2. The Session was opened in the presence of the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Dr. Julio Maria Sanguinetti. Sr. Sergio Chiesa Duhalde, Minister for Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, noted the importance of the dairy sector in international trade and the export potential of the MERCOSUR countries in this sector. The work of Codex in providing standards for protecting consumers’ health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade was considered by Uruguay to be of great importance, especially due to the references to Codex standards, guidelines and recommendations under the World Trade Organization Agreements. Delegates were also welcomed on behalf of the Directors-General of FAO and WHO by Ir. Michel Négrin, FAO Representative in Uruguay, and by Dr. Peter O’Hara, Chairperson of the Committee on behalf of the Government of New Zealand.
