Working Party on
Agricultural Quality Standards
Specialized Section
on Standardization of
Dry and Dried Produce
(Fruit)����������������
24-27 June 2003, Geneva
�������������������������������������� PROVISIONAL
AGENDA FOR THE FIFTIETH SESSION
������������������������������������������������� to
be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva,
������������������������������������������ commencing
at 10.00 hrs on Tuesday, 24 June 2003*
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.
*� The informal Working Groups have the
possibility to meet on Monday 23 June 2003.�
The secretariat will send out further information closer to the meeting.
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1 |
Adoption of the agenda |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/1 |
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2 |
Matters of interest arising since the last session |
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(a) |
UNECE -���������� Annual session -���������� Committee for Trade,
Industry and ����������� Enterprise
Development -���������� Working Party on
Agricultural���� ����������� Quality Standards |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/2 |
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����������� |
(b) |
Other organizations: -���������� Codex Alimentarius
Commission and ����������� Codex Committee Processed Food -���������� European Union -���������� ISO/TC34/SC14 -���������� OECD Scheme for the Application of
-����������� International Standards for
Fruit� and ����������� Vegetables -���������� World Trade
Organization |
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3 |
Proposals
to revise UNECE Standards |
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(a) |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/3 (Spain) |
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(b) |
Inshell Almonds |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/4 (Spain) |
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(c) |
Pistachio Kernels and Peeled Pistachio Kernels |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/5 (Turkey) |
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(d) |
Inshell Pistachio Nuts |
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(e) |
Prunes |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/8 (Secretariat)
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/9 (France)
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4 |
Revision of the
standard layout for
Dry and Dried Produce |
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(a) |
Annex I: Determination of the moisture content for Dried Fruit |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/10 (Spain) |
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(b) |
Annex III: Terms recommended and definition of defects |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/11 (Spain) |
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(c) |
[TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/12 (Secretariat)] |
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5 |
Dictionary of Defects |
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/13 (Italy) |
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6 |
Elaboration of a sampling plan |
[TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/14 (United States and United Kingdom)] |
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7 |
UNECE General conditions of sale for dry (shelled and unshelled and
dried fruit) |
ECE/AGRI/41 (Secretariat)
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8 |
UNECE Quality Standards and Organic Produce |
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9 |
Cooperation with the OECD Scheme |
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10 |
Publications |
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(a) |
Compendium
of standards |
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(b) |
Promotional
booklet on the work and achievements of the Working Party |
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11 |
Application
of UNECE Standards |
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12 |
Workshops, seminars, training courses and other activities concerning
capacity building for the application of quality standards |
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(a) |
Report on presentations given by the secretariat in Russia and South
Africa. |
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(b) |
Information about other capacity building activities |
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13 |
Other
business |
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14 |
Future work and meetings |
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(a) |
Date and place of the next session |
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(b) |
Future work |
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(c) |
Preparation of the next session of the Working Party |
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15 |
Election
of officers |
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16 |
Adoption
of the report |
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Monday 23 June |
10.00 �
13.00 |
Working
Groups: -���������� Pistachios (Turkey (rapporteur), Germany, Italy, ����������� Spain,
United Kingdom and the United States) -���������� Color Chart (France, United States,
OECD and UNECE ����������� Secretariats) |
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15.00 �
18.00 |
Working
Groups: Standard layout, Sampling Plan |
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Tuesday 24 June |
10.00 �
13.00 |
Items
1: Adoption of the agenda, Item 2:
Matters of interest Item 3
(a): Almond Kernels |
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15.00
�� 18.00 |
3 (a)
(cont�d) Item 3
(b): Inshell Almonds Item 3
(c): Pistachio Kernels |
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Wednesday 25 June |
10.00 �
13.00 |
Item 3
(c) (cont�d)� Item 3 (d):
Inshell Pistachios Item 3
(e): Dried Prunes |
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15.00 �
18.00 |
Item 4
(a): Annex I (Standard Layout) Item 4
(b): Annex III (Standard Layout) |
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Thursday 26 June |
10.00 �
13.00 |
Item 4
(c) Standard Layout (Comments from the secretariat) Item 5:
Dictionary Item 6:
Sampling Plan Item 7:
General Conditions for Sale Item 8:
Organic Produce |
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Afternoon |
Free |
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Friday 27 June |
Item 9:
Cooperation with the OECD Scheme Item
10: Publications Item
11: Application of UNECE Standards Item
12: Workshops Item
13: Other business Item
14: Future work Item
15: Election of officers Item
16: Adoption of the report |
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Afternoon |
Free |
Item 1:������������ Adoption of the agenda
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/1
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.2/2003/2
Delegations will be informed about the work of interest that has taken place in different groups within and outside UNECE.
(a)������� Almond Kernels ���������
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/3 (Spain)
Main points or changes for discussion:
-���������� blanched
(include or not into the standard)
-���������� sweet
(do we need to specify this adjective?)
-���������� sizing
(a lot of changes on wording, but most of them were agreed at the last session)
-���������� sizing
marking (for sizing by count per ounce or 100 g, no obligation to transfer this
sizing to mm)
The French version has been
completely retranslated and corrected.
�
(b)������� Inshell Almonds����������
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/4 (Spain)
Main points for discussion:
-���������� definition
of types (soft, semi-soft, hard?)
-���������� sizing
(inclusion of minimum size, around 18 mm of diameter, yes or not ?)
-���������� sizing
marking (for sizing by count per ounce or 100 g, no obligation to transfer this
sizing to mm)
-���������� tolerances� (by count or by weight?)
-���������� tolerances
(confirmation of values puts into square brackets)
The French version has been
completely retranslated and corrected.
(c)������� Pistachio Kernels and Peeled Pistachio Kernels
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/5 (Turkey)
The rapporteur
(Turkey) has prepared a new proposal. The main open points from the last
session include: quality classification (new class I for peeled pistachio
kernels), colour type, moisture content and quality tolerances (new mechanical
production methods).
(d)������� Inshell Pistachio Nuts
Following the discussions at the last session
the secretariat reproduces in 2003/8 the text of the standard in force,
including some corrections from 1993, which had been mentioned in document
AGRI/WP.1/GE.2/R.85). The
Specialized Section is invited to check which parts of the text need to be
aligned with the standard layout.
France presents a new
proposal in 2003/9 based on informal document 3 from the last session, which the Specialized Section had agreed
in principle but while it was agreed that it might be necessary for some
standards to contain special provisions, the present revision of the annex on
determination of the moisture content for all dried fruit should be completed
before deciding changes to the annexes of individual standards.
Item 4:������������ Revision of the standard layout for Dry and Dried Produce���
(a)������� Annex I: Determination of the moisture content for
Dried Fruit����
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/10 (Spain)
At the last session it was concluded that there is still work to be
done concerning the rapid method because different methods might be required
for different produce. The rapporteur (Spain) has prepared a new document based
on comments received from other delegations.
(b)������� Annex III: Terms recommended and definition of defects
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/11 (Spain)
The rapporteur (Spain) included the comments
made at the last session in document 2003/11. Progress was made in the review
of the annex at the last session but due to lack of time it could not be
completed. It is hoped that the revision can be finalised at this session.
(c)������� Standard layout (comments from the secretariat)
[TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/12 (Secretariat)]
In 2003/12 the secretariat raises questions concerning the standard layout (applicability, numbering of the annexes).
Item 5:������������ Dictionary of Defects���
TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/13 (Italy)
The delegation of Italy has
completed the dictionary by adding the terms in Turkish. The Russian terms will
be added by the translation services of the United Nations. Once agreed by the
Specialized Section the dictionary will be published on the UNECE web site. At
the last session it was mentioned that the terms used in the dictionary and
annex III to the standard layout should be checked for consistency.
Item 6:������������ Elaboration of a sampling plan
[TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2003/14 (United States and United Kingdom)]
The rapporteur (United States) will inform the meeting about the work done on this issue in cooperation with the United Kingdom.
The secretariat would
like to raise the question if this document (from 1979) is still useful or if
it should be deleted from the list of publications.
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.
Item 9:������������ 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, to create a Russian version and promote the brochures in cooperation with OECD through its network.
Item 10: ��������� Publications�����
(a)������� Compendium of standards����������
(b)������� Promotional booklet on the work
and achievements of the Working Party����
Item 11: ��������� Application
of UNECE Standards����������
The
specialized section will be informed on the status of application of UNECE
standards.
Item
12:
��������� 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 13:���������� Other
business
Item 14: ��������� 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 14 to 18 June 2004 in Geneva
(deadline for documents: 5 April 2004). Working Groups will have the
opportunity to meet on 13 June 2004.
(b)������� Future
work�����
A draft agenda for the next meeting including
the tasks to be accomplished will be annexed to the report of the Specialized
Section.
(c)������� Preparation
of the next session of the Working Party
Item 15: ��������� 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. B. Cauquil (France)
as Chairman and Mr. M. Sciannella (Italy) as its Vice-Chairman.
Item 16: ��������� Adoption
of the report�
The Specialized Section will adopt the report of its fiftieth 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 Division
Palais des Nations
Office 432
1211 Geneva 10
Tel:� (41) 22 917 2450���� Fax:�
(41) 22 917 0041
or by
e-mail to:
Meeting
documentation will be available on our homepage:
http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/welcome.htm
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In accordance with security instructions,
participants should complete the Conference Registration form overleaf and
return it to the secretariat before 18 June 2003 by fax (+ 00
41 22 917 0629). In
Geneva, before entering the Palais des Nations, please proceed with the
original of your form to the Security Section situated at the Villa les
Feuillantines, where your badge will be ready for collection. |