Specialized Section on Standardization of Early and Ware Potatoes (GE.5)


Fourteenth Session, 1-2 February 1999
PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE FOURTEENTH SESSION
to be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva,
commencing at 10.00 hrs on Monday, 1 February 1999


1. Adoption of the agenda  TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1999/1
English/ French/ Russian
2. Election of officers
3. Matters of interest since the thirteenth session TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1999/2
English/ French/ Russian
4. UN/ECE standards on Early and Ware Potatoes (FFV 30, 31) TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1999/3
(a) Proposals for amendments
(b) Experiences gathered with the revised standards
5. Comparison of inspection methods, sizing methods, sampling methods and control of "washed" potatoes  TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1999/4
6. Definition of varieties of long and irregular shape and preparation of a list of varieties  TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1999/5 
7. Revision of the UN/ECE General Conditions of Sale for Potatoes 
8. Other business
(a) Future work
(b) Date and place of the next session 
(c) Preparation of the 55th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development
9. Adoption of the report

Proposed timetable
 
1 February 10.00 - 13.00 Items 1 - 4 
15.00 - 18.00 Items 4 - 6 
2 February 10.00 - 13-00 Items 6 - 8 
16.00 - 18.00 Item 9 

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 Election of officers

According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure and established practice, the Meeting of Experts is expected to elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. At its twelfth session the Group elected Mr. Debaveye (Belgium) as its Chairman and Mr. Caban (Poland) as its Vice-Chairman.

Item 3 Matters of interest arising since the thirteenth session

Dcoument TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1998/2 sums up the relevant outcome of the second session of the Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development and the fifty-third session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development.

Item 4 UN/ECE standards on Early and Ware Potatoes (FFV 30, 31)

Delegations are invited to report on the experiences gathered in the practical application of the revised standards and if necessary make proposals for amendments. Comments will be collected and distributed in TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1998/3.

Item 5 Comparison of inspection methods, sizing methods, sampling methods and control of "washed" potatoes

It was agreed at the last session that each delegation should prepare a short report on these methods based on the presentation of the delegation of Belgium and focusing in particular on the detection of internal defects, sizing methods and sampling methods. The delegation of Switzerland offered to present its control methods for washed and unwashed potatoes at the next session. Contributions will be collected and distributed in TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1998/4.

Item 6 Definition of varieties of long and irregular shape and preparation of a list of varieties

When discussing the minimum size for long potatoes at the thirteenth session it was felt that the current wording of the Standard excluded certain long and irregular varieties and a provision excluding long varieties of irregular shape from sizing requirements was included in the standards. It was agreed that each delegation should prepare a list of varieties of long and irregular shape and to elaborate a definition for long varieties of irregular shape. Contributions will be collected and distributed in TRADE/WP.7/GE.5/1998/5.

Item 7 Revision of the UN/ECE General Conditions of Sale for Potatoes

Delegations are invited to make proposals concerning this agenda item.

Item 8 Other Business

(a) Future work

(b) Date and place of the next session

(c) Preparation of the 55th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development

Item 9 Adoption of the report

The Working Party will adopt the report on its fourteenth session on the basis of a draft prepared by the secretariat. The text of the discussions held on Tuesday morning will be available only in English.



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