Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME3594
2002-07-22 12:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

FAO INVOKES HELMS-BIDEN IN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON

Tags:  AORC ETRD EAGR ECON FAO WHO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003594 

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

PARIS FOR OECD
STATE FOR EB HANS KLEMM, IO/S PODOLSKY AND IO/EDA JOHNSON
USDA FOR DR. TOM BILLY, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY
AND STEVE HAWKINS, USDA/FSIS/ICS
USDA/FSIS/CODEX FOR ED SCARBROUGH
FDA/CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY, CATHY CARNEVALE
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ETRD EAGR ETRD EAGR ECON FAO WHO ECON AORC FAO WHO
SUBJECT: FAO INVOKES HELMS-BIDEN IN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON
FAO/WHO CODEX EVALUATION


UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 03594 01 OF 02 221223Z
REF: A) SECSTATE 110496; B) ROME 3324

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003594

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

PARIS FOR OECD
STATE FOR EB HANS KLEMM, IO/S PODOLSKY AND IO/EDA JOHNSON
USDA FOR DR. TOM BILLY, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY
AND STEVE HAWKINS, USDA/FSIS/ICS
USDA/FSIS/CODEX FOR ED SCARBROUGH
FDA/CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY, CATHY CARNEVALE
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ETRD EAGR ETRD EAGR ECON FAO WHO ECON AORC FAO WHO
SUBJECT: FAO INVOKES HELMS-BIDEN IN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON
FAO/WHO CODEX EVALUATION


UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 03594 01 OF 02 221223Z
REF: A) SECSTATE 110496; B) ROME 3324


1. SUMMARY. THE FAO'S DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM BUDGET AND
EVALUATION RESPONDED AT LENGTH IN WRITING TO THE U.S.
DEMARCHE (REFTEL B) ON THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE FAO/WHO
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION. OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS HIS
COMMENT: "I DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY THE U.S. SHOULD
REQUEST AN EVALUATION WHICH IS LIMITED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS...THIS WOULD NOT SEEM IN LINE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THE HELMS-BIDEN LEGISLATION WHICH CALLS ON THE
UN SYSTEM TO EVALUATE ALL PROGRAMS WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING
THEIR CONTINUING "RELEVANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS" AND FOR THEIR
TERMINATION IN THE EVENT THAT THEY DO NOT MEET THIS
CRITERIA." END SUMMARY.


2. THE FAO'S DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM BUDGET AND EVALUATION,
TONY WADE, RESPONDED AT LENGTH IN WRITING TO THE U.S.
DEMARCHE (REFTEL B) ON THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE FAO/WHO
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION. THE FULL TEXT OF HIS
RESPONSE IS GIVEN BELOW.


3. BEGIN TEXT.

JULY 15, 2002

DEAR MS. HEILEMAN,

I REFER TO OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ON THE EVALUATION OF
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS AND OTHER FAO AND WHO WORK IN FOOD
STANDARDS, INCLUDING MY E-MAIL IN PARTICULAR, TO YOUR FAX OF
25 JUNE 2002. WE MUCH APPRECIATE THE INTEREST THAT THE US
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PAGE 03 ROME 03594 01 OF 02 221223Z
AND MANY OTHER MEMBER COUNTRIES WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

ARE TAKING ON THIS EVALUATION, WHICH GREATLY UNDERLINES ITS
IMPORTANCE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXTENT TO WHICH CODEX
REFLECTS DIRECTLY ON NATIONAL INTEREST HAS MEANT THAT WE
HAVE HAD TO INSIST QUITE STRONGLY ON THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE
EVALUATION FROM ANY ONE COUNTRY OR INTEREST GROUP. THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBER COUNTRIES TO DISCUSS AND ACT ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE EXTENSIVE IN THE FAO AND WHO
GOVERNING BODIES AND IN CODEX ITSELF.

HOWEVER I DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY THE US SHOULD REQUEST
AN EVALUATION WHICH IS LIMITED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS. IN OUR VIEW, THIS WOULD NOT SEEM TO BE
IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE HELMS-BIDEN LEGISLATION
WHICH CALLS ON THE UN SYSTEM TO EVALUATE ALL PROGRAMS WITH A
VIEW TO ENSURING THEIR "CONTINUING RELEVANCE AND
EFFECTIVENESS" AND FOR THEIR TERMINATION IN THE EVENT THAT
THEY DO NOT MEET THIS CRITERIA. IN POSING QUESTIONS ON THE
PROGRAM PRIORITIES AND MODALITIES, THE EVALUATION DOES NOT
PREJUDGE THE CONCLUSIONS TO BE DRAWN.

IT IS PERHAPS ALSO WORTH BEARING IN MIND THAT, IF THE
EVALUATION HAD NOT ADOPTED THIS HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE AND HAD
INSTEAD FOCUSED NARROWLY ON CODEX, IT WOULD HAVE EXCLUDED
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES SUCH AS THE CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS OF
DEVELOPING MEMBER COUNTRIES TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THEIR
PEOPLE, MEET EXPORT REQUIREMENTS OF IMPORTING COUNTRIES AND
PARTICIPATE IN CODEX ITSELF.

THE FINAL POINT OF THE US AID-MEMOIR, EXPRESSES THE
EXPECTATION THAT THE EVALUATION WILL LEAD TO WHO PROVIDING
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PAGE 04 ROME 03594 01 OF 02 221223Z
INCREASED RESOURCES FOR CODEX. IN OUR VIEW THIS REINFORCES
THE NEED FOR A FULL EVALUATION. FOR BOTH FAO AND WHO IT IS
CLEAR THAT FOR AN EVALUATION TO JUSTIFY RESOURCE CHANGES, IT
NEEDS TO TAKE A FUNDAMENTAL LOOK AT THE USEFULNESS OF A
PROGRAM TO ALL MEMBER COUNTRIES.

I THEREFORE HAVE TO ADVISE THAT THE EVALUATION TERMS OF
REFERENCE CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO REFOCUS IT AS SOLELY A
MANAGEMENT STUDY. HOWEVER, AS DISCUSSED WHEN THE EVALUATION
TEAM VISITED WASHINGTON, AT THE FAO PROGRAM COMMITTEE AND
NOW IN THE CODEX EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THE EVALUATION WILL
DEFINITELY INCLUDE THE EXAMINATION OF MANAGEMENT AND
ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND PROCEDURES IN CODEX AND, IN
FACT, THE CHECK LIST OF POINTS PROVIDED BY THE US IN
"ELEMENTS OF AN APPROPRIATE CODEX MANAGEMENT STUDY" IS
HELPFUL IN THIS REGARD.

IN SOME AREAS THE EVALUATION MAY RAISE BASIC QUESTIONS ON
TYPES OF STANDARDS TO BE DEVELOPED, OR ON THE INSTITUTIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH MANY BE REQUIRED. THESE ARE MATTERS ON

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0087

PAGE 01 ROME 03594 02 OF 02 221224Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 ANHR-00 EB-00 UTED-00 HHS-01 TEDE-00
IO-00 OIC-02 STR-00 TEST-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- CE727E 221224Z /38
R 221222Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5004
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
USDA FAS WASHDC 2230

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 003594

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

PARIS FOR OECD
STATE FOR EB HANS KLEMM, IO/S PODOLSKY AND IO/EDA JOHNSON
USDA FOR DR. TOM BILLY, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY
AND STEVE HAWKINS, USDA/FSIS/ICS
USDA/FSIS/CODEX FOR ED SCARBROUGH
FDA/CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY, CATHY CARNEVALE
USTR FOR RICHARD WHITE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ETRD EAGR ETRD EAGR ECON FAO WHO ECON AORC FAO WHO
SUBJECT: FAO INVOKES HELMS-BIDEN IN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON
FAO/WHO CODEX EVALUATION

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 03594 02 OF 02 221224Z
WHICH THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND THE FAO AND WHO
GOVERNING BODIES WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS BEFORE DETAILED
CHANGES CAN BE APPROVED.

WE ARE AWARE THAT THE CONSULTATION WITH MEMBERS ON THE TERMS
OF REFERENCE FELL SHORT OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS. THERE CAN
ALWAYS BE GREATER CONSULTATION AND IN THIS CASE MORE WOULD
CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN DESIRABLE. HOWEVER, WE ARE WORKING UNDER
SEVERE TIME CONSTRAINTS TO COMPLETE THE MAIN WORK OF THE
EVALUATION IN LINE WITH THE MEETING SCHEDULE OF THE
GOVERNING BODIES. A HIGHLY CONSULTATIVE APPROACH IS BEING
FOLLOWED IN THE WORK OF THE EVALUATION THROUGH
QUESTIONNAIRES TO ALL COUNTRIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AS
WELL AS EXTENSIVE COUNTRY VISITS. TWENTY-FOUR COUNTRIES
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND THE EU COMMISSION ARE INVOLVED
(AFRICA: COTE D'IVOIRE, MOZAMBIQUE, SENEGAL, SOUTH AFRICA,
TANZANIA; THE AMERICAS: ARGENTINA CANADA, COSTA RICA,
MEXICO, USA; ASIA PACIFIC: AUSTRALIA, BANGLADESH, FIJI,
INDIA, JAPAN, PHILIPPINES, THAILAND; EUROPE: EU, FRANCE,
NETHERLANDS, HUNGARY, SWITZERLAND; NEAR EAST: EGYPT AND
JORDAN).

AS YOU KNOW, THE EVALUATION WAS DISCUSSED AT THE CODEX
ALIMENTARIUS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON 26 JUNE. THIS GAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS TO ADDRESS THE WIDE RANGE OF THEIR
CONCERNS. THE SECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
ADDRESSING THE EVALUATION ITEM IS ANNEXED FOR YOUR EASE OF
REFERENCE. YOU WILL SEE THAT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
WELCOMED THE EVALUATION AND THE RESPONSES MADE BY FAO AND
WHO ON ENSURING REGIONAL REPRESENTATION IN THE INDEPENDENT
EXPERT PANEL. MEMBERS ALSO RAISED ISSUES THAT WOULD
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PAGE 03 ROME 03594 02 OF 02 221224Z
CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESS OF THE EVALUATION AND ITS
EVENTUAL OUTCOME. AT THE SAME TIME THE REPORT DOES REFLECT
CERTAIN OF YOUR CONCERNS, INCLUDING AN EMPHASIS OF SCIENCE-
BASED CODEX STANDARDS AND THAT CONSIDERATION OF CULTURAL AND
ETHICAL ISSUES SHOULD NOT SIDE-LINE THE MAJOR AIMS OF THE
EVALUATION. WITHOUT PRE-JUDGING THE EVALUATION, IT WOULD NOT
BE TOO SURPRISING IF THE EVALUATION FINDINGS WERE TO CONFIRM
THE VIEW THAT THESE ISSUES ARE NOT OF CENTRAL IMPORTANCE TO
CODEX.

PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT WITH DUE REGARD TO THE INDEPENDENCE
OF THE EVALUATION, FAO AND ITS PARTNER WHO WILL BE INSISTING
ON EVIDENCE-BASED FINDINGS FROM THE EVALUATION WHICH TAKE
FULL ACCOUNT OF MEMBERS' VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE
QUESTIONNAIRES AND COUNTRY VISITS. WE WILL ALSO BE LOOKING
TO THE EVALUATION FOR REALISTIC AND OPERATIONAL
RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH WILL HELP US STRENGTHEN FAO AND WHO
SERVICES TO MEMBER COUNTRIES IN THE AREAS OF FOOD SAFETY AND
RELATED ISSUES OF THE APPLICATION OF STANDARDS IN TRADE.

WE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER FURTHER AT
YOUR CONVENIENCE AND HAVE COPIED OUR REPLY TO WHO SINCE THEY
RECEIVED A SIMILAR LETTER FROM THE US MISSION IN GENEVA.

YOURS SINCERELY,

TONY WADE
DIRECTOR
OFFICE PROGRAM BUDGET AND EVALUATION.

TAMLYN
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 03594 02 OF 02 221224Z

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002ROME03594 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED