UNITED

NATIONS

Distr.

GENERAL

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/1

7 February 2002

ORIGINAL : ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

COMMITTEE FOR TRADE, INDUSTRY AND

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

Working Party on Standardization of

Perishable Produce and Quality Development

Specialized Section on Standardization of

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

23-26 April 2002, Geneva

PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE FORTY-EIGHTH SESSION

to be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

commencing at 10.00 hrs on Tuesday, 23 April 2002*

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 be 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 numbers in italics signify background documents - new documents have been put in bold.

1.	Adoption of the agenda	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/1
2.	Matters of interest arising since the forty-
seventh session	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/2

*	On Monday 22 April 2002 the informal Working Groups will have the opportunity to meet (without interpretation). These meetings are intended for the members of the working groups as indicated in the provisional timetable.

GE.02-

3.	Proposals to revise UN/ECE standards
(a)	Annonas	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/3 (Spain)
(b)	Apples and Pears

List of varieties

Proposed separate UNECE Standards for Apples and Pears

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.1 (Standard in force)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/3 (Germany)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/4 (Lithuania)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/19/Add.1 (New Zealand)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/19/Add.2 (New Zealand)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/5 (Chile)

[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/6 (New Zealand)]
(c)	Avocados	TRADE/WP.7/2001/9/Add.6
(d)	Citrus Fruit	TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.3

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.3/Corr.1

[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/7 (Spain)]

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/8 (South Africa)
(e)	Kiwifruit	[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/9 (New Zealand)]
(f)	Leeks	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/10 (European Community)
(g)	Peaches and Nectarines
(h)	Plums	TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.16
(i)	Strawberries	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/19/Add.3

[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/11]
(j)	Table Grapes	TRADE/WP.7/2001/9/Add.7

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/12 (South Africa)
4.	Proposal for a draft UN/ECE Standard for Pineapples	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/15/Add.2 (COLEACP)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/13 (COLEACP)
5.	Issues concerning trade marks and names of varieties	TRADE/WP.7/2001/9/Add.13 (Secretariat)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/14 (France)
6.	Revision of the working procedures and the Geneva Protocol	TRADE/WP.7/2001/6

[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/15]

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/INF.2 (Secretariat)
7.	Revision of the Standard Layout	TRADE/WP.7/2001/3

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/16 (Secretariat)
8.	Proposal to create an internationally recognized list of trade descriptions and classification codes for fruits and vegetables.	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/17 (Secretariat)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/INF.1 (Italy)
9.	Pending items from the last session

Exchange of information on non- conformity cases

Establishment of a list of countries using code marks

Review of the Guide on Implementation of Quality Control

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.21

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.22

AGRI/WP.1/R.190
10.	Participation to the Specialized Section
11.	Acceptances
12.	Matters of interest arising from the work of the
(a)	Codex Alimentarius Commission
(b)	European Union
(c)	OECD Scheme
13.	Operational activities
14.	Other business
15.	Preparation of the next session
(a)	Future work
(b)	Date and place
(c)	Preparation of the 58th session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development
16.	Election of officers
17.	Adoption of the report

Proposed timetable

Monday, 22	April	10.00 - 13.00	Informal Working Groups (English only):

Apples and Pears: Belgium, Chile, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom

Kiwifruit: Chile, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, United States
15.00 - 18.00	Informal Working Groups (English only):

Table grapes: Chile, Greece, South Africa,

Pineapples: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, Spain, France, Portugal, COLEACP
Tuesday, 23	April	10.00 - 13.00	Items 1 - 3
15.00 - 18.00	Item 3
Wednesday, 24	April	10.00 - 13.00	Item 3
15.00 - 18.00	Item 3 - 7
Thursday, 25	April	10.00 - 13.00	Items 8 - 16
16.00 - 18.00	Working Group on Working Procedures
Friday, 26	April	10.00 - 13.00	Item 17

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 TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/2 sums up the relevant outcome of fifth session of the Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development and the fifty-seventh session of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development.

Item 3	Proposals to revise UN/ECE standards

(a)	Annonas

Background Document:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/3 (Spain)

A proposal for the revision of this standard was prepared by Spain for the last session. The proposal was welcomed in principle by the Specialized Section because it consisted of a simplification of the standard.

The following comments were made which should be discussed before adopting the text:

-	the column "weight per fruit" might be renamed "weight of the smallest fruit in the package";

-	there is no Max. Variation indicated for weight > 825;

-	in the size tolerances "(100/125 g)" should be changed to "(100/225 g)";

-	it was suggested to include provisions for Class II;

(b)	Apples and Pears

List of varieties

Standard in force:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.1

Documents for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/3 (Germany)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/4 (Lithuania)

For the last session the working group had prepared a new version of the list of varieties based on the list contained in the standard in force. All additions and deletions made by the working group have been marked. No decision was taken at the meeting. Delegations were invited to send comments to the delegation from Germany who have prepared a new version. Further proposals were received from Lithuania.

Proposed separate UNECE Standards for Apples and Pears

Background documents:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/19/Add.1 (New Zealand)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/19/Add.2 (New Zealand)

Document for this session	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/5 (Chile)

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/6 (New Zealand)

The background documents were prepared by the rapporteur based on the comments made at the last session.

The Specialized Section agreed at the last session to continue the work on the inclusion of weight sizing especially concerning minimum weights and tolerances. A new proposal is expected from New Zealand based on the comments received from other delegations. The delegation of Chile prepared a comparative table on weight sizing.

(c)	Avocados

Recommendation in trial period: TRADE/WP.7/2001/9/Add.6

The recommendation will finish its trial period in November 2002. At the last session maturity requirements had been included for the remaining time of the trial period. COLEACP commented at the last session that the characteristics of carribean varieties were quite different. The Specialized Section is invited to review the recommendation, discuss lifting of any reservations and make a proposal to the Working Party on how to proceed with it.

(d)	Citrus Fruit

Standard in force:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.3 + Corr.1

Documents for this session:	[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/7 (Spain)]

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/8 (South Africa)

The delegation of Spain will report on a research project on maturity requirements for oranges. South Africa proposes an amendment to the sizing provisions.

(e)	Kiwifruit

Document for this session:	[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/9 (New Zealand)]

There was an extensive discussion on the revision of this standard at the last session especially concerning maturity requirements. The rapporteur (New Zealand) will report on the developments since the last session and possibly present a new proposal.

(f)	Leeks

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/10 (European Community)

The document contains a proposal from the European Community for amendments to the standard.

(g)	Peaches and Nectarines

At the last session it was decided that the working group (Chile, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, South Africa and Sweden) would work on the following items:

-	size "D"

-	maturity indicators

-	information from the United Kingdom on the use of the brix level

-	concept of "well matured fruit" (Chile)

-	proposal from the Ukraine (TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2000/14).

The delegation of France will report on any progress made.

(h)	Plums

Recommmendation in trial period: TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.16

The recommendation will finish its trial period in November 2002. New hybrid varieties had been included in the standards under their trade mark names. In accordance with the discussion at the Working Party the Specialized Section is invited to review the recommendation with special attention to the mention of the trade marks and to make a proposal to the Working Party how to proceed with it. It is expected that the Specialized Section will decide amendments to the standard based on the solution agreed by the Working Party for the mention of trade marks.

(i)	Strawberries

Background document:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/19/Add.3

Document for this session:	[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/11]

At the last session the Specialized Section provisionally agreed to a number of amendments to the UNECE Standard for Strawberries (see TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2001/19/Add.3). The proposed revision was not adopted by the Working Party but referred back to the Specialized Section. The Working Party felt that the revision of the standard needed further discussion in the Specialized Section and in addition there was no time pressure because the OECD Plenary meeting had not yet finalized the explanatory brochure for strawberries.

(j)	Table Grapes

Recommendation in trial period: TRADE/WP.7/2001/9/Add.7

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/12 (South Africa)

The recommendation was agreed at the last session and will finish the trial period in November 2003. Amendments concerning maturity requirements and bunch size were integrated. At this session the working group (Chile, Greece, South Africa) is expected to report on progress made on the following issues:

-	Definition of satisfactory brix and sugar/acid ratio levels depending on the variety with the goal of identifying groups of varieties for which the same levels could be acceptable.

-	Reviewing methods for sampling and measurement for the above indexes.

In addition South Africa proposes an amendment to the list of varieties. It is expected that the Specialized Section will decide amendments to the standard based on the solution agreed by the Working Party for the mention of trade marks.

Item 4	Proposal for a draft UN/ECE Standard for Pineapples

Background document:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/15/Add.2 (COLEACP)

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/13 (COLEACP)

At the last session it was agreed to present the COLEACP proposal in a clearer way by taking the existing Codex standard; adapt it to the UNECE standard layout; make changes to this text; highlight them; and add justifications for the changes made. The delegation of the United States agreed to do some research on shelf-
life of pineapples with or without the crown.

Item 5	Issues concerning trade marks and names of varieties

Background document:	TRADE/WP.7/2001/9/Add.13 (Secretariat)

Document for this session:	[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/14 (France)]

The issue was discussed at length at the last sessions of the Specialized Section and the Working Party. Based on advice received from the office for Legal Affairs, the Working Party agreed on a solution for the mention of trade marks in UNECE Standards (see TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/2). The actual implementation of this solution will be the task of the Specialized Section. The Working Party asked the Specialized Section in particular to discuss marking issues related to trade marks. A document on this issue is expected from France.

Item 6	Revision of the working procedures and the Geneva Protocol

Background document:	TRADE/WP.7/2001/6

Document for this session:	[TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/15]

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/INF.2 (Revised Working Procedures)

At the last session of the Working Party a possible revision of the Geneva Protocol (see TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/2) was discussed. It invited every Specialized Section to put the item on the agenda and transmit their ideas and opinions to the Working Group on Working Procedures. The secretariat will report on its findings concerning the legal status of a protocol. The informal document contains the present version of the revised document.

Item 7	Revision of the Standard Layout

Background document:	TRADE/WP.7/2001/3

Document for this session:	TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/2002/16 (Secretariat)

At the last session of the Working Party the secretariat proposed changing the numbering system used in UNECE standards to a legal numbering system (1, 1.2, 1.2.1, etc.) (see TRADE/WP.7/2001/3). The proposal was welcomed and the Working Party asked the secretariat to prepare a comprehensive example based on the Citrus Fruit standard.

Item 8	Proposal to create an internationally recognized list of trade descriptions and classification

codes for fruits and vegetables.

Documents for this session:	TRADE/GE.1/WP.7/2002/17 (Secretariat)

TRADE/GE.1/WP.7/2002/INF.1 (Italy)

A first session of the Working Group was held in November 2002. The document contains a short summary of that meeting which collected the information contained in UNECE Standards to be coded. The working group will meet again during this session to continue the coding and prepare an example.

The informal document from Italy contains a comprehensive description of coding issues for fresh produce and its application in the supply chain.

Item 9	Pending items from the last session

Exchange of information on non-conformity cases

Background document:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.21

The secretariat will establish a list containing information concerning contact points. Delegations are invited to provide the relevant address to the secretariat during the session.

Establishment of a list of countries using code marks

Background document:	TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.22

Only a few answers to the questionnaire were received. Delegations are invited to provide the relevant information during the session.

Review of the Guide on Implementation of Quality Control

Background document:	AGRI/WP.1/R.190

Following a decision at the last session the Secretariat made the actual version of the document available on the Internet. To date no proposals for a revision of the document have been received.

Item 10	Participation to the Specialized Section

At the last session it was agreed that the Chairman, assisted by the secretariat, write a letter encouraging participation especially to international associations of large distributors. The Specialized Section will be informed on any developments.

Item 11	Acceptances

The secretariat had prepared a consolidated document listing by standard the acceptances of countries for the last session. This information can also be found on the web site of the agricultural standards unit at:

www.unece.org/trade/agr under the menu item GENERAL. Delegations are invited to check the information on the Internet and to provide corrections to the secretariat at the session.

Item 12	Matters of interest arising from the work of the

(a)	Codex Alimentarius Commission

(b)	European Union

(c)	OECD Scheme

Delegations of these organizations have been invited to report on activities of relevance to the Specialized Section.

Item 13	Operational activities

Delegations are invited to report on recent activities and any plans for the future.

Item 14	Other business

Item 15	Preparation of the next session

(a)	Future work

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 58th 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 16	Election of officers

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

Mr. D. Priester (United States) as its Chairperson and Ms. U. Bickelmann (Germany) as its Vice-Chairperson.

Item 17	Adoption of the report

The Specialized Section 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 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 0629

or by e-mail to:	agristandards@unece.org

Meeting documentation will be available on our homepage: http://www.unece.org/trade/agr/welcome.htm

In accordance with security instructions, participants should complete the Conference Registration form overleaf and return it to the secretariat before 18 April 2002 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 Villa les Feuillantines (as indicated on the attached map), where your badge will be ready for collection.