Meeting of Experts on Coordination of Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (GE.1)

Proposed Time Table

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Item 1 Adoption of the Agenda

According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure, the first item on the provisional agenda shall be the adoption of the agenda.

Item 2 Election of Officers

According to the Commission's Rules of Procedure and established practice, the Meeting is expected to elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The forty-third session of the Meeting of Experts elected Mr. Mr. D.L. Priester (USA) as Chairman and Ms. U. Bickelman as Vice-Chairperson.

Item 3 Matters of Interest Arising Since the Forty-Third Session

Document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/2 presents the matters of interest to the work of the Meeting of Experts on Coordination of Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables.

Item 4 Consideration of Proposals to Revise Standards

(a) TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/3 present proposals to amend and revise Standards for Shelling Peas (including a new proposal by Spain and proposals by Canada and Germany which had been presented as documents and Conference Room Papers to the forty-second session); Beans (proposals by the United Kingdom and Spain) (see also TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/3/Add.1);

(b) TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/4 presents proposals to amend the Standards for Garlic (proposal by Germany) and Onions (proposal by the Netherlands). TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/4/Add.1 presents a proposal to amend the standards for Cucumbers (proposal by the Netherlands).

(c) Table Grapes TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/5 presents a proposal by the delegation of Chile.

(d) Plums (proposal by the Germany) contained in document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/6.

(e) Peaches and Nectarines To discuss the inclusion of packing in bulk in the Standard for Peaches and Nectarines on the basis of document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/7 prepared by the Italian delegation.

(f) TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/8 (NOT RECEIVED BEFORE THE DEADLINE) presents a proposal by New Zealand to amend certain aspects of the Standard for Apples and Pears which had not yet been discussed at the forty-third session.

Document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/9 contains the revised version of the Standard reflecting the decisions taken at the forty-third session.

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/10 presents a consolidated list of changes to the Annex of the Standard for Apples and Pears, i.e. the list of varieties compiled during the forty-third session by the German delegation.

TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/10/Add.1 presents a further proposal to amend the list of varieties (proposal by Italy).

(g) Citrus Fruit Document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/11 contains a proposal by the delegation of Israel. TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/11 contains a proposal by South Africa.

(h) Kiwi Fruit TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/12 contains a proposal by the delegation of New Zealand to revise the Standard for Kiwi Fruit. NOT RECEIVED BEFORE DEADLINE.

(i) Cultivated Mushrooms Changes proposed by the German delegation to the Standard for Cultivated Mushrooms are contained in document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/13. TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/13/Add.1 contains a proposal by the United Kingdom.

(j) Asparagus Changes proposed by the delegation of Thailand concerning the introduction of slender asparagus varieties into the UN/ECE Standards for Asparagus. (Document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/14)

(k) Avocados Document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/15 presents a proposal by the delegation of Spain to amend the UN/ECE Standard for Avocados. TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/15/Add.1 presents comments from Israel.

Item 5 Review of the changes introduced by the European Union

Review of the changes intorduced by the EU Group of Experts in view of harmonizing the EU and the UN/ECE Standards for Melons, Watermelons, Avocados, and Garlic (document TRADE/WP.7/GE.1/1998/16).

Item 6 Consideration of a proposal to include provisions for miniature fruit and vegetables in UN/ECE Standards

At the forty-first session of the Meeting of Experts on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (paras 55 to 62 of the Report) it was decided that further discussion was needed on: definitions of these products (in use by the EU and other countries); which products should be covered; whether the criteria should be included in an annex to specific Standards or in the Standard Layout; and what the products should be called. Delegations are invited to provide to the secretariat their comments on these topics as early as possible.

Document AGRI/WP.1/GE.1/R.146 which had been presented to the forty-second session of the Meeting of Experts presents a proposal by the secretariat on how the EU's "Gentlemen Agreement" could be incorporated within ECE Standards. Furthermore, document AGRI/WP.1/GE.1/R.146 contains a proposal by Germany on the incorporation of miniature products in the Standard Layout and comments by the delegation of the United Kingdom.

Item 7 Discussions on the following items:

a) Usefulness of Sizing Provisions (AGRI/WP.1/GE.1/R.157) prepared by the delegation of the Netherlands for the forty-third session of the Meeting of Experts.

b) Establishment of a list of countries using code marks (proposed by the delegations of Canada and the US at the forty-second session of the Meeting of Experts).

Item 8 Report on Matters of Interest Arising from Activities of the:

(a) OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
(b) European Union
(c) Codex Committee on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
(d) World Trade Organization

Item 9 Other Business

a) Future Work

Consideration to elaborate a UN/ECE Draft Standard for Pineapples: At its fifty-third session, the Working Party decided to ask the Meeting of Experts to consider the elaboration of a Draft Standard for Pineapples taking into account the work undertaken by the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. The request had been submitted by COLEACP and was initiated by the Ivory Coast and other West African countries.

Consideration to discuss the elaboration of a working document on exchange of information on non-conformity cases at the next session

Drafting of a circular letter: Drafting of a circular letter inviting wider participation during the sessions of GE.1

(b) Date and Place of Next Session

Item 10 Adoption of the Summary Report

The Meeting of Experts will adopt the summary report on its forty-fourth session prepared by the secretariat.