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Second Meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture acting as the Interim Committee for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

15-19 November 2004, Rome, Italy
faologo



 Earth Negotiations Bulletin - ENB
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 Tue 16
  Fri 19 &
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Highlights for Tuesday, 16 November 2004

Delegates to the second session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) acting as Interim Committee for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) held regional consultations and met in a brief plenary session in the morning. In an afternoon and evening session, delegates addressed the draft rules of procedure for the Governing Body. A Chair’s text on the terms of reference for a contact group on the standard MTA was circulated in the evening. Above photo: Chair Bryan Harvey, Clive Stannard and Martin Smith (CGRFA)
 

  Organization of work : 



Delegates nominated Elizabeth Matos (Angola) (Above center) as Vice-Chair, and approved the agenda, noting that work should continue in Plenary with a flexible time schedule.


In the morning, following regional consultations, delegates met in a brief Plenary session. Upon a request by Colombia, on behalf of G-77/CHINA, they decided to adjourn the meeting to allow for additional time for the group to meet. Above photo: Modesto Fernández (Cuba) (center) in consultation with GRULAC delegates from Ecuador and Uruguay.


Draft rules of procedure for the Governing Body: 



Chair Harvey introduced the draft rules of procedure for the ITPGR Governing Body.


CANADA noted that the draft rules are based on the rules of procedure of the FAO Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, and suggested their careful revision for application in an independent treaty such as the ITPGR. Above photo L-R: Campbell Davidson and Marie-Joseé Rhéaume (Canada)



JAPAN said the rules of procedure should be consistent with Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. Above photo: Hideo Inamoto (Japan)


AUSTRALIA called for aligning references to FAO with ITPGR provisions. Above photo: Kristianne Herrmann and Bill Roberts (Australia)



CUBA called for giving the Governing Body a greater weight in the rules of procedure. Modesto Fernández (Cuba)


The Netherlands, on behalf of the European Community and its Member States (EU), suggested aligning the rules of procedure with those of recently adopted international agreements on agriculture, environment and development issues. René Lefeber (The Netherlands on behalf of the EU)

RULE VI (VOTING PROCEDURES):


The US stressed the need for decision making by consensus, while leaving a voting option open. Above photo: Kathryn Youel Page (US)


The EU stressed reference to ITPGR Articles 19.4 and 19.6 on voting rights. Above photo: Hans Hoogeven (The Netherlands on behalf of the EU)



Brazil called for clarifying what constituted another method of decision-making according to ITPGR Article 19.2. Above photo: Maria Angelica Ikeda (Brazil)


ERITREA cautioned against re-opening Treaty language and reiterated the need to keep the majority-voting option open in the text. Above photo: Yohannes Tensue (Eritrea)


ENB ITPGR SNAPSHOTS: 


Above photos L-R: Abdur Razzaque (Bangladesh), Godfrey Mwila (Zambia) and Maryam Moussa (Egypt)


Above photos L-R: Ty Channa (Cambodia), Chair Brian Harvey and Jose Esquinas Alcazar, CGRFA Secretary, and Flavio M. Perry (Brazil) and Noel de Luna (The Philippines)


Above photos L-R: Álvaro Toledo (CGRFA)in discussion with ENB writer Elsa Tsioumani, Delegates from Malaysia and the  Philippines in consultation during a break in plenary and Fernando La Torre (UK) with ENB writers Elsa Tsioumani and Elisa Morgera.