RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/AG/GEN/20
24March 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1172)
Original: English Committee onAgriculture
COMMUNICATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OFTHE
INTERNATIONAL GRAINS COUNCIL PRESENTED TOTHE 19-20 MARCH 1998
MEETING OFTHE COMMITTEE ONAGRICULTURE (PART II,AGENDA ITEM A(ii))
Iampleased toprovide youwithanupdate onthere-negotiation oftheFood AidConvention
1995aspartofthefollow-up totheSingapore Ministerial recommendations relating tofoodaidmatters.
Since thelastmeeting oftheCommittee onAgriculture, members oftheFood AidCommittee
(Argentina, Australia, Canada, theEuropean Community anditsmember States, Japan, Norway,
Switzerland andtheUnited States) formally decided toopen theFood AidConvention 1995 for
re-negotiation. They haveestablished aWorking Group forthispurpose andextended thelifeofthe
current Convention byoneyearto30June1999.
FAC members 'decision tore-negotiate theFAC 1995 reflects theirdesire tomaintain this
form ofinternational co-operation insupport ofdeveloping countries inneed offoodaid,while
undertaking amajor review oftherolethatfoodaidcanbestplayinthecontext ofthefoodsecurity
andtradeliberalization objectives under theWTO andtheWorld Food Summit Action Plan. Members
hopethatthisreview willcontribute toenhancing theeffectiveness andtheimpact offoodaid.
TheFAC Working Group haditsfirstmeeting on11-12 February 1998. Itsnextmeetings
willtakeplace on24-25 March and6-7May1998. Progress made inthenegotiations willbereviewed
bytheFood AidCommittee itself, atitsregular session scheduled for18-19 June1998.
Atitsfirstmeeting, theWorking Group began consideration ofmembers 'detailed proposals
forchanges totheexisting Convention inthefollowing areas:
-theobjectives ofanewConvention;
-basic principles andcriteria fortheconduct offoodaidtransactions;
-thelistofeligible recipients;
-thetargeting offoodaidtothose most inneed;
-theproducts tobesupplied;
-thebearing ofthetransportation costs forfoodaidshipments;
-facilitating localandtriangular transactions;
-theimpact offoodaidonfoodproduction ofrecipients andtherelationship totheirfood
security strategies;
-donor co-ordination; and
-information andreporting requirements.
./.G/AG/GEN/20
Page2
Asyouwillsee,theprocess toreview theFood AidConvention 1995isunder wayinearnest.
FAC members wishtomaintain, asappropriate, adialogue withfoodaidrecipients, potential FAC
members andrelevant international organizations. Inthisregard, atitsmeeting nextweek, theWorking
Group willexplore further withWFP representatives certain suggestions made inrespect ofways to
improve foodaideffectiveness aswellasfoodaidcriteria.
Should theWTO wishtohaveanopportunity topursue anyspecific issues ingreater detail
withFAC members, Iwould bepleased toseektoarrange it.
__________