PLANT PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION

DL/SWA (Cat. 1)

Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in Southwest Asia (AGP-701)

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Origin

The Agreement for the establishment of the Commission was approved by the Conference at its Twelfth Session (1963, Resolution 44/63) on the recommendations of the meetings of the FAO Member Nations directly concerned (Teheran, 1962 and Rome, 1963) and of the FAO Desert Locust Control Committee at its Eighth Session (1963). It came into force on 15 December 1964 and was amended by the Commission at its Twelfth Session (1977), with subsequent approval of the Council at its Seventy-second Session (1977, Resolution 5/72). It was further amended by the Commission at its Twenty-Second Session (2000), with subsequent approval of the Council at its One-Hundred-and-Twenty-First Session.

Purpose

To carry out all possible measures to control plagues of the Desert Locust within their countries and to reduce crop damage by adopting the following essential procedures:

1. Maintaining permanent locust information and reporting services;
2. maintaining an adequate permanent locust control service;
3. holding reserves of insecticides and application equipment;
4. encouraging and supporting training, survey and research work, including, where appropriate, the maintenance of national research stations for the study of the Desert Locust, considered desirable by the Commission and compatible with the resources of the country;
5. participating in the implementation of any common policy of locust control or prevention which may be approved by the Commission;
6. facilitating the storage of any items of anti-locust equipment and insecticides held by the Commission and permitting their duty-free import or export without hindrance, as well as facilitating their free movement within the country;
7. providing the Commission with any information it may request to implement its functions effectively.

First Session

December 1964.

Membership

Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization in the Region as accept the Agreement in accordance with Article XV thereof. Other Nations situated in the Region that are Members of the United Nations any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency may be admitted as Members by a two-thirds majority of the Commission's membership.

Membership entails the obligation to contribute to the Commission's budget in accordance with a scale of contributions determined by the Commission.

The present Membership is:

Working Language

English.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

Annual (except for 1976); biennial since 1981.

Achievement 2000-01

The Twenty-second Session of the Commission was held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran from 17 to 21 September 2000. The main recommendations made concerned changes to the Establishment Agreement, including the adoption of a shorter name (the old one was "Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Eastern Region of its Distribution in South-West Asia") and abolishing the Executive Committee. The Session also strongly recommended that the post of Secretary of the Commission should be re-established, especially in view of the intention to develop EMPRES (Desert Locust) activities in the Region. A number of other actions were recommended to improve communications between Member Nations and with the Desert Locust Information Service at FAO Headquarters, and to purchase equipment and supplies with the Commission’s Trust Fund resources to strengthen the locust management capacity of Member Nations.

The next Session of the Commission has been arranged for December 2002, to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan.

PPC/AP (Cat. 1)

Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (RAP-704)

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Origin

Established under Article II of the Plant Protection Agreement for the Southeast Asia and Pacific Region which was approved by the Council at its Twenty-third Session (1955) and entered into force on 2 July 1956. The geographic scope of the Agreement was extended on 16 August 1969, following approval by the Council at its Forty-ninth Session (1967, Resolution 2/49) to the amendment of Article I (a). The deletion of the word “Southeast” in the title of the Agreement and the change of the name of the “Plant Protection Committee for Southeast Asia and the Pacific” to read “Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission” was proposed by the Eleventh Session of the Committee (September 1978) and approved by the Council at its Seventy-fifth Session (June 1979). The amended titles entered into force for all Contracting Governments on 16 February 1983. An amendment to paragraph (a), Article I of the Agreement aimed to include the People’s Republic of China in the definition of the Region was proposed by the Commission at its Thirteenth Session (April 1983) and approved by the Council at its Eighty-fourth Session (November 1983). The amendment entered into force on 23 May 1990.

Purpose

To strengthen international cooperation in plant protection measures in order to prevent the introduction of destructive plant diseases and pests and their spread within the Region.

First Session

December 1956, as "Plant Protection Committee for the Southeast Asia and Pacific Region".

April 1983: Thirteenth Session of the Commission was the first with the amended title "Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission".

Membership

States situated in the Region, which become parties to the Agreement in accordance with Article thereof.

The present Membership is:

Working Languages

English, and also French if a French-speaking Member Nation advises the Director-General of its intention to participate.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

Every second year (Biennial).

Achievement 2000-01

During the period of 2000 to 2001, Member Nations of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission(APPPC) were reminded to submit the instrument of acceptance of the revised “Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region” which was approved by the FAO Council in November 1999. The Government of Viet Nam officially deposited the instrument of acceptance. The People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Philippines also assured to accept the revised agreement of the Commission.

The Commission emphasized to provide the development support programmes at national and regional levels in Plant Quarantine in line with “Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement of WTO”. It was noted that some progress had been made on the development of regional standard settings for Asia and the Pacific following the international standard for phytosanitary measures (ISPM). A regional Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) on Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for South American Leaf Blight (SALB) of natural rubber was formulated and received approval for implementation. Another TCP project on strengthening of national plant protection service of Nepal emphasizing on the development of plant quarantine facilities was formulated and submitted for follow-up action. Most of the Member Nations of the Commission were now realizing the importance of plant quarantine/phytosanitary measure.

The development support activities of the regional rice, vegetables, and cotton integrated pest management (IPM) projects to most of the Asian Members of the Commission also provided quality education to a large number of farmers. It was also included in the formulation of the IPM curriculum module for Bachelor of Science Degree.

A Regional Workshop on the status of obsolete/unwanted and banned pesticides was organized for 27 developing countries of the region. Member Nations of the Commission were advised to focus on pesticide issues, particularly: harmonization of regulatory procedures, promotion of safe handling, prior informed consent (PIC), monitoring of disposal of obsolete/unwanted and banned items, and development and extension of biopesticides.

DL/NE (Cat. 1)

Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the
Central Region (AGP-704)

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Origin

The Agreement for the establishment of the Commission was approved by the Council at its Forty-fourth Session (1965, Resolution 6/44), under the authority of the Conference (Eleventh Session, 1961, Resolution 9/61) and on the recommendation of a Special Conference held in Beirut (1965). The Agreement came into force on 21 February 1967 and was amended by the Commission at its Seventh Session (1976), with subsequent approval of the Council at its Seventy-second Session (1977, Resolution 5/72). The Twentieth Session of the Commission, held in Cairo from

18-20 December 1994, considered renaming the Region "Central Region" and consequently modifying the name of the Commission and the Agreement. It also considered modifying the definition of the Region covered by the Agreement to make it possible for Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia to to become Members of the Commission. This was approved by the Council at its Hundred and Eighth Session (Rome, 5-14 June 1995).

Purpose

To carry out all possible measures to control plagues of the Desert Locust within Commission Members' countries and to reduce crop damage by adopting the following procedures:

1. Maintaining a permanent locust reporting and control service;
2. holding reserves of insecticides and application equipment;
3. encouraging and supporting training, survey and research stations, including where appropriate the maintenance of national research stations for the study of the Desert Locust, considered desirable by the Commission and compatible with the resources of the country;
4. participating in the implementation of any common policy of locust control or prevention which may be approved by the Commission;
5. facilitating the storage of any items of anti-locust equipment and insecticides held by the Commission and permitting their duty-free import or export without hindrance, as well as their free movement within the country;
6. providing the Commission with any information it may request to implement its functions effectively.

First Session

February 1969.

Membership

Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization situated in the Region as accept the Agreement in accordance with Article XIV thereof. Other Nations situated in the Region that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency may be admitted as Members by a two-thirds majority of the Commission's Membership.

The present Membership is:

Working Language

Arabic, English, French.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

Bi-Annual.

Achievement 2000-01

No session of the Commission was held until March 2002. The post of Secretary was vacant, and was only recently filled at the end of 2001.

DL/NWA (Cat. 1)

Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in Northwest Africa (AGP-706)

(Article XIV of the Constitution)

Origin

The Agreement for the establishment of the Commission was approved by the Council at its Fifty-fifth Session (1970, Resolution 4/55). It was amended by the Commission at its Sixth Session (1977), with the subsequent approval of the Council at its Seventy-second Session (1977, Resolution 5/72). The Commission replaced the FAO Northwest African Desert Locust Research and Control Coordination Sub-Committee, which had been a Subsidiary Body of the FAO Desert Locust Control Committee.

Purpose

To promote national and international research and action with respect to the control of the Desert Locust in Northwest Africa.

First Session

March 1972.

Membership

Member Nations and Associate Members of the Organization situated in the Region accepting the Agreement in accordance with Article XIV thereof. Other Nations situated in the Region that are Members of the United Nations, any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency may be admitted as Members by a two-thirds majority of the Commission's Membership.

The present Membership is:

France, OCLALAV (Joint Anti-Locust and Anti-Aviarian Organization) and the League of Arab States attend sessions as observers.

Working Language

Arabic, French.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

Annual until 1983, and biennial thereafter.

Achievement 2000-01

A Technical and Legal Consultation on the Restructuring of Desert Locust Control Commission for West Africa was held in Morocco in April 2000. The Twenty-ninth Session of the Executive Committee was held in Algeria in June 2000. The Thirtieth Session of the Executive Committee and Twenty-third Session of the Commission was held in Algeria in June 2001.

PPC/C (Cat. 1)

Caribbean Plant Protection Commission (RLAC-701)

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Council at its Forty-eighth Session (1967, Resolution 8/48).

Purpose

To strengthen intergovernmental co-operation in plant quarantine in the Caribbean area in order to prevent the introduction of destructive plant pests and diseases and to preserve the existing plant resources of that area.

First Session

July 1968.

Membership

Membership shall comprise Member Nations and Associate Members whose territories are wholly or partly in the Caribbean Area, that have notified the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

The present Membership is:

Working Languages

English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

Adopted at the First Session (1968) and amended at the Third (1972) and Fourth (1976) Sessions.

Pattern of Sessions

1968, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 2001.

Achievement 2000-01

Activities of the CPPC have continued to be very limited. The Eleventh Session was convened in Trinidad and Tobago from 19-23 November 2001, eight years after the Tenth Session in 1983. Thirteen Member Nations were represented at the meeting (Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela). In addition, there were other Caribbean non-CPPC countries represented (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and St Vincent and the Grenadines), as well as a number of observer regional and international organizations.

The Commission held round table discussion on strengthening phytosanitary capabilities among CARICOM countries. It also discussed the establishment of the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) to replace the CPPC. This initiative is being pursued under joint collaboration of FAO, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The Technical Secretary participated in the following meetings over the period 2000 - 2001:

• 12^th Technical Consultation among Regional Plant Protection Organizations, San Diego, CA, USA (11-13 October 2000)
• 24^th Annual Meeting of the North American Plant Protection Organization, San Diego, CA, USA (16-20 October 2000)
• XVth meeting of the Inter-American Group for Coordination on Plant Protection (IGCPP) (11-15 February 2001)
• Third Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in Rome, 01-06 April 2001

The Technical Secretary continued to disseminate information on new pest outbreaks within the region and updated members on important pests of quarantine significance.

DLCC (Cat. 1)

FAO Desert Locust Control Committee (AGP-713)

(Article VI-2 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established in January 1955 by the Director-General on the recommendation of the Working Party on Desert Locust Control (1954) as an expansion of the previous Coordinating Committee for the Control of the Desert Locust in the Arabian Peninsula. The Conference at its Eighth Session (1955) endorsed the establishment of the Committee and approved its terms of reference.

Purpose

As amended by the Council at its Fifty-first Session (1968, Resolution 3/51):

1. To keep the Desert Locust situation under review;
2. to coordinate the Desert Locust control campaign in the Arabian Peninsula and other affected areas;
3. to promote the overall coordination of work by various national and regional anti-locust organizations and commissions;
4. to promote the coordination of national and international policies and preventive measures in Desert Locust control and research;
5. to provide the Director-General with technical and scientific advice on the Desert Locust situation and on the measures required to keep it under control. For this purpose, whenever there are scientific and technical matters to be discussed at the future sessions of the FAO Desert Locust Control Committee, they should be preceded by meetings of a small number of locust experts to study and report to the Committee on all relevant technical and scientific matters designed to improve and rationalize control of the Desert Locust;
6. to give general policy guidance and to provide technical advice to the Director-General on, and review of, the work programme financed under the International Desert Locust Trust Fund No. 9161, and to review the annual and financial reports for the work performed under the above-mentioned Trust Fund.

First Session

April 1955.

Membership

Member Nations and Associate Members affected by the Desert Locust and other interested Governments.

The present Membership is:

Working Languages

Arabic, English, French.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

Annual to 1982; 1988, 1989. Biennial: 1984, 1986, 1990, 1992.

Subsidiary Body

DLCC Desert Locust Technical Group (AGP-727) (English, French) (1)

• Small number of locust experts of the highest technical standing nominated by DLCC for a two-year period.

Achievement 2000-01

The Thirty-sixth Session of the Committee was held in Rome from 24 to 28 September 2001. It was attended by representatives of 29 countries and of one regional locust organization. The most important recommendations made were: a) that FAO should give consideration to expanding the staff of the Locust Group so that better service could be provided to locust-affected countries; b) to adopt, as standard, DGPS/flow meter equipment for all aircraft involved in Desert Locust spraying, in the interests of reduced use of pesticides and improved management of operations; c) to promote the use of the biopesticide Metarhizium through largescale operational trials and harmonized registration procedures, and d) that the extension of the EMPRES (Desert Locust) Programme to all Regions should be supported. The Session was also presented with the newly-completed updated version of the Desert Locust Guidelines, prepared by the Locust Group with some consultancy help, which constitute a landmark in improved information on Desert Locust management.

A meeting of the DLCC Technical Group was held in Rome from 12-15 June 2000.

Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (AGD-725)

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established as the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources by the Council at its Eighty-fifth Session (1983, Resolution 1/83 as requested by the Conference (1983, Resolution 9/83). Broadened to cover all components of biodiversity of relevance to food and agriculture by the Conference (1995, Resolution 3/95), under its current name. Statutes adopted by the Council (1995, Resolution 1/110), at the request of the Conference.

Purpose

1. to keep under continuous review all matters relating to the policy, programmes and activities of FAO in the area of genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture, including their conservation and sustainable use and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their utilization, and to advise the Director-General and the Council and, as appropriate, its Technical Committees, including in particular the Committees on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, on such matters;
2. to recommend such measures as may be necessary or desirable to ensure the development, as appropriate, of a comprehensive global system or systems on genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture and to monitor the operation of its/their components, in harmony, where applicable, with the Convention on Biological Diversity and other relevant international instruments;
3. to provide an intergovernmental forum for negotiations and to oversee the development, upon the request of the FAO Governing Bodies, of other international agreements, Undertakings, Codes of Conduct or other instruments relating to genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture, and to monitor the operation of such instruments;
4. to facilitate and oversee cooperation between FAO and other international governmental and non-governmental bodies dealing with the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources, in particular with the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, and to seek to develop appropriate mechanisms for cooperation and coordination in consultation with such bodies;
5. subject to approval by the Governing Bodies of FAO, as appropriate, to respond to requests from the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in the specific area of genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture, including the provision of information and other services to the Conference of the Parties and its Subsidiary Bodies, especially in the areas of early warning systems, global assessment and clearing-house facilities, in particular, and as appropriate, through the Global System for the Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

First Session

11-15 March 1985 (as the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources).

Membership

Open to all Members and Associate Members of the Organization, and composed of those Members or Associate Members that notify the Director-General of their desire to be considered Members.

The present Membership is:

Secretary: José T. Esquinas-Alcázar (AGD)

Working Languages

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

May adapt and amend its own rules of procedures, in conformity with the Constitution and General Rules of the Organization and with the statement of principles governing Commissions and Committees adopted by the Conference.

Pattern of Sessions

Normally one regular session each biennium, held in Rome. Extraordinary Sessions may be convened, if necessary.

Subsidiary Bodies

The Commission may establish Intergovernmental Sectorial Working Groups, with appropriate geographical balance, in the areas of plant, animal, forestry and fisheries genetic resources.The Commission may establish such other Subsidiary Bodies as it deems necessary. There are currently two Sectoral Working Groups, one on Plant Genetic Resources and another on Animal Genetic Resources.

Achievement 2000-01

During the biennium, the Commission continued and completed the negotiations for the revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, in response to resolution 7/93 of the FAO Conference. This was done through five sessions of the Chairman’s Contact Group, and an Extraordinary Session of the Commission, which adopted an agreed text in June 2001. Following discussions in an Open-Ended Working Group during the Hundred and Twenty-first Session of the FAO Council, the Thirty-first Session of the Conference formally adopted the new, binding International Treaty on 3 November 2001. The Conference, through Resolution 3/2001, mandated the Commission to act as Interim Committee for the Treaty, pending its entry into force.

The Treaty provides an international legal framework for “the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and their fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security”. It establishes a Multilateral System of access and benefit-sharing applied to a set of crops providing about 80 percent of the world’s food calorie intake. It will enter into force on ratification by forty countries.

During the biennium, the Second Session of the Commission’s Inter-Departmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources was also held, to advance the preparation of the first Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources. The Inter-Departmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources held its First Session, and focused on the implementation and monitoring of the Leipzig Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

CEPM (Cat. 3)

Standards Committee (AGP-728)

(Article VI-4 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Twenty-seventh Session of the Conference in 1993.

Purpose

The Interim Standards Committee provides support to the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in the programme for the international harmonization of phytosanitary measures. It serves as a review and advisory body, making recommendations on the development and acceptability of proposals at various stages in development and, where appropriate, recommends adoption by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. Beginning in 2002, the ISC will be replaced by the Standards Committee, which will be composed of 20 Members (three from each of the seven FAO Regions except two from North America).

First Session

May 1994.

Membership

The ISC is composed of approximately 14 experts nominated by national and regional plant protection organizations. All experts are appointed by the Director-General of FAO. Membership rules were changed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in 2001. From 2002, the Standards Committee Members will be appointed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures.

Working Language

English.

Pattern of Sessions

Annual sessions were held in Rome, each year in May, except the 1997 Session, which was held in October. Beginning in 2000, the Interim Standards Committee began meeting twice yearly. The Standards Committee will in future meet twice yearly.

Rules of Procedure

Established by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in 2001.

Achievement 2000-01

The First to Fourth meetings of the ISC resulted in the completion of nine documents for distribution to Governments for consultation, and the adoption of nine documents by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures as new international standards.

ComPM (Cat. 1)

Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (AGP-729)

(Article VI-4 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Twenty-ninth Session of the Conference in 1997.

Purpose

The Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures is the precursor of a permanent Commission on Phytosanitary Measures becoming reality upon the coming into force of the New Revised Text of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), following acceptance or adherence by two thirds of its Members. The ICPM is to function in the promotion of the full implementation of the objectives of the IPPC. It replaces the FAO Governing Bodies as the mechanism for the approval of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures and it provides direction to the Secretariat of the IPPC, as well as a forum for communication and global coordination on phytosanitary issues.

First Session

November 1998.

Membership

Open to all FAO Members and to parties to the IPPC.

Working Languages

Official languages of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

Sessions to be held each year, beginning November 1998. The Meeting in 2000 was postponed until April 2001 in order to shift the timing of meetings to the spring of each year.

Rules of Procedure

The Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures adopted provisional rules of procedure at its First Session in 1998. These were finalized at the Second Session in 1999 with agreement on standard-setting procedures to be annexed to the rules of procedure.

Achievement 2000-01

The Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) resulted in the adoption of five new international standards for phytosanitary measures, a strategic plan, the completion of dispute settlement procedures, and the terms of reference and rules of procedure for its Standards Committee. It also established several working groups for key activities, including initiatives for collaboration with the Convention on Biological Diversity.

STATISTICS

AFCAS (Cat. 1)

African Commission on Agricultural Statistics (RAFR-701)

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Origin

The Conference at its Eleventh Session (1961) approved the creation of the Commission and requested the Director-General to establish and adequately service a permanent regional agricultural statistical commission for Africa.

Purpose

To review the state of food and agricultural statistics in the Region and advise Member Nations on the development and standardization of agricultural statistics within the general framework of FAO's work in statistics, and to convene study groups or other Subsidiary Bodies of national experts for this purpose.

First Session

October 1962.

Membership

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members whose territories are situated wholly or partly in the Region or who are responsible for the international relations of any non-self-governing territories in the Region. Membership comprises such Nations as have notified the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

The present Membership is:

The United Kingdom and the United States of America attend sessions as observers.

Working Languages

English, French.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

1962, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001.

Achievement 2000-01

Provided a framework for enhancing the rapid participation of Member Nations in the implementation of the FAO/World Bank/United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative for strengthening food and agricultural statistics systems in African countries.

Increased the awareness and improved the appreciation in Member Nations of the conceptual and methodological aspects of gender concerns in agricultural data collection activities.

Provided approaches for increased cooperative efforts in Member Nations to identify areas of commonality and communality between fishery, forestry and agricultural (crop) statistics with a view to pooling of resources for data collection activities.

APCAS (Cat. 1)

Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics (RAPA-703)

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established by the Conference at its Twelfth Session (1963, Resolution 41/63) on the recommendation of the Sixth FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Far East (1962). The Commission title was changed from "Asia and Far East" to "Asia and Pacific" by the Eighty-second Session of the Council in 1982.

Purpose

To review the state of food and agricultural statistics in the Region and advise Member Nations on the development and standardization of agricultural statistics within the general framework of FAO's work in the field, and to convene working parties or other Subsidiary Bodies of national experts required for this purpose.

First Session

September/October 1966.

Membership

Open to all Member Nations and Associate Members whose territories are situated wholly or partly in the Asia and Pacific Region or who are responsible for the international relations of any non-self-governing territories in the Regions (see Report of Forty-seventh Council Session, Paragraph 191). Membership shall comprise such eligible Nations as have notified the Director-General of their desire to be considered as Members.

The present Membership is:

Working Languages

English and also French if a French-speaking Member Nation advises of its intention to participate.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000.

Achievement 2000-01

The Eighteenth Session of the Commission was held in 2000 in Bali, Indonesia. It noted continuing efforts among developing Member Nations to improve their respective national agricultural statistics and the constraints they are facing in the process. Reviewed the activities completed in the Japan-funded regional project "Improvement of Agricultural Statistics in Asia and Pacific Countries” and expressed support for continuation of the project through a second phase. It proposed that the data exchange system in the project include economic statistics and short-term forecasting features. Recommended that FAO and APCAS countries continue to improve the reliability and international comparability of statistics on agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Considered the document prepared by FAO as a follow-up to an earlier recommendation for preparation of a User's Guide to Food Crop Forecasting and suggested that a section on high-value crops be added. Congratulated China for the successful conduct of its first census of agriculture. Reviewed the application of statistical frameworks to improve national agricultural statistical services and emphasized the importance of conducting an Integrated Farm Household Survey to generate critical data inputs to a System of Economic Accounts for Food and Agriculture (SEAFA). Requested FAO support for establishment of standards and harmonized procedures for generation of data inputs to, and construction of tables for SEAFA, including data on non-agricultural activities. It also reviewed development of agribusiness, fisheries and forestry statistics and information in the Asia and Pacific Region.

FAO/ECE/CES/AGS (Cat. 1)

FAO/ECE(UN)/CES Study Group on Food and Agricultural Statistics
in Europe (ESS-704)

(Article VI-1 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established as a Study Group on Problems of Methodology and Definitions in Agricultural Statistics in Eastern and Western Countries, following the recommendations of the ECE Committee on Agricultural Problems at its Eleventh Session (1959) and the suggestion of the Conference of European Statisticians (CES) at its Seventh Session. The title was changed to that above by CES at its Twelfth Session (1964). The activities of the Group are carried out jointly by the Agricultural Division of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Secretariat of CES and the Statistics Division of FAO, with the latter providing the main technical Secretariat.

Purpose

To review the state of food and agriculture statistics in Europe, to advise Member Nations on the development and standardization of agricultural statistical services, and to convene expert groups or other Subsidiary Bodies of national experts required for this purpose.

First Session

May 1960.

Membership

Member Nations of UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) and of the FAO European Region.

Working Languages

English, French, Russian.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

1960, 1962, 1963, 1965 (twice), 1966, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001.

Achievement 2000-01

The Study Group reviewed the progress in common data consultation among international organizations, the countries' experiences in the agriculture census 2000, and different statistical aspects regarding the interaction of agriculture with environment and rural space. It analysed the risks and opportunities in the use of administrative and other non-survey data, and discussed methodological issues regarding measurement of income statistics in the agricultural sector. The Study Group reviewed aspects relating to the estimation of value of agricultural production and of productivity. It considered issues pertaining to the measurement, forecasting and analysis of food supplies, examined how to make agricultural information more user-friendly, and discussed the techniques for presentation and dissemination of statistical results.

(Cat. 3)

FAO/OEA-CIE/IICA Working Group on Agricultural and Livestock Statistics for Latin America and the Caribbean (ESS-705)

(Article VI-2 of the Constitution)

Origin

Established as Sub-Committee of COINS on Agricultural Statistics by the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Statistical Institute (IASI) at its Twenty-fourth Session (1964) and formally approved by the Committee on Improvement of National Statistics (COINS) at its Eighth Session (1964). The title was changed to that above by the Conferencia de Estadísticos Gubernamentales de las Americas (CEGA) at its First Session (1983), CEGA being the organization which replaced COINS since 1981. In 1995, IASI withdrew from the Working Group and was replaced by the Organization of American States (OEA) and the Inter-American Institute for Aquaculture (IICA).

Purpose

To review the state of food and agricultural statistics in the Region, to advise Member Nations on the development and standardization of agricultural statistical services and to convene study groups or other Subsidiary Bodies of national experts required for this purpose.

First Session

November 1964.

Membership

The Membership is not permanent as Members are usually selected for one session. Membership consists of three representatives from American countries nominated jointly by FAO/OEA/IICA. In addition, representatives of FAO/OEA/IICA are ex-officio Members of the Working Group. The number of Members may be increased depending on the specific subject matter under discussion. Observers: National Statistical Officers, ECLA, CAIS, Inter-American Committee for Agricultural Development (CIDA), Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Science, Pan American Union (PAU). The Secretariat of this Working Group is Joint FAO/OEA/IICA. The reports of the Working Group are joint FAO/OEA/IICA publications.

Working Languages

English, Spanish.

Rules of Procedure

General Rules of the Organization.

Pattern of Sessions

1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001.

Achievement 2000-01

The Working Group reviewed the strategies for strengthening the national agricultural statistics programmes. It recognized the importance of the national agricultural census as a component of such programmes, and recommended that FAO should continue to provide assistance in this area. The Working Group discussed the common strategies for agricultural surveys and household surveys, the use of imperfect sampling frames in agricultural surveys, and forecasting of poultry production.