Discussion at the last session of the Working Party (taken from TRADE/WP.7/1999/7):

52. The Chairman recalled that document TRADE/WP.7/1999/4 had been withdrawn by the United States. He invited delegations to discuss the reasons for a revision of the Working Procedures and how the subject could be approached in future sessions.

53. The delegation of the United States said that the intention had been to create a procedural manual as a reference regarding how to work in the sessions of the various groups. He said that some discussions at this session had shown that it was necessary to explain clearer how reservations should be dealt with. He also said that in promoting UN/ECE standards one of the first questions asked was always concerning the procedures for adoption and revision. He said that all necessary information was already now available in different documents but it would be easier to have one consolidated text (e.g. a handbook) where to include all information necessary to show how the UN/ECE groups work.

54. The Chairman said the existing working procedures had been revised by Spain and adopted in 1997 to adapt them to the new framework in which the groups are working. He said that three different levels should be taken into account when revising the working procedures:

• the existing procedures should be known. Copies of the existing procedures should be available at every session and be taken into account by the Chairman and the secretariat.
• the existing procedures should be accepted and applied to maintain the transparency of our work.
• if they can be improved then any revision of the procedures should use the existing text as a basis and mark the proposed changes.

55. The representative of the European Community said that in his opinion it was useful to revise working procedures if this could render the work more efficient. He said that the European Community and its Member States considered that when creating new working procedures for WP.7 it should be taken into account that the European Union Member States have transferred competence on standardization of perishable produce to the Community. He said that the European Community will clarify the issue of sharing activities between the Community and the Member States on this matter as soon as possible and inform the Working Party so that the position can be taken into account in the future revision of the working procedures.

56. The delegation of Switzerland said that before discussing any revisions, the existing procedures should be reviewed. He said that the present session had shown some insecurities concerning procedures. The delegation of Greece supported that statement and said that especially the use of reservations should be reviewed.

57. The Chairman recalled that the working procedures were a compromise and that reservations were sometimes necessary to allow a text to move forward even if there were minor disagreements. Ideally reservations should be maintained only during the trial period and be lifted before the publication of the standard. He said that the reason why UN/ECE standards were respected in international trade was that they were developed on the basis of unanimous consensus in a spirit of compromise.

58. The Working Party decided to create a working group on the review of the working procedures. The delegations of the European Community, Romania, Switzerland and the United States offered to participate in that group. The secretariat and the Chairman of the Working Party will also participate.