UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Activities

Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards

Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Fifty-First session

 

8-11 March 2005, Geneva
PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE FIFTY-FIRST SESSION
to be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva
commencing at 10 hrs on Tuesday, 8 March 2005*.

Informal working groups have the possibility to meet on Monday 7 March 2005. Further information will be sent by the secretariat closer to the date.

Note by the secretariat: Document numbers in square brackets refer to documents expected but not received by the time of the preparation of the agenda. They might be available late or at the meeting as room documents. As soon as they are received they will also be available on the home page of the agricultural standards unit.

 

1 Adoption of the agenda TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/1
English French Russian

2

Matters of interest arising since the last session

 

 
  (a) UNECE and subsidiary bodies TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/2
English

 

(b) Other organizations

 

3

Proposals to revise UNECE Standards

 
  (a) Kiwi fruit Sizing by diameter [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/3 (United States)]
  (b) Melons (commercial type) [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/4
INF.1 (France) French only
  (c) Table grapes [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/5 (South Africa)]

INF.3 (France) French only

INF.4 (Hungary) English only

4

UNECE Recommendations in trial period  
  Finishing trial in 2005  
  (a) Apples TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2004/9 (New Zealand)
English French Russian

[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/6 (Secretariat)]

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/7 (New Zealand)
English French Russian

INF.2 (FRANCE)    French only

[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/8 (European Community)]

[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/9 (Copa-Cogeca)]

INF.5 (Copa-Cogeca)
English French
  (b) Bilberries and blueberries [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/10 (France)]
  (c) Early and ware potatoes TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2004/7
English French Russian

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/11 (France)
English French Russian

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/12 (Belgium)
English French Russian
  (d) Plums TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/13 (Germany)
English French Russian
  Trial until 2006  
  (e) Cherries

These recommendations finish their trial period in 2006. Discussions only if requested.
  (f) Peaches and Nectarines  
  (g) Truffles  

5

Proposals for new UNECE Standards

 
  Draft UNECE Standard for Ceps TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/14 (Finland)
English French Russian

INF.6 (France) French only

6

Amendments to the general texts

 
  (a) Control certificate/ UNeDocs [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/15 (Secretariat)]
  (b) Point of application/Standard layout TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/16 (Germany)
English French Russian
  (c) Experiences with the template for requesting inclusion of apple varieties  
  (d) Terms of reference  
  (e) General conditions for sale Arbitration Rules  

7

Use of codes marks in UNECE Standards - possibility for internationally harmonized marks

 
8 WHO strategy on diet, physical activity and health  

9

List of authorities for exchange of information on non-conformity cases  
10

Application of UNECE Standards

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/17 (Germany)
English French Russian
11

Capacity building activities

 

 

12

Other business

Alignment of UNECE and EC standards
 
13 Future work and meetings  
14 Election of officers  
15 Adoption of the report TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/18
English French Russian;

 

Timetable

 

Monday, 7 March Tuesday, 8 March Wednesday, 9 March Thursday, 10 March Friday, 11 Marach
10.00 - 13.00h 10.00 - 13.00h 10.00 - 13.00h 10.00 - 13.00h 10.00 - 13.00h
Working groups 1. Adoption of the agenda 4b. Bilberries and blueberries 7. WHO strategy 15. Adoption of the report
2. Matters of interest 4c. Early and ware potatoes 8. Cooperation with OECD  
3a. Kiwi fruit 4d. Plums 9. Non conformity  
3b. Melons   10. Application  
    11. Workshops  
    12. Other business  
    13. Future work  
    14. Elections  
15.00 -18.00h 15.00 - 18.00h 15.00 - 18.00h 15.00 - 18.00h 15.00 - 18.00h
Working groups 3c. Table grapes 5. Ceps Working group as necessay No session
3d. Apples 6. General texts  

 

 

ANNOTATIONS

1. Adoption of the agenda     TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/1

According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure, the first item on the provisional agenda shall be the adoption of the agenda.

2. Matters of interest arising since the last session     TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/2

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

- OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables

3. Proposals to revise UNECE Standards

(a) Kiwi fruit      [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/3 (United States)]

At the last session the delegation of the United States proposed to prepare a proposal on sizing by diameter.

(b) Melons     [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/4 (Switzerland, France)]

The delegations of Switzerland and France proposed to clarify the commercial types in the standard as they are used in the marking and maturity requirements. The Specialized Section agreed that this could be useful if it would not complicate the standard.

(c) Table grapes     [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/5 (South Africa)]

At the last session the Specialized Section decided to ask South Africa to prepare a new proposal based on the comments made and by merging in the list proposed by Turkey. All interested delegations should send any further comments directly to South Africa.

The issue of trade-marked varieties with special requirements will be dealt with once the list was completed.

4. UNECE Recommendations in trial period

(a) Apples     TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2004/9 (New Zealand)     [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/6 (Secretariat)]

        TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/7 (New Zealand)    [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/8 (European Community)]

        [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/9 (Copa-Cogeca)]

The text of the recommendation will finish its trial period in November 2005. The following issues will be discussed at the session:

- Weight/diameter relationship for the determination of the minimum size and uniformity provisions

At the last session several options were discussed but delegations felt that more time was needed to study them.

- Maturity requirements

At the last session this issue was discussed in detail. All interested delegations were invited to provide data on brix values and flesh firmness to the secretariat as had been done by New Zealand in document 2004/9.

List of varieties

The delegation of Germany sent a request to their Federal Office on Variety Protection concerning the variety Rubin. The answer was that they only know the Czech variety (Golden Delicious x Lord Lambourne) and no other variety of Rubin is known by them.

 

Concerning the variety Rubin (Kazakhstan) it should carefully be checked whether Rubin is the true variety name, whether synonyms are known and whether any information could be provided to highlight the difference between the two Rubin varieties.

(b) Bilberries and blueberries     [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/10 (France)]

The text of the recommendation will finish its trial period in November 2005.

The delegation of France and the secretariat will report on the replies to a questionnaire they sent to producer countries concerning the correct denomination of Billberries or Blueberries in different languages.

(c) Early and Ware Potatoes      TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2004/7 (Text of the recommendation in trial period)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/11 (France)     TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/12 (Belgium)

The text of the recommendation will finish its trial period in November 2005.

The joint standard for Early and Ware Potatoes (TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2004/7) was adopted as UNECE recommendation for a one-year trial period to allow comments from interested parties. The trade organization EUROPATAT had indicated to the secretariat that some of their members were not in favor of a joint standard but up to now no written justification was available.

The delegations of France and Belgium have submitted proposals for the amendment of the standard.

(d) Plums      TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/13 (Germany)

The delegation of Germany proposes a way to deal with the inter-specific hybrids derived from plums and apricots in the standard.

(e) Cherries

(f) Peaches and Nectarines

(g) Truffles

The recommendations under (e), (f) and (g) are in trial period until 2006. Discussions on these texts will only held if requested.

5. Proposals for new UNECE Standards

Draft UNECE Standard for Ceps TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/14 (Finland) The Specialized Section will be informed on progress made in the working group (Finland, France, Slovakia, Bulgaria).

6. Amendments to the general texts

(a) Control certificate/ UNeDocs     [TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/15]

At the last session of the Working Party a working group was formed to align the present UNECE control certificate with the UN layout key (defining format and semantics) in line with the UNTDED (United Nations Trade Element Directories). The working group (Chairman, Secretariat, UN/CEFACT) will report on their work.

(b) Point of application/Standard layout     TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/16 (Germany)

At the last session of the Working Party t he delegation of Germany offered to prepare a proposal based on the European Community regulations for a new wording in the standard layout to acknowledge the fact that UNECE Standards are applied in all stages of marketing.

(c) Experiences with the template for requesting inclusion of apple varieties TRADE//WP.7/GE.1/2004/25/Add.9 At the last session an updated version of the template was created (See TRADE//WP.7/GE.1/2004/25/Add.9). Delegations are invited to report on any experiences with the template and to decide if templates for other products should be created. (d) Terms of reference The working group will report on progress made on the work on new terms of reference/ Geneva protocol.

7. Use of codes marks in UNECE Standards - possibility for internationally harmonized marks

At a previous session it was mentioned that the use of code marks increases and that there should be some harmonization in the codes used, for example that each code could start with the relevant ISO country code. At the last session it was decided that delegations should discuss this issue with trade and prepare a proposal for the next session.

8. WHO strategy on diet, physical activity and health

The secretariat will report on the implementation status of the strategy and the cooperation with WHO on the creation of promotional material (posters, postcards).

9. List of authorities for exchange of information on non-conformity cases At the last session it was decided that the UNECE secretariat should check with the OECD if a link to their list could be established on the website and if the list could be further extended with contacts from countries that are not members of the OECD Scheme.

10.Application of UNECE Standards      TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2005/17

The delegation of Germany has reviewed the list of acceptances and made a proposal for its revision to make it better readable. Delegations are invited to check the proposals and the list carefully so that a decision on the format can be taken at the session. The secretariat will also distribute the list to countries not usually participating to get their opinion.

11.Workshops, seminars, training courses and other activities concerning capacity building for the application of quality standards

The Specialized Section will be informed about different capacity building activities planned for or held in 2005.

12. Other business

Any other business can be discussed under this item.

13. Future work and meetings

(a) Date and place of the next session

The Specialized Section will be informed about the provisional dates for the next session.

(b) Future work

Delegations are invited to make proposals for future work under this agenda item.

(c) Preparation of the next session of the Working Party

Any information to be transmitted to the next session of the Working Party should be mentioned under this agenda item. 14. 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.

15.Adoption of the report The Specialized Section will adopt the report of its fifty-first session on the basis of a draft prepared by the secretariat.

NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT:

Contributions should be sent to the secretariat either on diskette by mail to :
Food Standards Officer
UNECE Trade Development and Timber Division
Palais des Nations, Office 432
1211 Geneva 10


Tel: (41) 22 917 2450   Fax: (41) 22 917 0629
or by e-mail to:   [email protected]

Meeting documentation will be available on our homepage:    http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/welcome.htm