TNAG-2110-FCO40-3009-Hong-Kong-participation-in-international-organisations-1990 — Page 257

AT

PANIS

لمتحدة

لاخ

الأغذية والزراعة

منظمة

联合国粮食及农业组织

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

ORGANISATION DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L'ALIMENTATION ET L'AGRICULTURE

ORGANIZACION DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS

PARA LA AGRICULTURA Y LA ALIMENTACION

APRC/90/6

March 1990

TWENTIETH REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Beijing, China, 23 27 April 1990

Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region Membership of China: Coming into force of Amendment to Article I(a) of the Agreement

I.

1.

INTRODUCTION

The Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region was approved by the FAO Council in November 1955 under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. The geographical scope of the Agreement is defined in Article I(a). China was not a member of FAO at the time the Agreement was approved and was not included in the geographical scope.

2.

China resumed its membership in FAO on 1 April 1973 and subsequently expressed its desire to become a party to the Agreement. However, this was not possible under the definition of the geographical scope. It was, therefore, necessary to prepare and approve an amendment to this definition. In 1983, on the proposal of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission, the FAO Council approved an amendment to Article I(a), extending the geographical scope of the Agreement to include China.

3.

For the amendment to Article I(a) to come into force, it must be accepted by two-thirds (i.e. 16) of the Contracting Governments. To date, only 7 have deposited instruments of acceptance; 9 more acceptances are still required. China has expressed a keen desire to become a member of the Agreement and has reiterated this on several occasions. Since progress in obtaining the required number of acceptances has been slower than expected, the last FAO Conference urged the Member Nations concerned to accept the amendment. A more expeditious solution must thus be found for bringing the amendment into force. The Twentieth Session of the Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific would appear to be a proper occasion to do so.

W/Z5803/c