CCP: ME 04/1

I. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

a) Election of Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons

b) Adoption of Agenda and Timetable

II. MAJOR POLICY AND ECONOMIC ISSUES RELATING TO MARKETS FOR LIVESTOCK, MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS

a) Short-term Outlook for Meat and Dairy Markets

b) Impact of Import Surges: Country Case Studies

c) The Provision of Government Services to the Livestock Sector

III. INTERNATIONAL POLICY ACTIONS

a) Follow-up to the Guidelines for International Cooperation in the Livestock and Meat Sector

b) Developments regarding the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)

c) Evaluation and Review of Symposia Discussion: Proposed Follow-Up

IV. OTHER MATTERS

a) Summary of Recommendations from Symposia and ESCB’s Work on School Milk

b) Adoption of the Report of the Sub-Group on Hides and Skins (8^th Session)

c) Activities of Other International Organizations of Interest to the Group

d) Date and Place of the Next Session of the Group

e) Adoption of the Report

1. The Twentieth Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Meat and Dairy Products (IGG) will be held in Winnipeg, Canada from Thursday, 17 June to Sunday, 20 June 2004. The IGG session will start at 09.00 hours on Saturday, 19 June and will be preceeded, starting on Thursday 17, by two Symposia: one on Meeting International Standards in the Livestock Sector — the Challenge for Developing Countries and the second, on Friday 18, on International Investment in Dairy Processing. In addition, on Saturday afternoon, there will be a workshop on school milk. Field trips to local meat and dairy facilities will be organized for Sunday 20. Please refer to the proposed timetable for more details on symposia presentations.

2. Governments are advised that IGG delegates are also invited to attend the sessions of the 15^th International Meat Congress (http://www.worldmeatcongress-canada.com) which will be held in Winnipeg, during the period 14-16 June. The Congress, organized by the Government of Canada in cooperation with the International Meat Secretariat, will be open to IGG delegates. The Congress registration fee will be reduced for designated, pre-registered IGG delegates in order to facilitate their participation. The agenda of this conference, entitled “The World Meat Industry at a Crossroads”, focuses on topics relevant to the future challenges and demands facing the global meat industry, specifically on the necessary strategic alliances needed to be forged between producers, processors, consumers and policy makers in response to the changing structure of global meat markets. In view of the heightened importance of the increasing complexity of global meat trade, this Congress should be of interest to delegates.

I. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

A. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND
VICE-CHAIRPERSONS

3. At each session, the IGG elects one Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons who hold office until the subsequent session. Mr Richard Tudor Price (Canada) was elected Chairperson of the last joint IGG meeting held in August 2002. Mr. Rui Eduardo Vargas (Brazil) and Mr Abderamane Coulibaly (Mali) were elected First and Second Vice-Chairpersons, respectively.

B. ADOPTION OF AGENDA AND TIMETABLE

II. MAJOR POLICY AND ECONOMIC ISSUES RELATING TO MARKETS FOR LIVESTOCK, MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS

A. SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK FOR MEAT AND DAIRY MARKETS

4. A presentation of recent developments and issues in the global market for meat and dairy products will be made by the Secretariat. Up-to-date information on the current market situation and the short-term outlook will be tabled at the Session (CCP: ME 04/CRS 1).

B. IMPACT OF IMPORT SURGES: COUNTRY CASE STUDIES

5. The report of the 64^th Session of the CCP in March 2003 noted that import surges could have adverse effects on the agriculture of developing countries and that these surges had been most prevalent in certain food product groups, including meat and dairy products. This study assesses the issue from the perspectives of the various stakeholders in Tanzania and Senegal and evaluates the impact of these surges on the domestic industries in the two countries. With the assistance of this document (CCP: ME 04/2), the Group will have the opportunity to review these country experiences and problems and to discuss response mechanisms, covering both WTO-related instruments and other policy measures.

C. THE PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES TO THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

6. At its 19^th Session in August 2002, the IGG on Meat and Dairy Products recognized the costly impact of animal diseases on their livestock industries. In recognition of the importance of understanding the role of government services related to animal disease outbreaks and to the future development of livestock sectors, the Group encouraged the Secretariat to undertake further studies on the topic, including a review of the market and animal health implications of privatizing veterinary and other livestock services. In response to this request, the Secretariat will present a document (CCP: ME 04/3) reviewing the public policy options in the provision of different types of livestock services and suggesting possible follow-up. The Group is requested to consider, in the context of the report, what policy options need to be considered in light of the conclusions of the report and what follow-up needs to be taken by the Secretariat.

III. INTERNATIONAL POLICY ACTIONS

A. FOLLOW-UP TO THE GUIDELINES FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE LIVESTOCK AND MEAT SECTOR

7. The Group had agreed at earlier sessions to make regular assessments of follow-up action to the Guidelines adopted in 1976 and revised in 1998. Member Governments have been requested to provide information on recent policy changes of relevance to the livestock and meat sectors to enable the Secretariat to prepare the latest review which will be circulated (CCP: ME 04/4) in advance. The Group is expected to examine the progress made in achieving the objectives of the Guidelines.

B. DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THE COMMON FUND FOR COMMODITIES (CFC)

8. A status report on commodity projects within the area of competence of the IGG on Meat (covering livestock, meat and dairy) will be submitted to the Group for their information and comment (CCP: ME 04/5). Delegates will be informed of progress made in implementing various projects that are being currently supervised and review new project profiles for sponsorship.

C. EVALUATION AND REVIEW OF SYMPOSIA DISCUSSION: PROPOSED FOLLOW-UP

9. In light of the two technical symposia organized by the Secretariat, the Group, through the organization of a panel of selected regional IGG delegates, is requested to review, summarise, and comment on the recommendations (CCP: ME 04/CRS 2) generated. Delegates are encouraged to comment on the follow-up needed to ensure implementation of the recommendations.

IV. OTHER MATTERS

A. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SYMPOSIA AND ESCB'S WORK ON SCHOOL MILK

10. A summary of the discussions and any recommendations generated in the symposia and half-day workshop on school milk will be presented to the Group. The Group is encouraged to provide further recommendations and comments for future action.

B. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE SUB-GROUP ON HIDES AND SKINS (8^TH SESSION)

11. The Group will consider the report of the Eighth Session of the Sub-Group on Hides and Skins, which was held in Rome in December 2003.

C. ACTIVITIES OF OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF INTEREST TO THE GROUP

12. The Group will be informed of recent and planned activities in other organizations which are observers to the IGG.

D. DATE AND PLACE OF THE NEXT SESSION OF THE GROUP

E. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

13. The Group will adopt the report of the 20th Session.

PROPOSED TIMETABLE OF THE SYMPOSIA AND THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL GROUP SESSION

DETAILED SCHEDULE OF SYMPOSIA

SYMPOSIUM ON MEETING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AFFECTING THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR — THE CHALLENGE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Thursday, 17 June

The growing complexity of global meat markets, driven by heightened consumer-related demands about product type, quality and safety will increasingly dictate the patterns of trade. Increasingly in developing countries, consumers are also preoccupied about the ways in which meat is produced and sold. Greater scrutiny of meat production systems and the “hoof to plate” approach to food safety and quality raises the risk of proliferation of divergent food standards, sanitary assurances and certification procedures.

The overall impact of these changing systems in developing countries is unclear, particularly in terms of the economic benefit/costs of adhering to these changing requirements. This symposium will, through the participation of leading international experts, review and analyze some of the major developments in changing standards and their impact on developing country meat and livestock industries. The ultimate objective of the symposium is to identify the constraints faced by developing countries in adhering to these changing standards and to identify the research, capacity building, institutional support and further activities necessary for facilitating compliance.

INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT IN DAIRY PROCESSING

Friday, 18 June

The programme aims to present an insight into the process of international investment in the dairy processing sector. This will be undertaken through a mixture of presentations by representatives of private companies investing in international dairy operations and responses by national dairy companies and cooperatives. Speakers will be drawn from senior private sector representatives. A panel discussion will be held to allow the presentation of a range of regional perspectives on the symposium’s discussion and content. The symposium will provide an excellent opportunity for delegates to meet and discuss key issues relating to the dairy industry – both in the meeting itself and via informal contacts during related social events.

Saturday, 19 June

School milk is an area where the Commodities and Trade Division of FAO is viewed as a world centre of information. Since 1998, the division has organised a world-wide series of 16 conferences on the theme of school milk.  In order to inform delegates of the main issues affecting the development of such programmes and allow them to present issues importance in this sector in their own countries, a workshop has been scheduled as part of the IGG programme.

School Milk Workshop

Sunday 20 June

Field-trip:

Optional.