Item 1: Adoption
of the agenda
TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/1
According
to the Commission's Rules of Procedure, the first item on the provisional
agenda shall be the adoption of the agenda.
Item 2: Matters of
interest arising since
the last session
TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/2
Delegations will be informed about the work of interest
that has taken place in different groups within and outside UNECE.
(a) UNECE
-Committee
for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development
-United
Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Commerce
-Working
Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policy
-Working Party on Transport of
Perishable Foodstuffs
(b) Other organizations:
-Codex Alimentarius Commission and Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits
and Vegetables
-European Union
-ISO/TC34/SC14
-OECD
Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruitand Vegetables
-World
Trade Organization
Item 3: Proposals
to revise UNECE Standards
(a) Apples
Standard in force: TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.3
Proposal: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/3]
Comments: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/4
(Secretariat)
Proposals are
expected concerning minimum sizes for weight and maturity requirements.
Questions from Russia (2003/4) were
collected from producers/ traders in the St. Petersburg area by the
secretariat.
(b) Artichokes
Proposal: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/6
(European Community)
The standard in force was last revised 1996.
(c) Courgettes
Proposal: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/6
(European Community)
The standard was last revised in 2000 to introduce provisions concerning
miniature produce.
(d) Kiwi
fruit
Proposal: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/7 (New
Zealand)]
Proposals are expected
on the inclusion of maturity requirements.
(e)Onions
Proposal: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/6 (European Community)
The standard was last revised 2001 where the
following amendments were decided:
-moving
the requirement on small cracks from the minimum requirements to
classification;
-moving
the requirement on hollow or tough stems from classification to the minimum
requirements;
-aligning
the text with the standard layout concerning pests and layout for marking of
onions dispatched in bulk;
-increasing
the allowed length of the stems from 4cm to 6cm (because this decreases risk of
infections);
-introducing
clarifications concerning presentation in bulk and for stringed onions.
(f) Peaches and Nectarines
Proposal: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/6
(European Community)
Proposals are
expected on the following issues:
-use of size D;
-maturity
indicators (information from the United Kingdom on the use of the brix level,
the concept of well matured fruit (Chile));
-comments on the
proposal from the Ukraine.
(g) Pears
Standard in force:TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.4
Proposal: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/6
(European Community)
Comments: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/4
(Secretariat)
Proposals are
expected concerning maturity requirements. Questions from Russia (2003/4) were
collected from producers/ traders in the St. Petersburg area by the
secretariat.
(h) Strawberries
(Maturity requirements)
Proposal: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/11
(European
Community)]
The standard was last revised
2002. Proposals are expected on maturity requirements.
Item 4: Review of UNECE
Recommendations
(a) Avocados
Standard/Recommendation: TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.11
Proposal:TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/6 (European
Community)
The recommendation
(concerning maturity requirements and minimum size for the hass variety)
finishes its trial period in November 2003.
(b) Citrus fruit
Recommendation
TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.5
Proposal to the
Working Party (2002) TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/20/Add.5
Proposals: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/13
(Spain)]
[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/14]
Comments: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/4
(Secretariat)
The working party at
its last session decided not to adopt the text proposed by the Specialized Section
as a revised UNECE Standard because of comments from Greece and Israel. It was agreed to adopt the text as a UNECE recommendation for a
one-year trial period, which will end in November 2003. It was decided that the
text should be discussed again in the Specialized Section to improve it while
maintaining the principle of the compromise concerning sizing.
Document: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/20/Add.5 contains the text proposed to the working
party with some information about decisions taken at the last Codex Committee
for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for possible inclusion in the standard.
Information on the
research project on
sensory acceptance for citrus fruit, which aims at establishing a relationship
between taste and objective parameters for determining quality is expected from
Spain.
Questions from Russia (2003/4) were collected from producers/ traders in
the St. Petersburg area by the secretariat.
(b) Plums
Recommendation/ Standard: TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.8
Proposal: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/15]
The text concerning
inter-specific hybrids will end its trial period in November 2003. Information
from Chile is expected on the
correct varietal names for the hybrids. Maturity requirements for plums will
also be discussed.
(c) Table Grapes
Recommendation/ Standard:
TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.9
Proposal: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/16 (South
Africa)
Comments: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/4 (Russian
Federation)
The text concerning maturity requirements and late harvest varieties
will end its trial period in November 2003. Information on maturity
requirements is expected from South Africa.
Questions from Russia (2003/4) were collected from producers/ traders in
the St. Petersburg area by the secretariat.
(d) Pineapples
Recommendation:
TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.12
Proposal: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/17]
The recommendation ends its trial period in November 2003.
Maturity requirements for pineapples will also be discussed.
Item 5: Proposals for
new UNECE Standards
(a) Draft UNECE Standard
for
Shallots
Proposal: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/18
(France)
At the last session there was no
consensus concerning the definition of produce. A working group (France,
Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom) was formed and new
proposal is expected for this session.
(b) Proposal for a new UNECE Standard for TrufflesProposal:TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/19 (France)
The European
Community proposes to create a new UNECE Standard for truffles.
Item 6: Amendments
to the general texts
(a)Standard layout for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Existing
text: TRADE/WP.7/2002/9/Add.12
Proposals: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/20(Secretariat)]
TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/21 (European Community)
The secretariat and
the European Community will propose changes to the standard layout.
(b) Status and possible
revision of the Geneva Protocol
Background documents:TRADE/WP.7/2001/6
TRADE/WP.7/2001/9,
paras. 75 to 81
Proposal: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/22
(Secretariat) English only
The secretariat
will make a proposal based on the proposed changes to the standard layout.
(c) Revision of the
working procedures
Proposal: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/23
(Secretariat)]
The revised working procedures had been adopted at the last
session of the Working Party. Some text concerning participation still had to
be verified by the legal services of the United Nations. The secretariat will
inform the meeting on the progress made in this matter.
Item 7: Working
group on internationally harmonized produce coding
Report of activities: TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/24 (Secretariat)
The secretariat will
inform the meeting on the discussions held on this issue with the International
Federation for Produce Coding and EAN international.
Item 8: UNECE
Quality Standards and Organic Produce
The topic was discussed at the last session of the working party. It was
decided that the secretariat should send out a call to
all participants of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit
and Vegetables to find out where the standards UNECE had set for the market
resulted in problems for organic produce. It was also decided that the
secretariat should get in touch with other organizations who might give input
on this question such as ITC, UNCTAD, IFOAM, as well as consumer organizations.
The secretariat will report on progress
made on this issue.
Cooperation with the OECD Scheme
The secretariat is of the opinion that the cooperation
with the OECD Scheme functions very well and might still be closer for the
benefit of international trade. At the moment the OECD Scheme adopts UNECE
Standards and creates explanatory brochures based on the standards, which are
essential for the harmonized application of the standards. The questions and comments
received by the secretariat from users of the standards (e.g. Russia, Ukraine)
show that the availability of an official international interpretation of the
standards is considered as very important.
UNECE has in the past adopted OECD texts (e.g. exchange of
information on non-conformity cases). The secretariat proposes to hold a first
discussion in the Specialized Section if it could be considered to adopt OECD
brochures as official interpretations of UNECE Standards.
(a) Compendium of standards
(b) Promotional booklet
on the work
and achievements of the Working Party
Item 11: Follow-up
concerning items discussed
at earlier sessions
(a) Exchange of information
on non-conformity cases
TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.21
UNECE and OECD will work together on this
list as OECD already had an established list of members of the OECD Scheme for
the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables which can
serve as a basis and is available on the homepage of the OECD Scheme (http://www.oecd.org).
(b) List of countries
accepting/not accepting code marks
Questionnaire:TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.22
Information received:TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2003/25 (Secretariat)
The secretariat has compiled the answers to the questionnaire in
document 2003/25.
Item 12: Application
of UNECE Standards
The
specialized section will be informed on the status of application of UNECE
standards.
Item 13: Workshops,
seminars, training courses and other activities concerning capacity building
for the application of quality standards
(a) Report on presentations
given by the
secretariat in Russia and South Africa.
(b) Information about
other capacity
building activities
Item 14: Other
business
The last session of the SpecializedSection on Standardization of Early and Ware
Potatoes (GE.5) had decided that in the future discussions on this topic should
be held in the framework of another Specialized Section to save administrative
effort, travel money for delegations and to be able to discuss topics on early
potatoes yearly, without having to meet as a separate group.
Two options were discussed: To join the
Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (GE.6) or
the Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables GE.1.
The experts left it up to the Working Party to take this decision after
consulting with GE.1 and GE.6 and other participants to UNECE meetings on
agricultural quality standards.
The following items were mentioned in GE.5
as advantages for joining GE.6:
-Diseases discussed
in the group on Seed Potatoes are the same that are mentioned in the standards
for early and ware potatoes.
-The quality of seed potatoes determines
the quality of early and ware potatoes.
-Some important
potato producing delegations only participate in the group on seed potatoes.
The following items were mentioned in GE.5
as advantages for joining GE.1:
-The layout of the
UNECE Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables is the same as the layout of the
standards for Early and Ware Potatoes.
-All delegates
participating in the group on Early and Ware Potatoes also participate in the
group on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. Thus joining the group on Early and Ware
Potatoes to the group on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables would save travel money for
delegations.
-The number of countries participating
in GE.1 is higher than in GE.6.
The
majority of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes (GE.6)
felt that discussions on early and ware potatoes were more appropriately
situated within the Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and
Vegetables because the topics discussed had little to do with the ones
concerning seed potatoes.
The Specialized Section is invited discuss the subject to
assist the decision of the Working Party.
Item 15 : Future work
and meetings
(a) Date
and place of the next session
The next session of the Specialized Section has
been tentatively planned to take place from 10 to 14 May 2004 in Geneva.
Working Groups will have the opportunity to meet on 9 May 2004.
(b) Future
work
(c) Preparation
of the 59th session of the Working Party on Agricultural Quality
Standards
Item 16: Election
of officers
According
to the Commission's Rules of Procedure and established practice, the Meeting is
expected to elect a Chair and a vice-chair. At the last session the Specialized Section elected Mr. D. Holliday(United Kingdom) as Chair and Ms. U. Bickelmann (Germany) as its
Vice-Chair.
Item 17: Adoption
of the report
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