1. | Adoption of the agenda | TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/1
English French Russian |
2. | Matters of interest since the thirtieth session | TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2000/2
English French Russian |
3. | Report of the Meeting of Rapporteurs on Standardization of Seed Potatoes | TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/3 English French Russian |
4. | Review of the UN/ECE Standard for Seed Potatoes | TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.20 (Text of the Standard in force) English French Russian |
(a)       Review of Part II, Subpart E | ||
(b)       Introduction of sub-divisions in the categories | TRADE/WP.7/2001/4 (Canada, United Kingdom) English only | |
(c)       Integration of pre-basic TC into the annexes | ||
(d)       Discussion on areas of certification schemes that might benefit from further standardization | ||
5. | Routine procedures for sampling | TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/5 [(France, Netherlands)] |
6. | Questionnaire on certification schemes | TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/6
English French Russian TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/7 English French Russian |
7. | Status of the revised UN/ECE Standard for Seed Potatoes, its promotion and future role | |
8. | Implications of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for the Standard | |
9. | Concerns of seed buyers | |
10. | Development of explanatory material concerning diseases and parasites | |
11. | Matters of Interest related
to the activities of the:
-       European Union | |
12. | Preparation of the meetings of rapporteurs and the next session of the Specialized Section | |
(a) Date and place | ||
(b) Establishment of long and short term objectives | ||
13. | Preparation of the 57th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development | |
14. | Other business | |
15. | Election of officers | |
16. | Adoption of the report | TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/8
English French Russian |
Proposed timetable
12 | March | 10.00 - 13.00 | Items 1 - 4 | 15.00 - 18.00 | Items 4 - 6 |
13 | March | 10.00 - 13-00 | Items 7 - 15 |
14 | March | 10.00 - 13-00 | Item 16 |
ANNOTATIONS
Item 1 Adoption of the agenda
Document for this session:                  
TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/1
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 thirteenth session
Document for this session:                  
TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/2
Document TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/2 sums up the 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.
Item 3 Report of the Meeting of Rapporteurs on Standardization of Seed Potatoes
Document for this session:                  
TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/3 A meeting of rapporteurs took place in Moscow from 24-27 October 2000.
The report of these meetings will be taken into account under several agenda items of this session.
Item 4 Review of the UN/ECE Standard for Seed Potatoes
Document for this session:                  
TRADE/WP.7/2001/11/Add.20 (Text of the standard in force) (a)       Review of
Part II, Subpart E
Discussion at the last session:     see TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2000/8 paras. 12-18 The text provisionally adopted
at the last session was not included in the standard because there
was no consensus on this question. The Secretariat has asked the
legal counsel for advise and will report on any answers at the sessions.
(b)      
Introduction of sub-divisions in the categories
Discussion at the last session:     see TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2000/8 paras. 27-33
Document for this session:                  
[TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/4] This question was discussed
at the last session with the goal to introduce more flexibility into the standard.
At the meeting of rapporteurs in Moscow it was mentioned that a harmonized
subdivision of categories could lead to more transparency in the market. It is
expected that Canada will submit a proposal at this session.
(c)       Integration
of pre-basic TC into the annexes
Discussion at the last session:     see TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2000/8 paras. 30-31 The question was raised at the last
session by the delegation of the Russian Federation and an informal document was prepared. A new proposal is expected.
(d)       Discussion on
areas of certification schemes that might benefit from further standardization
The Specialized Section may wish
to identify areas of quality of seed potatoes which would benefit from further
standardization (yield, varietal purity, classification, homogenity of the seed lot etc.)
possibly in connection with the identification of the concerns of seed buyers.
Item 5 Routine procedures for sampling
Document for this session:                  
[TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/5 (France, Netherlands] The rapporteurs from the Netherlands
and France will present the finalised version of the Annex on sampling to the Specialized Section.
Item 6 Questionnaire
on certification schemes
Discussion at the last session:     see TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2000/8 paras. 41-43 At the meeting of rapporteurs
it was agreed that the Secretatiat and the Chairman finalise the questionnaire.
The documents contain the final questionnaire which has been sent out to countries.
The Specialized Section will be informed about any preliminary results.
Item 7 Status of the
revised UN/ECE Standard for Seed Potatoes, its promotion and future role
At the last meeting of the Specialized Section
and at the meeting of rapporteurs in Moscow the role of the UN/ECE standard
was discussed. It was decided to hold a coordination meeting with representatives
of IPPC, EPPO and NAPPO to discuss the roles of the different organisations and
a closer cooperation. The Chairman and the Secretariat will report any developments
concerning this question.
Item 8 Implications of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) for the standard
Discussion at the last session:     see TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2000/8 paras. 44-51 At the last session it was decided to discuss
the implications of GMOs on the standard.
Item 9 Concerns of seed
buyers
Discussion at the last session:     see TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2000/8 paras. 39-40 Delegations may wish to report
on concerns of seed buyers in their countries.
Item 10 Development of
explanatory material concerning diseases and parasites
The Specialized Section is invited
to discuss whether it would be useful to develop an internationally harmonized
compendium for potato diseases and parasites.
Item 11 Matters of Interest
related to the activities of the:
    -   European Union These organizations have been
invited to bring any matters of interest to the Meeting under this item. Item 12 Preparation of
the meetings of rapporteurs and the next session of the Specialized Section
(a) Date and place of the next meeting
of rapporteurs and the Specialized Section
(b) Establishment of long and short
term objectives
Item 13 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 14 Other business
Any other area of interest can be
discussed under this agenda item.
Item 15 Election of officers
According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure
and established practice, the Specialized Section is expected to elect a Chairman and
two Vice-Chairmen. At its thirtieth session the group elected Mr. P.G. Bianchi(Italy)
as its Chairman and Mr. U. Kimmel (Israel) and Mr. P. Miauton (Switzerland) as its Vice-Chairmen.
Item 16 Adoption
of the report
The Working Party will adopt the report
of its thirty-first session on the basis of a draft prepared by the secretariat.
Document for this session:                  
TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/6 (Secretariat)
                           
                             
TRADE/WP.7/GE.6/2001/6 (Secretariat)
    -   World Trade Organization
    -   European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO)
    -   North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO)
    -   International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)