7
- 2 -
on based
the consequent decisions
the IPFC are to the Basic Texts of IPFC at the 17th Session in
and
of functions structure taken including amendments
1976.
Legal Basis
4.
a
The Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council was established in 1948 under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution in terms of which a body of this type can be established by an international agreement prepared by Member Nations specific geographical area, approved by the FAO Conference and submitted for
name It changed its the consideration of Member Nations.
to Indo-Pacific While the IPFC, as a body Fishery Commission at its 17th Session in 1975. created by an international agreement, is
an entity distinct from FAO, it is since it was established by and functions not independent of the latter, within the framework of FAO.
5. Bodies established by agreements concluded under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution belong to one of three categories: (i) bodies entirely financed may undertake cooperative by FAO; (ii) bodies financed by FAO and which
(iii) bodies financed by FAO and which projects financed by their members;
It may have also an autonomous budget. IPFC belongs to the second category. be noted that subsequent to the establishment of IPFC, the FAO Conference at its Ninth Session in 1957 emphasized that the creation of a body under Article XIV is justified only if the agreement envisages acceptance by Member Nations the of precise obligations going beyond mere participation in the work of body, and includes financial and other obligations going beyond those already assumed under the Constitution of the Organization.
6.
At the 17th Session of IPFC in 1976, a proposal of the IPFC Executive Committee that IPFC, in addition to the administration expenses borne by FAO, should have both a separate budget based on mandatory membership contributions and a regional voluntary fund to which countries, bilateral and international funding agencies and other interested parties could contribute, was submitted ·
The proposal to the Commission but could not be discussed at that session. was however, resubmitted and extensively discussed at the 18th Session in 1978 after which it was agreed that the idea of an autonomous budget should be kept alive and examined further. Subsequently, however, in 1978 the IPFC Executive Committee decided not to pursue the matter further, mainly because the member countries showed very little interest in participating in such a scheme.
been
the
Health
It ma y be noted that less ambitious budgetary arrangements have adopted in the region by the members of another FAO regional body in Asia/Pacific region, namely
Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific (APHCA).
8.
the
external
Animal Production
and
The Secretariat of this Commission is housed in the building of the FAO Its budget is relatively Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. low. For 1987 it consisted of US$ 46 250 contributed by member countries and US$ 23 750 of saving from the previous years. It is mainly used to pay the
of
consultants, salary
travels,
general two clerks,
printing, operating expenses and fellowships. For its part, the Regular Programme of FAO is funding the post of the part-time Secretary (P-5, 6 m/m) a Livestock Officer (P-3, 12 m/m), one typist, two assistants (G-6, 24 m/m), stationery, office equipment and fellowships for a total of US$ 140 775. total was therefore US$ 210 775 per year.
9.
In addition
to this, the
a Commission created
full-time
The
National Currency Fund
(NCF) which is financed in local currency by member countries and is used to