:
IV Meeting of Coordinating Countries for the Economic Cooperation Programme, held in Havana from 8 to 13 March, 1982, which was attended by 51 countries and 7 international organizations.
II Meeting of Coordinating Countries for the Sphere of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control, held in New Delhi, India, from 19 to 21 May, 1982.
Ministerial Meeting of the Movement's Coordinating Bureau, held in Havana, from 31 May to 4 June, 1982, with the participation of 70 countries, 7 international organizations, and many observers.
Lastly, the Final Report of the Meeting of Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Experts, held in Havana, was approved by the Seventh Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government from Non-Aligned Countries, which took place in New Delhi, India, in March 1983, with the participation of 99 countries and 24 international organizations.
After having stated that the progress made by developing countries will significatively contribute to their economic and political stability, the Seventh Summit Conference pointed out that it constitutes also a fundamental element to succeed in the re-establishment of the international economic relations. Besides, the Conference emphasized the need of strengthening the mutual cooperation, and urged the countries to implement hastily and in a fixed term the Programme of Action for Cooperation in this Sphere.
At the same time, the incorporation to this Sphere of two new countries, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea and Irak, as Coordinators, was warmly welcomed.
Esteemed Colleagues:
In considering the convenience of submitting a report on the tasks carried out by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and other developing countries in this direction to the international organization linked with these activities, it was considered necessary to present these elements to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, taking into account the great importance of its work, while its standardization object, that is, food, constitutes the main basis for the economic development of the great majority of developing countries.
In the middle of the serious situation of nourishment on a world-wide basis, the efforts made by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to help developing countries in giving an impulse to the tasks of food standardization have been widely recognized, as a way that contributes conclusively, in this particular case, towards strengthening and d developing their economies.
In fact, the Organization has taken some actions aimed at facilitating and increasing the participation of our States in the works linked with international food standardization.
Specially after the XII Period of Sessions, when the Commission decided to reconsider its course of action in the sense of paying a greater attention to the interests and needs of developing countries, we have noticed the implementation of measures aiming at the materialization of such purposes in the framework of a climate which recognizes the need of harmonizing more the work of the Commission with the problems and difficulties of our economies, so that it will be possible to attain a greater participation of developing countries in these tasks and to obtain consequently the benefits that should be derived from it.
There is no doubt that the Commission will be receptive to the efforts being made by Non-Aligned and other developing countries and, in this sense, we trust that these goals be attained, contributing in this way to strengthen the activities of the international standardization organizations and, in particular, those of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, to increase the actions of Non-Aligned Countries in such tasks, and in their mutual cooperation relations. At the same time, it should mean a modest contribution towards the achievement of a more equitable international economic order, and to the establishment of equality relations which increasingly lead to an international climate of peace and security for all the States.
Thank you very much.
