(Article III of the Constitution)

On the invitation of the United Nations Interim Commission on Food and Agriculture, representatives met in Quebec on 16 October 1945 to sign the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which provides for "a Conference of the Organization in which each Member Nation and Associate Member shall be represented by one delegate".

Quebec, 16 October - 1 November 1945.

Membership (as of 18 November 1997)

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish.

See 1994 edition of Basic Texts, Vol I - Section B, General Rules of the Organization.

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

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

The Thirtieth Session is scheduled to be held in Rome in November 1999.

(Article V of the Constitution)

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.

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).

Washington, 4 - 11 November 1947.

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

Membership from 1 January 1999 to November 2001

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section B, General Rules of the Organization; Section D, Rules of Procedure of the Council.

The Council holds at least four sessions between regular sessions of the Conference. At its session immediately following the Conference session, it elects its Programme Committee, Finance Committee, and Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters.

The Hundred and Fifteenth Session is scheduled to be held in Rome from 23-28 November 1998.

Mr Sjarifudin Baharsjah was appointed Independent Chairman by the Conference at its Twenty-ninth Session in 1997 until the close of the Thirtieth Session of the Conference in 1999.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Established as a "Coordinating Committee" by the Conference at its Third Session (1947), and reconstituted at its Sixth Session (1951) (Resolution 84/51). In 1957 the name was changed to Programme Committee. Its size and structure were modified by the Conference at its Nineteenth Session (1977, Resolution 15/77).

To assist the Council in carrying out its duties regarding the development and implementation of the Organization's programme activities. Its functions are enumerated in Rule XXVI of the General Rules of the Organization.

Coordinating Committee, March 1949; Programme Committee, March 1958.

Representatives of 11 Member Nations elected by the Council from specific regions as determined by the Conference for the purpose of Council elections. Members of the Committee shall appoint as their representatives individuals who have shown a continued interest in the objectives and activities of the Organization, who have participated in Conference or Council sessions and who have special expertise and experience in economic, social and technical matters pertaining to the various fields of the Organization's activities. Members of the Committee are elected for a period of two years at the session of the Council immediately following the regular session of the Conference. They are eligible for reappointment. The Chairman is elected by the Council from among the designated representatives of the prospective Members of the Committee. In the absence of the Chairman, his functions are exercised by the Vice-Chairman elected by the Committee from among its Members. The Independent Chairman of the Council may attend sessions or meetings of the Committee ex officio.

The present membership (until November 1999) is:

Secretary: Y. Klompenhouwer (PBEP)

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section E.

The Eightieth Session is scheduled to be held in September 1998.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Established as the "Committee on Financial Control" (CFC) by a Resolution of the Conference at its Third Session (1947) as successor to the Sub-Committee on Finance. In 1958, the name was changed to Finance Committee.

To assist the Council in exercising control over the financial administration of the Organization. Its functions are set out in Rule XXVII of the General Rules of the Organization. The Finance Committee holds concurrent sessions with the Programme Committee during the second year of the biennium (Rule XXVIII of the General Rules of the Organization), and sometimes also in the first year.

Committee on Financial Control, December 1947; Finance Committee, March 1958.

Representatives of nine Member Nations elected by the Council from specific regions as determined by the Conference for the purpose of Council elections. Members of the Committee shall appoint as their representatives individuals who have shown a continued interest in the objectives and activities of the Organization, who have participated in Conference or Council sessions and who have special expertise and experience in administrative and financial matters. Members of the Committee are elected for a period of two years at the session of the Council immediately following the regular session of the Conference. They are eligible for reappointment. The Chairman is elected by the Council from among the designated representatives of the prospective Members of the Committee. In the absence of the Chairman, his functions are exercised by the Vice-Chairman elected by the Committee from among its Members. The Independent Chairman of the Council may attend sessions or meetings of the Committee ex officio.

The present membership (until November 1999) is:

Secretary G.C. Flood (AFPE)

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section F.

The Ninetieth Session is scheduled to be held in September 1998.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Established in 1957 by the Ninth Session of the Conference.

To consider specific constitutional and legal items referred to it by the Council or by the Director-General and resulting from matters enumerated in Rule XXXIV-3 of the General Rules of the Organization.

February 1958.

Not more than seven Member Nations elected for two years by the Council at its session immediately following the regular Conference session.

The present membership (until November 1999) is:

Secretary: L.M. Bombin (LEGA)

Arabic, English, French, Spanish.

General Rules of the Organization.

The Sixty-ninth Session is scheduled to be held in September 1998.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Established by the Conference at its Fifth Session (1949) to work under the supervision of and be responsible to the Council. By decision of the Conference at its Ninth Session (1957), it became a Committee of the Council.

Purpose

The terms of reference of the Committee as laid down in Rule XXIX of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

a)    To keep commodity problems of an international character affecting production, trade, distribution and consumption, and related economic matters under review;

b)     To prepare a factual and interpretative survey of the world commodity situation, which would be made available directly to Member Nations; and

c)     To report and submit suggestions to the Council on policy issues arising out of its deliberations, and to avail these reports and those of its Subsidiary Bodies to Member Nations for their information.

January 1950.

Open to all Member Nations which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in its work. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present membership for the 1998-99 biennium is:

Secretary: J.N. Greenfield (ESCD)

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Revised rules were adopted at the Forty-seventh Session (1972) and amended at the Fifty-first Session (1977). See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section G.

One session during each biennium, convened sufficiently in advance of the Council session before the regular sessions of the Conference. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXIX-4 and 5, GRO).

See pages 36 to 49.

Reviewed the main issues in the world commodity situation and outlook; examined the medium-term outlook for agricultural commodities including the impact of the Uruguay Round on agricultural commodity markets; assessed the progress of international action relating to agricultural commodities; reviewed work of FAO’s Intergovernmental Commodity Groups, including that in relation to the Common Fund for Commodities; considered the activities of the Sub-Committee on Surplus Disposal.

Focused attention, through its subsidiary intergovernmental commodity groups and through ad hoc intergovernmental consultations, of problems of a recurring nature, including policy guidelines for their resolution.

Reviewed the role and functioning of the Intergovernmental Commdity Groups and took a number of decisions to improve their functioning concerning inter alia reports, documents, agenda and frequency and duration of meetings.

Provided a forum for consultations on medium- and longer-term policy issues in trade in agricultural commodities to promote international cooperation and action; reviewed developments in protectionism in agricultural trade as follow-up to the Conference
Resolution 2/79 and, in particular, the impact of the Uruguay Round on agriculture and the impact of biotechnology developments on agricultural trade.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Thirteenth Session (1965, Resolution 13/65) as a Committee of the Council.

The terms of reference of the Committee as laid down in Rule XXX of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

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

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

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

d)     consider the desirability of preparing and submitting to Member Nations an international convention under Article XIV of the Constitution to ensure effective international cooperation and consultation in fisheries on a world scale;

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

June 1966.

Open to all Member Nations which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in its work. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present membership for the 1998-99 biennium is:

Secretary: B. Satia (FIPL)

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Adopted at the First Session (1966); amended at the Second Session (1967), and at the Eleventh Session (1977). See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section H.

Normally two sessions during each biennium; one of these shall be convened sufficiently in advance of the Council session held approximately midway between the regular sessions of the Conference. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXX-4 and 5, GRO). Currently one session is held during each biennium.

See pages 50 to 53.

Provided a forum for consultation on trends and major emerging issues and policies in world fisheries and promoted international collaboration and action on a number of areas including the convening of technical consultations on the Management of Overcapacity, Sharks, and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Long Line Fishing. The Committee emphasized the importance of the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, reiterated the need for guidelines to be established on the relevant article of the Code, and recommended that a Progress Report on its implementation be made available at its Twenty-third Session. The Committee also stressed the need for effective regional fishery organizations and arrangements and agreed that FAO regional fishery bodies should be reviewed and evaluated with a view to strengthening each body as appropriate.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Established by the Conference at its Sixteenth Session (1971, Resolution 10/71) as a Committee of the Council.

The terms of reference of the Committee as laid down in Rule XXXI of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

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

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

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

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

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

May 1972

Open to all Member Nations which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in the work of the Committee. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present membership for the 1998-99 biennium is:

Secretary: L.S. Botero (FODA)

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Adopted at the Second Session (1974) and amended at the Third Session (1976). See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section I.

Normally once in each biennium, early in non-Conference years (sessions were held in 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995). If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXXI-3 and 4, GRO).

The Committee discussed progress towards sustainable forest management and follow-up to UNCED, including implications of the work of the Inter-governmental Panel on Forests (IPF), the role of COFO and Regional Forestry Commissions, the implications for forestry of the Plan of Action of the World Forestry Summit, the conservation and sustainable utilization of forest genetic resources and revised FAO’s Regular and Field Programmes.

The Committee recommended: (a) the implementation of IPF proposals for action directed to FAO, especially in (i) the undertaking of efforts to achieve common understanding of key concepts and essential terms and definitions; (ii) association of more countries and regions not yet involved or advanced in their processes; (iii) strengthening national capacities; (iv) incorporation of criteria and indicators in national forest programmes and forest resources assessments; (v) assisting countries in developing information on criteria and indicators that is transparent, scientifically-sound and technically-valid and that FAO continue to support countries’ efforts, monitor progress achieved and develop strategies to promote national forest programmes and regional work programmes; (b) that the Assistant Director-General of the Forestry Department draw up a strategic framework for FAO’s planning and implementation of activities in the field of forests and include the Forestry Department’s objectives, priorities, issues, activities and partnership arrangements over the medium term ; (c) that COFO and Regional Forestry Commissions be open and involve representatives of NGOs and the private sector; (d) that the Forestry Department maintain sustainable forest management as its guiding principle, in accordance with the decision taken at the World Food Summit; (e) that efforts to explore, conserve, evaluate and better utilize forest genetic resources be continued and further strengthened in collaboration with national institutes and international governmental and non-governmental partners; (f) that the Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources continue to provide advice to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in its fields of competence. The Committee expressed concern at the limited budgetary allocation for forestry in general and at the fact that the share of forestry in the overall FAO budget remained limited and therefore inconsistent with the post-UNCED importance of forestry in relation to sustainable forest management, desertification, climate change and the conservation of biological diversity.

It strongly recommended that FAO allocate additional resources for this programme period. Given the resource constraints, the Committee called for greater efficiency in the use of the limited funding that was available, and strongly recommended that FAO further prioritize its activities.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Established by the Conference at its Sixteenth Session (1971, Resolution 11/71) as a Committee of the Council.

The terms of reference as laid down in Rule XXXII of the General Rules of the Organization include the following:

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

b)     advise the Council on the overall medium- and longer-term work programme of the Organization relating to agriculture, food and nutrition, with emphasis on the integration of all social, technical, economic, institutional and structural aspects dealing with agricultural and rural development in general;

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

d)     review specific matters relating to agriculture, food and nutrition referred to the Committee by the Conference, the Council or the Director-General, or placed by the Committee on its agenda at the request of a Member Nation in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Committee, and make recommendations as may be appropriate;

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

April 1972.

Open to all Member Nations which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in the work of the Committee. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present membership for the 1998-99 biennium is:

Secretary: E.A. Kueneman (AGD)

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Adopted at the First Session (1972) and amended at the Fourth Session (1977). See Basic Texts, Vol. I, Section J.

Normally once in each biennium, early in Conference years. If required, the Committee may hold additional sessions (Rule XXXII-3 and 4, GRO).

The Twenty-ninth Session of the in 1997 Conference adopted Standards for Plant Quarantine Harmonization and revised the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as recommended by COAG. The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) established a subsidiary Intergovernmental Technical Working Group for Farm Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, as advised by COAG.

(Article V of the Constitution)

Established by the Conference at its Eighteenth Session (1975, Resolution 21/75) as a Committee of the Council.

The terms of reference of the Committee, as laid down in Rule XXXIII of the General Rules of the Organization. This rule was amended by the Conference at its Twenty-ninth session (Resolution 8/97) to take into account the substantial role accorded to the Committee as reflected in Commitment Seven of the Plan of Action adopted by the World Food Summit in November 1996, as well as the transfer of functions of the World Food Council to FAO and WFP. The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:

a)     examine major problems and issues affecting the world food situation and the steps being proposed or taken to resolve them by Governments and relevant international organizations, bearing in mind the need for the adoption of an integrated approach towards their solution;

b)     examine the implications for world food security of other relevant factors, including the situation relating to the supply and demand of basic stuffs and food aid requirements and trends, the state of stocks in exporting and importing countries and issues relating to physical and economic access to food and other food security-related aspects of poverty eradication; and

c)     recommend such action as may be appropriate to promote the goal of world food security.

April 1976.

Open to all Member Nations of the Organization and all Member States of the United Nations which notify the Director-General in writing of their desire to become Members of the Committee and of their intention to participate in the work of the Committee. The notification may be made at any time and membership acquired on this basis shall be for a biennium.

The present membership for the 1998-99 biennium is:

Secretary: Ms B. Huddleston (ESAF)

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Adopted at the First Session (1976). Expected to be revised by the Committee at its
Twenty-fourth Session, to make them conform with Rule XXXIII as amended.

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

Conducted preparations for the WFS including draft texts of the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action, which subsequently were adopted by the Summit in November 1996.

Having been designated by the WFS to monitor the implementation of the Plan of Action, determined a provisional reporting procedure to be used for reporting in 1998 and requested the Secretariat to prepare, for the Committee’s consideration at its Twenty-fourth session, a draft standard reporting format for monitoring the follow-up to the World Food Summit Plan of Action in successive years. Examined and assessed the world food security situation in 1996 and in 1997.