Convention for the Establishment of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization

 

Article I

ORGANIZATION

There shall be established a European and Mediterranean Plant
Protection Organization (hereinafter referred to as the Organization),
which takes over the assets and liabilities of the above mentioned
Committee and Working Party.

Article II

DEFINITION

For the purpose of the present Convention the term “plants and plant
products”means “living plants and parts of plants unmanufactured
materials of plant origin, and food products milled from plants and
parts of plants”.

Article III

MEMBERSHIP

a) Membership of the Organization shall be open to the following by
adherence to the present Convention according to the provisions of
Article XX:

l. the Governments of the countries in Schedule III

2. the Government of any other country which the Council of the
Organization may decide to invite to become a member

b) The Government of any territory about which a declaration has been
made under the terms of Article XXI may be admitted to membership by
the Council of the Organization, but only on the proposal of the Member
who made the declaration. Any such decision shall require a two-thirds
majority of the votes cast. Territories so admitted shall be such as
can in the opinion of the Council make a definite and individual
contribution to the work of the Organization.

Article IV

SEAT

a) The seat of the Organization shall be in Paris.

b) Meetings of the Organization shall normally take place at its seat.

Article V

FUNCTIONS

a) The functions of the Organization shall be:

1) to act, in agreement with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, as a recognised regional plant
protection organisation under Article VIII of the International Plant
Protection Convention of 6 December 1951;

2) to advise Member Governments on the technical, administrative and
legislative measures necessary to prevent the introduction and spread
of pests and diseases of plants and plant products;

3) to assist Member Governments where necessary in carrying out such
measures;

4) where practicable, to co-ordinate and stimulate international
campaigns against pests and diseases of plants and plant products;

5) to obtain information from Member Governments on the existence,
outbreak and spread of pests and diseases of plants and plant products,
and convey such information to Member Governments;

6) to provide for the exchange of information on national phytosanitary
legislation, or other measures affecting the free movements of plants
and plant products;

7) to study the possibility of simplification and unification of
phytosanitary regulations and certificates;

8) to facilitate co-operation in research on the pests and diseases of
plants and plant products and the methods of control and in the
exchange of relevant scientific information;

9) to establish a documentation service and publish in an appropriate
form material for publicity purposes or for technical or scientific
advancement as may be determined by the
Organization;

10) to make recommendations to Member Governments or any of the matters
referred to in this Article;

11) generally to take all necessary and appropriate action to achieve
the purposes of the Organization.

b) The functions of the Organization shall be related principally but
not exclusively to the pests and diseases specified in Schedule II.

Article VI

OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBER GOVERNMENTS

Member Governments shall furnish to the Organization so far as is
practicable such information as the Organization may reasonably require
in order to carry out its functions.

Article VII

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

The Organization shall co-operate with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations and with other bodies with related
responsibilities and shall use its best endeavours to prevent
overlapping of activities.

Article VIII

STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION

The Organization shall consist of:

a) the Council;

b) the administration, comprising the Executive Committee, the
Director-General and the staff;

c) the Accounts Veritification Panel;

d) the technical bodies (working parties and international
conferences).

Article IX

THE COUNCIL

a) The Council of the Organization shall consist of
representatives of Member Governments.

Each Member Government shall be entitled to appoint one
representative to the Council and one alternate.

Representatives and alternates appointed by Member Governments may be
accompanied by associates and advisers.

b) Each Member Government shall have one vote in the Council.

Article X

SESSIONS OF THE COUNCIL

a) The Council shall ordinarily meet in regular session once in each
year.

b) Extraordinary sessions of the Council shall be called at any time
when the Chairman is so requested in writing by at least one third of
the Member Governments.

Article XI

RULES

The Council shall establish its Rules of Procedure and the financial
Rules of the Organization.

Article XII

OBSERVERS

With the consent of the Council, any nonmember Government and any
international body whose responsibilities are related to those of the
Organization may be represented at any session of the Council by one
or more observers without the right to vote.

Article XIII

FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL

The Council shall:

a) consider and decide upon the progress report of the
Director-General on the work of the Organization since the preceding
regular session of the Council;

b) consider and approve the policies and programme of activity of the
Organization;

c) consider and approve the budget;

d) consider and approve the annual accounts and balance-sheet;

e) set up the ad hoc or permanent technical bodies;

f) consider and decide upon the reports of such technical bodies;

g) hold the statutory elections;

h) appoint the Director-General on such terms as it may determine;

i) decide upon any proposals submitted by the Executive Committee.

 

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Convention for the Establishment of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization 2, Conventions: Chronological Index 1951-1970, Other Environmental conventions, country.