UNITED

NATIONS

Distr.

GENERAL

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11

6 December 2000

ORIGINAL : ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

COMMITTEE FOR TRADE, INDUSTRY AND

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

Working Party on Standardization of

Perishable Produce and Quality Development

Fifty-sixth session, Geneva, 6 to 8 November 2000

REPORT OF THE FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION

SUMMARY

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: The following texts were adopted as revised UN/ECE standards:

Apples and Pears (see TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.1), Beans (see ../Add.2), Citrus Fruit (see ../Add.3), Cultivated Mushrooms (see ../Add.4), Peas (see ../Add.5),Table Grapes (see ../Add.6), Melons (see ../Add.7), Aubergines (see ../Add.8), Headed Cabbages (see ../Add.9), Cauliflowers (see../Add.10), Fennels (see ../Add.11), Sweet Peppers (see ../Add.12), Courgettes (see ../Add.13), and Tomatoes (see ../Add.14).

The following texts were adopted as UN/ECE recommendations for a two-year trial period: Avocados (see ../Add.15) and Plums (see ../Add.16).

Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit): The following texts were adopted as revised UN/ECE standards: Inshell Hazelnuts (see ../Add.17), Hazelnut Kernels (see ../Add.18).The trial period or the UN/ECE standard for Walnut Kernels was extended for one year. The revised standard layout for dry and dried produce (main text) was adopted (see ../Add.19). The review of the UN/ECE standards for Sweet Almonds was authorized. It was decided to request the Plenary Meeting of the OECD Scheme to examine the possibility of elaborating an explanatory brochure to the UN/ECE Standard for Inshell Hazelnuts.

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SUMMARY (continued)

Seed Potatoes: The revised UN/ECE Standard for Seed Potatoes was adopted (see ../Add.20). The Working Party was informed of the outcome of the Specialized Section and a meeting of rapporteurs which was held in Moscow.

Meat: The Working Party adopted the text proposed as new UN/ECE Standard for Bovine Carcases and Cuts (see TRADE/WP.7/GE.11/2000/7/Add.1-3) provisionally until the French and Russian language versions are available and delegations had the time to send comments. The Working Party was informed of the outcome of a meeting of rapporteurs in São Paulo (Brazil) and discussions on creating a UN/ECE Trade Mark for meat.

Trade descriptions and classification codes: It was decided to invite EAN International to prepare a proposal for the next session of GE.1 and to participate in the session.

Exchange of non-conformity cases: It was decided to adopt the relevant OECD document and to publish it on the home page (see ../Add.21)

Code marks: It was decided to prepare a list of countries not accepting code marks and to publish it on the home page. A questionnaire (see ../Add.22) will be send out to collect this information.

Acceptances: It was decided to publish information about acceptances on the home page

Used of trade marks: The question will be discussed in GE.1 once a reply has been received from the legal services of the UN.

Revision of the working procedures: The question will be further discussed in a working group which will present an official document for the next session.

Elaboration of explanatory material: Delegations were informed about the activities undertaken by the secretariat to request additional human resources for the work on agricultural standards.

Opening of the session

1.	The meeting was held in Geneva from 6 to 8 November 2000 and chaired by Mr. Miguel Vilchez-Barros (Spain). The session was opened by the Deputy-Director of the UN/ECE Trade Division, Mr. Hans Hansell.

2.	Mr. Hansell welcomed the delegations to Geneva. He congratulated the Working Party on the work that has been done by the experts in the specialized sections this year:

-	many standards for fresh produce as well as dry and dried produce were updated and are now proposed to be adopted as revised UN/ECE standards.

-	the standard for bovine cuts and carcasses was finalized by the Specialized Section on Standardization of Meat and is proposed for adoption as a new UN/ECE standard. A successful meeting of rapporteurs was held in São Paulo (Brazil) preparing new draft standards for ovine and poultry meat.

-	the Meeting of Rapporteurs on Seed Potatoes held a very successful session in Moscow in October at the invitation of the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technologies.

3.	Mr. Hansell said that the new Executive Secretary of UN/ECE, Mrs. Danuta Hübner from Poland gave a lot of importance to work on standardization in general and the work of WP.7 and its subsidiary specialized sections in particular. He said that standardization remained the highest priority area within the Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development, which was confirmed at its session in June this year.

4.	He also congratulated the group on the excellent cooperation with the European Community which has resulted in a close harmonization of UN/ECE and EC standards. He said that this made the work results especially useful to countries in transition and accession countries.

Participation

5.	The session was attended by delegations from the following countries: Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

6.	The European Community was also represented.

7.	The following specialized agency of the United Nations was represented: Food and Agriculture

Organization, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.

8.	On the invitation of the secretariat, a representative of the OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables participated in the session.

Adoption of the agenda

Document: TRADE/WP.7/2000/1

9.	Document TRADE/WP.7/2000/INF.1 on Code Marks submitted by South Africa and replacing TRADE/WP.7/2000/8 was added to the agenda.

10.	Documents TRADE/WP.7/2000/6 and 9	were deleted from the agenda.

11.	The provisional agenda was adopted with the changes mentioned above.

Matters of interest arising since the fifty-fifth session

Document for this session: TRADE/WP.7/2000/2

12.	The Working Party took note of the relevant outcome of the fourth session of the Committee for

Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development.

Specialized Section on Coordination of Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/25 (Report of the forty-sixth session)

13.	The Vice-Chair of the Specialized Section, Dr. U. Bickelmann (Germany), informed the Working

Party of the outcome of the forty-sixth session of the Specialized Section. She also thanked the French authorities for hosting the Working Group on Cultivated Mushrooms, the excellent organization and their hospitality.

Apples and Pears

Documents for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.1 (Main text of the standard)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/3 (Germany) (List of varieties)

14.	The delegation of Poland lifted its reservation on minimum sizes.

15.	The delegation of Germany introduced document TRADE/WP.7/2000/3 containing the existing list of varieties in a new format agreed by the Specialized Section. It was decided to annex it to the standard.

16.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as a revised UN/ECE Standard. It will be published as addendum 1 to this report.

Beans

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.2

17.	Corrections were pointed out concerning sections: II A., III., IV A (iii) and VI D.

18.	The delegation of the Netherlands said that its industry had indicated problems with the provisions concerning rust spots in Class II. It felt that "practically free" was open to interpretations and it could happen that the Netherlands would not be able to deliver Beans at certain periods because of the rust spots caused by unfavourable weather conditions. It said it did not want to stop the standard now but would like to come back to that question at the next session of the Specialized Section.

19.	The Working Party accepted this proposal.

20.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as amended as a revised UN/ECE Standard. It will be published as addendum 2 to this report.

Citrus Fruit

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.3

21.	The Chairman introduced the document and stressed that good progress had been made on the standard and that the compromise reached was a significant amelioration compared to the standard in force even though several reservations remained in the text concerning maturity requirements and green skinned oranges.

22.	The Chairman asked whether the reservations could be placed in the report instead of the text of the standard but this was not agreed by the relevant countries.

23.	Speaking as the delegate of Spain, the Chairman informed the group about the research being done in Spain on maturity requirements and taste for several varieties of clementines and oranges. He said that more detailed information would be provided to the meeting of the Specialized Section in 2001.

24.	Corrections were pointed out concerning sections: I, II B. and III. A

25.	Concerning section I, the delegation of France clarified that:

-	"pomelo" in French corresponded to grapefruit in English and

-	"pamplemouse" in French corresponded to "pummelo" or "shaddock" in English.

26.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as amended as a revised UN/ECE Standard. It will be published as addendum 3 to this report.

Cultivated Mushrooms

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.4

27.	Corrections were pointed out concerning sections: IV. B. and V A.

28.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as amended as a revised UN/ECE Standard. It will be published as addendum 4 to this report.

Peas

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.5

29.	A correction was pointed out concerning section II A.

30.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as amended as a revised UN/ECE Standard. It will be published as addendum 5 to this report.

Table Grapes

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.6

31.	The delegation of the Russian Federation said that the minimum sugar content as an important maturity indicator was missing in the standard. The Chairman clarified that a working group had been formed at the last session of the Specialized Section which will discuss this question. The delegation of the Russian Federation said that it would prepare a document on that question for the Specialized Section.

32.	A correction was pointed out concerning section V A.

33.	It was felt by several delegations that the deletion of the second paragraph of IIB.(iii) did not properly reflect what was decided at GE.1. Other delegations, however, remembered that the paragraph had been deleted. In the end it was decided to keep the paragraph and to adopt the standard.

34.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as amended as a revised UN/ECE Standard. It will be published as addendum 6 to this report.

Melons

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.7

35.	A correction was pointed out concerning footnote 2.

36.	The Working Party adopted the amendments proposed as a revision to the UN/ECE Standard for Melons. The consolidated text of the standard will be published as addendum 7 to this report.

Aubergines, headed cabbages, cauliflowers, fennel, sweet peppers and courgettes

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.7

37.	The Working Party adopted the amendments to the standards as proposed. The consolidated texts of the revised standards will be published as Addenda to this report as follows:

-	Addendum 8:	Aubergines

-	Addendum 9:	Headed Cabbages

-	Addendum 10:	Cauliflowers

-	Addendum 11:	Fennel

-	Addendum 12:	Sweet Peppers

-	Addendum 13:	Courgettes

Tomatoes

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.9

38.	A correction was pointed out concerning section I.

39.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as amended as a revised UN/ECE Standard. It will be published as addendum 14 to this report.

Avocados

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.7

40.	The Working Party adopted the amendments proposed as a UN/ECE Recommendation. The consolidated text of the recommendation will be published as addendum 15 to this report.

Plums

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25/Add.8

41.	Corrections were pointed out concerning sections: I, annex.

42.	The Working Party adopted the proposed text as amended as UN/ECE Recommendation. It will be published as addendum 16 to this report.

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

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17 (Report of the forty-seventh session)

43.	The Vice-Chairman of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit) Mr. M. Sciannella (Italy), informed the Working Party of the outcome of the forty-seventh session of the Specialized Section.

Inshell Hazelnuts, Hazelnut Kernels

Documents for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17/Add.1

TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17/Add.2

44.	Both UN/ECE Recommendations for Hazelnuts complete their trial period this year. After being reviewed, they were recommended for adoption as revised UN/ECE Standards by the Specialized Section.

45.	The delegation of Turkey, who had served as rapporteur for these standards, thanked all delegations for the progress made and the compromises reached. They said that the revised standard would help producers and consumers and facilitate trade.

46.	The Chairman asked whether some reservations still contained in the standard could be lifted but this was not agreed by the relevant countries.

47.	The delegation of Turkey stated that they would maintain their reservation in the standard for Hazelnut Kernels which requests the crop year to be marked. They said that they, as producer country, agreed with the importing countries that the crop year was an important piece of quality information.

48.	The Working Party adopted the texts as revised UN/ECE standards. They will be published as addenda to this report as follows:

-	Addendum 17:	Inshell Hazelnuts

-	Addendum 18:	Hazelnut Kernels

Main text of the standard layout for dry and dried fruit

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/17/Add.3

49.	The Working Party adopted the text as main text of the revised standard layout for dry and dried produce (fruit). The text will be published as addendum 19 to this report.

50.	The annexes to the main text of the standard layout are still under discussion in the Specialized Section.

Revision of the UN/ECE Standards for Sweet Almonds

51.	The Working Party authorized the Specialized Section to review the UN/ECE standards for sweet almonds.

Extension of the trial period for the UN/ECE Recommendation for Walnut Kernels

52.	No consensus was reached by the Specialized Section to recommend this text for adoption as a UN/ECE standard. An informal working group was formed to discuss open questions. The group proposed to extend the trial period for one further year.

53.	The proposal was accepted by the Working Party.

Explanatory brochure for Inshell Hazelnuts

54.	In its report, the Specialized Section submitted to the Working Party its opinion that an updated explanatory brochure for Inshell Hazelnuts would be useful for international trade.

55.	The Working Party decided to request the Plenary Meeting of the OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables to examine the possibility of preparing an explanatory brochure on the UN/ECE Standard for Inshell Hazelnuts. The Working Party further decided to request the OECD Plenary to inform the Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit) about the progress of this request.

Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.2/2000/8 (Report of the thirtieth session)

56.	The new Chairman of the Specialized Section, Mr. P. G. Bianchi (Italy), informed the Working Party of the outcome of the thirtieth session of the Specialized Section as well as the meeting of rapporteurs on seed potatoes which was held in Moscow from 24 to 27 October 2000. He thanked the former Chairman, Mr. B. Borrel (Canada), for his contribution to the work of the group.

Amendments to the UN/ECE Standard for Seed Potatoes

Documents for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/4

57.	Mr Bianchi introduced the proposed amendments to the standard concerning the introduction of tolerances for powdery scab and viruses.

58.	The Working Party adopted the amendments. The consolidated text of the standard will be published as addendum 20.

Meeting of Rapporteurs

59.	The meeting was held in Moscow following an invitation from the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technologies, responsible for food standards. Mr. Bianchi thanked the Russian authorities for the kind invitation, the excellent organization and their hospitality.

60.	The meeting was, on the one hand, a regular meeting of the rapporteurs meant to advance the UN/ECE Standard for Seed Potatoes according to the tasks given by the Specialized Section, and on the other hand, it was meant to provide more information on the situation of potato production in the Russian Federation and to make recommendations if possible.

61.	The rapporteurs took note of the information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture that Russia had the biggest growing area for potatoes in the world, but that there were concerns with a relatively low yield (if compared internationally) and high losses. They agreed with the assessment of the Russian authority that it will be necessary to improve seed potato production in quantity and quality, to use certified seed and to update production and storage methods in order to ameliorate the situation.

62.	The rapporteurs recommended several ways forward, mainly focusing on the necessity to educate farmers and inspectors about the importance of using certified seed. They stressed that farmers had to learn the connection between the use of certified seed, higher yield, less use of pesticides, better products and a higher profit. The recommendations were greatly appreciated by the participants and it was ensured that Russia would continue to participate in the UN/ECE meetings.

63.	The rapporteurs undertook a technical visit to the "Bioengineering" Centre and were informed by the Deputy Director, Dr. Dorokhov, about the current status of certification of GMO varieties of potatoes.

Future Work

64.	The Specialized Section has identified the following items for its work in the next year:

-	evaluation of the replies received on the questionnaire on national certification schemes and preparation of a summary publication;

-	annexing of a sampling plan to the standard;

-	drawing up of subdivisions of categories for international harmonization (which are at the moment left to individual countries);

-	research on concerns of seed buyers in order to address these in the standard;

-	evaluation of the impact of genetically modified organisms (GMO's) on the standard;

-	holding a cooperation meeting with other organizations concerned with standardization of seed potatoes.

Specialized Section on Standardization of Meat

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.11/2000/7 (Report of the ninth session)

65.	The Secretariat informed the Working Party that the Chairman of the Specialized Section, Mr. B. Carpenter (United States), was not able to attend the meeting due to illness. The secretariat informed the Working Party of the outcome of the ninth session of the Specialized Section, the meeting of rapporteurs held in Sao Paulo (Brazil) in September, as well as the progress made in the creation of a UN/ECE trade mark for meat.

Texts proposed for adoption

Documents for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.11/2000/7/Add.1 (General requirements)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.11/2000/7/Add.2 (Bovine specific

requirements)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.11/2000/7/Add.3 (Cut descriptions)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/5 (New bar code example)

66.	The Specialized Section recommended that the texts contained in documents TRADE/WP.7/GE.11/2000/7/Add.1-3 (the bar code example in Add.1) be exchanged with the one in document TRADE/WP.7/2000/5 to be adopted as a new UN/ECE Standard for Bovine Carcases and Cuts. Demonstration copies of the standard in colour were available for review.

67.	Because the texts were available only in English, the Working Party adopted the standard ad referendum. Delegations will be informed by e-mail once the French and Russian versions have been posted on the homepage and will have one month's time in which to object to the texts. The texts will otherwise be considered as adopted.

68.	The exact modalities for publication will be decided by the Specialized Section at its session in 2001.

Meeting of rapporteurs (São Paulo)

69.	At the meeting of rapporteurs progress was made on the finalization of the bovine standard and the reformatting of the porcine standard. Draft standards for ovine and poultry meat were discussed and will be presented to the Specialized Section.

Trade mark for meat

70.	Delegations were provided with a draft proposal on this matter which will be finalized next year and presented to the Specialized Section as well as to the Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policies (WP.6).

Proposal to create an internationally recognized list of trade descriptions and classification codes for fruits and vegetables.

71.	The secretariat introduced this agenda item: EAN International operates world-wide in the area of electronic commerce (supply chain management, article numbering, bar codes, modelling) and is very active in the Specialized Section on Standardization of Meat (e.g. co-hosting the meeting of rapporteurs in Brazil).

72.	EAN International has informed the secretariat about the issue of generic coding for fruits and vegetables. In addition to company product-specific codes, both national and quasi-international classification code lists are currently linked to EAN/UCC standards. As a result, EAN members are often confused by the variety of codes used, and dissatisfied with the lack of "internationally recognized" trade descriptions and classification codes for fruits and vegetables.

73.	EAN International suggests to negotiate a code list for fruits and vegetables under the auspices of the UN/ECE. The Working Party is invited to consider whether this issue should be taken up and where and how it should be dealt with.

74.	Several delegations expressed their interest in this matter but stated that they would like to get further information before coming to any decision.

75.	The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the following steps would have to be taken:

-	evaluate current practice (codes, trade descriptions)

-	get clear information about the status of the codes used

-	explore possibilities of international harmonization of these codes

76.	It was decided to invite EAN International to prepare a document for the next session of GE.1 and to participate in the meeting.

Proposal to adopt the OECD document on exchange of information on non-conformity cases

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/7 (Germany)

77.	At the last session of the Specialized Section on Coordination of Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, the delegation of the OECD Scheme introduced a document for the exchange of non-
conformity cases. The Specialized Section agreed that the use of this document should be promoted in countries using the UN/ECE standards. There was no decision yet whether reference should be made to the OECD document or whether the document should be adopted and published as a UN/ECE document.

78.	In TRADE/WP.7/2000/7, the delegation of Germany proposed to adopt the OECD document as a UN/ECE text and to distribute it on the UN/ECE home page. In a footnote, the origin of the document should be referenced. Any proposals for the amendment of this document should be made to the OECD Plenary.

79.	The Working Party accepted this proposal and adopted the OECD document with the following footnote:

"* This document is based on and fully harmonized with the corresponding document developed and updated by the OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables."

80.	The document will be published as addendum 21 to this report. Requests for amendments to this document should be transmitted directly to the OECD.

81.	It was mentioned that a list of contact points for quality control would be useful for the application of this document. The Working Party decided to request the specialized sections GE.1 and GE.2 to establish such lists.

82.	It was further proposed to publish the Guide on Implementation of Quality Control on the home page.

83.	Many delegations not being familiar with this document, it was decided to request the GE.1 Specialized Section to review it and make recommendations to the Working Party as to its use.

Proposal to prepare a list of countries accepting/not accepting code marks

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/INF.1 (South Africa)

84.	At the last session of the Specialized Section on Coordination of Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, the delegation of South Africa stated that, in their country, code marks were used and sometimes shipments were rejected in Europe because the address of the packer/exporter was not explicitly marked. In the present document, South Africa proposed the preparation of a list of countries not accepting code marks and requiring the full name and address of the packer or dispatcher.

85.	The Working Party accepted this proposal. It requested the secretariat to prepare a small questionnaire as addendum 22 to this report to request this information from all countries and to publish the results on the home page.

Use of trade marks in UN/ECE standards

Discussion in the Specialized Section:	see TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/25, paras. 97-101.

86.	At the last session of the Specialized Section on Coordination of Standardization of Fresh

Fruit and Vegetables the use of trade marks was discussed following problems with a company holding a trade mark on a varietal name of table grapes (e.g. Superior SeedlessTM).The secretariat was asked to contact the legal counsel of the United Nations.

87.	The secretariat reported that a letter had been written to the legal counsel following the GE.1

session but that the complexity of the problem required further advice from the legal counsel in New York and that the results would be reported directly to the next session of GE.1.

Revision of the working procedures of the Working Party and its Specialized Sections

88.	The secretariat reported that an informal working group had discussed a draft revision of the

working procedures during the last GE.1 session. According to the comments made the document was updated to be discussed during a further session of the working group, meeting during this session. It is hoped that an official document can be presented to the next session of the Working Party.

Elaboration of explanatory material to UN/ECE standards

89.	The question was discussed at an informal working group during the last GE.1 session as

well as at the last session of the Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development. According to the information given by the Director of the Division, Dr. C. Cosgrove-Sacks, additional resources were requested for the work on agricultural standards. She further said that the success of this request depended upon the support received from the missions and ministries and that it was essential that delegations informed their missions and ministries on the importance they attached to this work. She stressed that the secretariat was prepared to support the work according to clear priorities set by the member States.

90.	The secretariat will keep the Working Party informed on further developments in this

area.

Acceptances of UN/ECE Standards

91.	The Working Party discussed which information on acceptances of UN/ECE standards would

be useful to maintain in an updated form on the home page of the agricultural unit.

92.	The Working Party decided that the information available to the secretariat at present should

be published on the home page. The information will initially be arranged by country and later on also by standard. The page will be updated according to new information received.

93.	The Working Party also decided that all specialized sections should discuss the question of

application of their standards (whether they are applied as they are or with amendments in national law etc.).

Report on international workshops and training courses on standardization and quality control

94.	The delegation of the United Kingdom reported to the Working Party on their 11th International

Training Course. It was attended by 23 countries. Nine standards were discussed and several technical visits undertaken. The next training course will be held in June 2001. The United Kingdom, together with Ireland, is also involved in organizating workshops in the Czech Republic.

95.	The delegation of Germany informed the Working Party of the next Geisenheim meeting

which will take place from 12-14 February 2001. The four half days will be spent on discussing questions on quality inspection, onions, melons and inspection methods in general. Invitations will be sent out in December. Participants will be invited to send questions on quality inspection.

96.	The delegation of Slovakia informed the Working Party on their international harmonization

meeting held in June 2000. It was attended by seven countries, mainly from central Europe, and also by the European Commission and the OECD. The meeting focused on harmonization of inspection. Several technical visits were undertaken. The next meeting is planned for September 2001.

Matters of interest arising from the work of other international organizations

Codex Alimentarius Commission and Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

97.	The information provided by the Codex secretariat will be included as addendum 23 to this

report.

98.	The delegation of the European Community said that the Codex Procedural Manual

contained the possibility for the CCFFV to request WP.7 to prepare proposed draft Codex standards, which means that WP.7 can serve as a rapporteur to the CCFFV.

99.	He said that the European Community had proposed to the CCFFV and by analogy to CCPFV (for dry and dried produce) both committees to make use of this option in cooperation with the UN/ECE in order to reduce duplication of work but that this proposal had not been adopted by the Codex committees.

100.	The delegate from the Codex secretariat said that according to the Codex working procedures

UN/ECE standards were taken as a basis for drawing up proposed draft Codex standards. This would also be the case for dried figs. She further said that the preparation of the Proposed Draft Codex Standard for Apples had already been assigned to a group of countries as was usually the case and the Committee had preferred to keep this assignment. The preparation of the text would be done in close cooperation with the UN/ECE secretariat.

101.	The Chairman said that the Working Party was prepared to serve as rapporteur to the Codex

committees if this was requested. He stressed that this only concerned the preparation of the proposed draft text which would then be discussed in the Codex committees.

European Union

102.	The representative of the European Community informed about the work done since the last session of WP.7, as well as possible future work:

-	the European Commission has republished standards for Asparagus, Peaches and Nectarines, Peas, Table Grapes, Apricots and Tomatoes,

-	two other standards are about to be republished (Beans and Lettuces) and

-	a new standard for Inshell Walnuts will soon be adopted.

-	the EC standards for Plums, Melons and Cauliflower have been amended

-	the EC standards for Sweet Peppers, Courgettes, Aubergines, Headed Cabbages, Cauliflower may soon be revised.

-	the work programme for the future includes several items, among them revisions of EC standards in view of the recent decisions of WP.7 (the EU Council requests the European Commission to take into account the UN/ECE standards when drafting EC standards for fruit and vegetables): Citrus Fruit, Apples and Pears, Melons, Kiwis, Peaches and Nectarines, Table grapes, Avocados, Artichokes, Onions, etc.

-	the European Commission is also considering a modification of EC Regulation 2251/92 laying down quality controls for fresh fruit and vegetables.

OECD Scheme

103.	The information provided by the OECD secretariat will be included as addendum 24 to this

report.

Programme of work

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/10

Calendar of Meetings

104.	The Working Party took note of the proposed calendar of meetings for 2001 (see annex)

Publications

105.	The secretariat informed the Working Party that all standards had been published on the

home page but not all of them in the three official languages. He said that the work would be completed when the texts were received from the translation services. He further added that at the moment no paper

publications were planned for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables and Dry and Dried Fruit but for the new UN/ECE Standard for Bovine Carcases and Cuts.

Future work/Follow-up

106.	Future work/Follow-up will include:

-	Review provisions for Class II for Beans (GE.1);

-	Review the reply of the legal counsel of the United Nations on trade marks (GE.1);

-	Review a proposal by EAN International for a recognized list of trade descriptions and classification codes (GE.1);

-	Review UN/ECE Guide on Implementation of Quality Control (GE.1);

-	Establish a list of contact points for quality control (GE.1/GE.2);

-	Prepare a list of countries not accepting code marks (secretariat);

-	Revision of the Working Procedures (WP.7);

-	Discuss elaboration of explanatory material (WP.7);

-	Publish acceptances on the home page (secretariat);

-	Discuss application of their standards (all specialized sections).

Election of officers

107.	The Working Party re-elected the existing bureau as follows:

Chairperson:	Mr. M. Vilchez-Barros (Spain)

Vice-Chairperson:	Ms. O. Vorovenci (Romania)

Vice-Chairperson:	Mr. D.L. Priester (United States of America)

Adoption of the report

108.	The Working Party adopted the report of its fifty-sixth session on the basis of a draft prepared

by the secretariat.

ANNEX

ADDENDA TO THIS REPORT

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.1 (Apples and Pears)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.2 (Beans)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.3 (Citrus Fruit)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.4 (Cultivated Mushrooms)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.5 (Peas)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.6 (Table Grapes)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.7 (Melons)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.8 (Aubergines)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.9 (Headed Cabbages)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.10 (Cauliflowers)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.11 (Fennels)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.12 (Sweet Peppers)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.13 (Courgettes)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.14 (Tomatoes)	TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.15 (Avocados)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.16 (Plums)

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)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.20 (Seed Potatoes)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.21 (Non-conformity)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.22 (Code Marks)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.23 (Information from Codex)

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.24 (Information from OECD)

TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF MEETINGS FOR 2001

Specialized Section	Session	Location	Date	10 week deadline for documents
Seed Potatoes (GE.6)	31	Geneva	12 - 14 March	1 January
Early and Ware Potatoes (GE.5)	15	Geneva	19 - 21 March	8 January
Meat (GE.11)	10	Geneva	25 - 27 April	12 February
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (GE.1)	47	Geneva	14 - 18 May	5 March
Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit) (GE.2)	48	Geneva	18 - 21 June	9 April
Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development (WP.7)	57	Geneva	29 - 31 October	20 August