CCP: ME/HS 01/1 |
COMMITTEE ON COMMODITY PROBLEMS |
INTERGOVERNMENTAL GROUP ON MEAT |
SUB-GROUP ON HIDES AND SKINS |
Seventh Session |
Rome, 4 - 6 June 2001 |
PROVISIONAL AGENDA |
I. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
II. ECONOMIC AND POLICY ISSUES
III. INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACTION ON HIDES AND SKINS
IV. OTHER MATTERS
The Seventh Session of the Sub-Group on Hides and Skins will open at FAO Headquarters on 4 June 2001. It will not follow its customary pattern of meeting in the same week as the Intergovernmental Group on Meat. The IGG on Meat will instead meet jointly in 2001 with the IGGs on Grains, Rice and Oilseeds in conjunction with a conference on basic foodstuffs. Hides and skins would not fit well in that agenda and for this reason the Seventh Session of the Sub-Group will be held separately.
The Sub-Group normally elects a Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons. At its Sixth Session the Sub-Group elected Mr D. Sweetnam (South Africa) as Chairperson and Messrs E. Zimmerl (Austria) and J. Ladan (Nigeria) as Vice-Chairpersons.
The Sub-Group will consider the provisional agenda (CCP: ME/HS 01/1) for adoption.
The Sub-Group will review the current market situation and assess short-term prospects for supply, demand and trade of hides and skins and their derived products, with the assistance of a Secretariat document (CCP: ME/HS 01/2), which will be tabled at the Session. Delegates from producing and consuming countries will be invited to present statements analyzing recent developments and the outlook in the hides and skins sector of their respective countries. In addition, a new edition of the World Statistical Compendium for Raw Hides and Skins, Leather and Leather Footwear will be tabled at the Session.
As part of its work to assess the impact of policies on trade in hides and skins, the Sub-Group at its Sixth Session recommended that the Secretariat continue to monitor developments in trade policies and undertake an analysis of the linkages among restrictions on the trade of hides and skins and leather; sanitary regulations, and voluntary measures, such as ecolabelling; and environmental issues. Accordingly, the Secretariat will circulate a document (CCP: ME/HS 01/3) reviewing the linkages between trade, trade policies and environmental policies, thus providing an economic perspective on trade and environmental issues. Delegates are invited to present statements analyzing the effects of such policies in their respective countries to assist the Sub-Group in understanding the nature and effects of these policies.
In view of the important effects that export restrictions have on trade, the Secretariat has continued to monitor their developments, and a document (CCP: ME/HS 01/4) updating and describing the restrictions presently in force will be circulated.
In order to assist developing countries to improve the exports of their hides, skins and leather, the Secretariat will circulate document (CCP: ME/HS 01/5) reviewing the importing countries' requirements which developing countries have to meet for raw hides and skins and leather. This document will be prepared with assistance from European importers, particularly the Italian Tanners Association (UNIC).
The Sub-Group with the assistance of document (CCP: ME/HS 01/6) will review the developments of the hides and skins sector over the last decade and may wish to consider changes likely to occur in the industry in the future. Delegates are invited to present brief statements on market, policy, and other developments which will affect the hides and skins economy in their respective countries. On the basis of this information, the Sub-Group may wish to review its development strategy for hides and skins in developing countries adopted at its Fourth Session in Rome in 1994 (CCP: ME/HS 94/8) in order to ensure its continuing relevance.
The Sub-Group on Hides and Skins is a designated International Commodity Body (ICB) under the rules of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and in this role it has promoted projects on hides and skins. The Secretariat will circulate a note (CCP: ME/HS 01/7) which provides details on CFC project activities. The project on "Raw Hides and Skins Grading and Pricing Systems in selected African countries" was initiated in September 1999, and the Sub-Group, as Supervisory Body, is required to review progress and report its assessment to the Common Fund. In addition, the Sub-Group will be informed of progress with regard to a project proposal on "Adding Value to African Leather: Improvement of Leather products' manufacturing in selected COMESA countries" which was recently submitted to the Fund.
The Sub-Group may wish to review any additional project profiles submitted for its consideration. Such proposals should reach the Secretary as soon as possible but not later than 20 May 2001.
At its Fifth Session, the Sub-Group requested that efforts be made to improve the trade classification and nomenclature system to better reflect the composition of the trade in hides, skins and leather. A note (CCP: ME/HS 01/8) will be circulated outlining revisions which have been accepted by the Customs Cooperation Council for the modification of chapter 41 of the international trade classification.
The CCP is to further review the role of the intergovernmental commodity groups at its 63rd Session in March 2001. The Sub-Group will be informed of the CCP's conclusions, in the light of which it may wish to review its own role and functions.
Monday, 4 June | 10.00 hours: 14.30 hours: |
Opening of Sub-Group on Hides and Skins Items I A, I B; II A, II B Items II B, II C |
Tuesday, 5 June | 10.00 hours: 14.30 hours |
Items III A, III B, III C Items IV A, IV B, IV C |
Wednesday, 6 June | Free morning | |
Wednesday, 6 June | 14.30 hours | IV D |