Specialized Section on Standardization of
Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit) (GE.2)

Note by the secretariat: Document numbers in square brackets have been reserved for papers not yet received by the secretariat at the time of the preparation of the agenda. They will translated and distributed (if received up to 10 weeks before the session) or distributed in the original language only (if received up to 6 weeks before the session). If received later they will be distributed at the session as informal papers. They will also be available on the homepage if sent in electronic format. Document number in italics signify background documents.

Not all language versions are available for all documents. Some links will work only when the translations become available.



Last updated: ©2001 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

1. Adoption of the agenda TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/1
English French Russian
2. Matters of interest since the forty-seventh session TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/2
English French Russian
3. Review of the UN/ECE Recommendation for Walnut Kernels
Text of the recommendation TRADE/WP.7/1999/7/Add.3
English French Russian
Proposals TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/3 (INC)
English French Russian
Proposals: Scuffing TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/3/Add.1 (United States)
English only
4. Revision of UN/ECE standards
(a) Inshell Walnuts
Text of the standard in force TRADE/WP.7/1999/7/Add.4
English French Russian
Proposals [TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/4 (Romania, Spain)]
(b) Pistachio Kernels and Peeled Pistachio Kernels
Text of the standard in force TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/9 (Secretariat)
English French Russian
Proposals TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/5 (Turkey)
English French Russian
(c) Inshell Pistachio Nuts
Text of the standard in force TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/11 (Secretariat)
English French Russian
Proposals TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/6 (Turkey)
English French Russian
(d) Almond Kernels TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/7 (Spain)
English French Russian
(e) Inshell Almonds TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/8 (Spain)
English French Russian
5. Revision of the Standard Layout for Dry and Dried Produce
(a) Annex: Determination of the moisture content TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/9 (Spain)
English French Russian
(b) Annex: Terms recommended and definition of defects TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/10 (Spain)
English French Russian
6. Dictionary of Defects [TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/11 (Italy)]
7. Elaboration of a sampling plan TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/12 (United States)
English only
8. Operational activities
9. Matters of interest arising from the work of
(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission
(b) European Union
(c) OECD Scheme
10. Other business
11. Preparation of the next session
(a) Future work/ Action list
(b) Date and place
(c) Preparation of the 57th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development
12. Election of officers
13. Adoption of the report TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/13
English French Russian

Proposed timetable

18 June 10.00 - 13.00 Items 1- 4 (a)
15.00 - 18.00 Items 4 (a)(b)(c)
19 June 10.00 - 13.00 Items 4 (d) - 5 (a)
15.00 - 18.00 Items 5 (b) - 6
20 June 10.00 - 13.00 Items 7 - 12
21 June 10.00 - 13.00 Item 13

ANNOTATIONS

Item 1 Adoption of the agenda

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

Item 2 Matters of interest arising since the forty-seventh session

Document for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/2

Documents adopted by the Working Party: TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.17 (Inshell Hazelnuts)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.18 (Hazelnut Kernels)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.19 (Standard Layout, main text)

Document -/2001/2 sums up relevant outcome of the fourth session of the Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development and the fifty-sixth session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development. Delegations will be informed on the relevant outcome of the fifth session of the Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development (13-15 June 2001)

Item 3 Review of the UN/ECE Recommendation for Walnut Kernels

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 37-54

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/1999/7/Add.3 Text of the recommendation

TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/3 Proposals

Background: The trial period for this recommendation, which was again extended in 2000, ends in November 2001. At the last session a working group (France, Italy, Spain, United States, INC) was formed to find solutions to the points still under discussion, namely: scuffing; marking of the crop year; commercial type; mould; colour chart. The present document was received from the International Nut Council (INC).

Item 4 Revision of UN/ECE standards

(a) Inshell Walnuts

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 55-59

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/1999/7/Add.4 Text of the standard in force (Secretariat)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/4 Proposals (Romania, Spain)

Background: At the last session the delegations of Spain and Romania said that they maintained their reservation requesting a moisture content of 6.0%. The delegation of Romania said that there were scientific studies which showed that a lower moisture content reduces the risk of mouldy and rancid nuts. They will report back to the next session showing some data concerning this question. Spain is evaluating the possibility to withdraw their reservation.

(b) Pistachio Kernels and Peeled Pistachio Kernels

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 60-70

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/9 Text of the standard in force (Secretariat)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/5 Proposal (Turkey)

Background: At the last session an initial discussion was held on the revision of the existing UN/ECE Standard for Decorticated and Decorticated Peeled Pistachio Nuts. Turkey and the United States agreed to work on a proposal keeping in mind the new standard layout and also seeking input from other producing countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(c) Inshell Pistachio Nuts

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 60-70

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/11 Text of the standard in force (Secretariat)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/6 Proposal (Turkey)

Background: At the last session an initial discussion was held on the revision of the existing UN/ECE Standard for Unshelled Pistachio Nuts. The delegation of Turkey agreed to prepare a proposal.

(d) Almond Kernels

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/7 Proposal (Spain)

(e) Inshell Almonds

Documents for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/8 Proposal (Spain)

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 105

Background: The Working Party authorized the Specialized Section to review the UN/ECE standards for almonds. The delegation of Spain offered to serve as rapporteur and has prepared draft texts aligned to the revised standard layout and containing some further suggestions for amendments.

Item 5 Revision of the Standard Layout for Dry and Dried Produce

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 71-85

(a) Annex II : Determination of the moisture content

Document for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/9 Revised annex (Spain)

(b) Annex III : Terms recommended and definition of defects

Document for this session: TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/10 Revised annex (Spain)

Background: At the last session the main text of the standard layout was finalized and subsequently adopted by the working party (see TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.19). The delegation of Spain has prepared revised documents for the annexes to the standard layout based on the discussions at the last session and comments received.

Item 6 Dictionary of Defects

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 86-90

Document for this session: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/11 Draft dictionary (Italy)]

Background: At the last session it was decided to continue this work based on the comments made at the last session. The delegation of Italy will submit a revised version of the dictionary.

Item 7 Elaboration of a sampling plan

Discussion at the last session: see TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 para. 91-96

Documents for this session: [TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2001/12 Proposal (United States)]

Background: At the last session the delegation of the United States offered to prepare documents for sampling procedures and a sampling plan. All delegations were invited to provide information to the United States on what they expected from a sampling plan/procedure and how sampling was done at the moment.

Item 8 Operational activities

Delegations are invited to discuss possibilities to assist southern-European countries and countries in transition in the application of UN/ECE standards.

Item 9 Matters of interest arising from the work of

(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission

(b) European Union

(c) OECD Scheme

Representatives of these organizations have been invited to report on items of relevance to the work of the Specialized Section.

Item 10 Other Business

Any other question can be discussed under these items. Proposals should be transmitted to the secretariat either before or at the beginning of the session.

Item 12 Preparation of the next session

(a) Future work/ Action list

Delegations are invited to make proposals for future work of the Specialized Section.

(b) Date and place of the next session

(c) Preparation of the 57th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development

Delegations are invited to mention any item that should be brought to the attention of the Working Party.

Item 12 Election of officers

According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure and established practice, the Specialized Section is expected to elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. At its forty-seventh session the Group elected

Mr. W. Staub (Germany) as its Chairman and Mr. M. Sciannella (Italy) as its Vice-Chairman.

Item 13 Adoption of the report

The Working Party will adopt the report of its forty-eighth 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 or by mail to:

Food Standards Officer
UN/ECE Trade Division
Palais des Nations
Office 432
1211 Geneva 10
Tel: (41) 22 917
2450 Fax: (41) 22 917 0041


or by email to:

[email protected]

Meeting documentation will be available on our homepage:

http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/welcome.htm





Last updated: ©2001 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe