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Economic analysis

Recommendations and Suggestions on Points Affecting the Program of Work within the Approved Budget for the Biennium 1966-61

273. The Conference recognized that FAO was called upon to provide a worldwide analysis of agricultural development, and that trends and policies in the developed regions were of great importance in themselves and because of their influence on the export and import situation of the developing regions. The Conference supported the increasing attention being given to the significance for development of agricultural industries, including both industries processing agricultural products and the auxiliary industries manufacturing agricultural requisites, and noted that a special chapter on this question would appear in the 1966 State of Food and Agriculture and that papers on the same subject were in preparation for presentation to other forums.

274. The Conference took note of the Division's plan to prepare for the FAO regional conferences. in 1966, Jointly with the FAQ/IBRD Co-operative Program, a study on sources of finance for agricultural development, and suggested that consideration might be given later to expanding this study Into a handbook.

275. The Conference stressed the importance of a continuing close relation between the FAO work on marketing and on agricultural co-operatives.

276. The Conference endorsed the recommendations of technical conferences and training centers held in the Near East and Africa to establish marketing commissions or working parties for those regions to facilitate the improvement of marketing methods and organization and the development of intraregional trade, provided this could be done within the limits of the approved divisional budget. (See para. 280.)

277. The Conference, noting the close working relations between the Organization and the United Nations Regional Development and Planning Institutes in the field of training for agricultural development planning, recommended that:

278. The Conference recommended that the Director-General should incorporate the Regular Program Technical Assistance into the continuing program of the Organization in 1966-67, since the work had proved of value and since this would facilitate the recruitment of qualified staff.

Recommendations and Suggestions on Future Trends beyond the Biennium 1966-67

279. The Conference noted the value of the growing technical assistance and operational programs of the Division, but considered that, to be fully effective, these programs had to continue to be based on the regular program of analysis and basic studies. In order to ensure that there were adequate resources available for the essential analytical work, the Conference recommended that the Director-General consider strengthening the Division in the work program for 1968-69.

280. The Conference recommended that, if funds were not available in 1966-67 for the setting up of marketing commissions or working parties in the Near East and Africa, mentioned in para. 276 above, the Director-General should give consideration to the provision of finance for this purpose in the 1968-69 Program of Work and Budget.

281. The Conference noted that the applications for participation in the 1965 Training Course onAgricultural Development Planning had far exceeded the number of fellowships available, and recommended that the Course be made annual as from the 1968-69 biennium.

Rural institutions and services

Recommendations and Suggestions on Points affecting the Program of Work within the Approved Budget for the Biennium 1906-67

282. The Conference noted that comprehensive plans for technical education and training, embracing all levels and areas of specialization in food and agriculture, were essential for effective and economical use of resources in preparing farmers, foresters, fishermen, and the technicians, scientists and administrators who serve them, for an active role in agricultural development.

283. The Conference having endorsed the proposed strengthening of youth activities, emphasized that the most urgent need of many developing countries was for practical agricultural education and training programs with particular emphasis on intermediate levels, i. e. the training of technicians in the wide range of skills needed to implement development projects and to train farmers, their wives and youth in new methods and improved techniques. The Conference therefore recommended that bath the Organization and Member Governments place more emphasis on training of this kind.

284. The Conference noted that agricultural extension had assumed great importance in the light of the rapidly proceeding change from a subsistence to a market economy in most developing countries. This required a readiness to abandon traditional attitudes and to accept now concepts of agricultural production and farm management (see also para. 44).

285. The Conference recognized that a sound organizational structure for the proper administration of all services essential to agricultural development should stress the need for an integrated approach involving all principal aspects of agricultural Improvement, research, education and training, extension, land tenure reform, credit, marketing and farm supplies.

286. The Conference further noted that farming progress and the full mobilization of human resources were greatly dependent upon the improvement of general education in rural areas including literacy pro,-,rams, and that general education subjects Including the basic sciences were the indispensable basis for technical education and training in agriculture. In many developing countries the quality of general education in rural areas was such that Intelligent young people who could render valuable service in farming progress and agricultural development through further vocational, technical, and professional training were denied the opportunity to do so, and in a considerable number of developing countries it was primarily the urban youth who had the educational qualifications to enter agricultural training institutions at the middle and higher levels. Agricultural services were thus often staffed with persons lacking knowledge of farmers and the rural environment, and the practical skills necessary to translate the findings of research Into improved farm practice.

287. The Conference considered that the activities of international agencies supporting national programs were essentially complementary, each making Its specific contribution to the achievement of a common goal, and that their efforts should be co-ordinated so that international support would have the maximum effect at the national level. It stressed that technical education and training in food and agriculture at the higher and intermediate levels, as well as agricultural extension and farmer training, were matters for which FAO, within the United Nations system, must continue to assume leadership and major responsibility.

288. The Conference noted with concern in this connection that the Organization had not always been able to fulfil Its complete responsibilities for agricultural education, as, despite the existing Agreement with Unesco the desired co-ordination of programs had not been achieved. This had, in some cases, deprived governments of valuable complementary experience accumulated in the two agencies and had led to duplication and contradictory practices in the rendering of assistance in this important field.

289. The Conference requested the Director-General to discuss this question with the Director-General of Unesco, with a view to finding ways for developing more effective co-ordinating arrangements which, through effective co-operation at all levels, would enable FAO fully to discharge its responsibilities in the field of agricultural education within the framework of the FAO/ Unesco Agreement relating to this area of work. In this connection, the Conference noted that the Agreement provided for co-ordination between the two Organizations in relation to both agricultural and general education. Furthermore, the Conference noted the need for full co-ordination within countries among ministries concerned with agricultural and general education, thus ensuring that governments take the same positions in the governing bodies of both FAO and Unesco.

290. The Conference therefore requested the Director-General to strengthen assistance to MemberGovernments in developing agricultural education, training and extension programs, organizations and institutions.

291. The Conference recommended that the length of FAO training courses and seminars be adjusted so that participants would be able to assimilate the practical skills and training in methodology that constituted the subject matter of the courses. The Conference further suggested that seminars on land policy and settlement should be held at more frequent intervals than in the past.

292. The Conference recommended that Member Governments should prepare comprehensive plans for technical education and training at all levels, and in all areas of specialization in food and agriculture, and should ensure that such plans were Included in, or appropriately related to, agricultural development plans so as to ensure productive employment for those educated and trained.

293. The Conference recognized the urgent need for a sustained effort in the field of co-operatives and in complementary services, to ensure an integrated approach. It recommended that the Director General consider the possibilities of even, further increase in the professional staff assigned to the field of co-operatives, should savings prove possible elsewhere in the program of the Rural Institutions and Services Division during the next biennium. The Conference considered that the selection and design of studies in fields such as co-operatives, land tenure and land settlement be properly related to the requirements of action programs.

294. The Conference took note of the considerable experience gained in land reform and land administration in various countries, and recommended that in studying these subjects, special attention should be paid to administrative organization, to the problems of financing land reform and to advisory, legal and social measures. The Conference welcomed the forthcoming World Land Reform Conference and requested the Director-General to consider taking the necessary steps to establish commissions on land tenure and reform in the developing regions to collect and disseminate, in co-operation with the Member Governments of the regions, appropriate information and findings in this field. (See also paras. 46, 215 and 383.)

295. The Conference considered that in the application of resources for agricultural research in the developing countries greater emphasis should be laid on applied research specifically related to the problems of development, and that FAO should continue to encourage regional co-operation and coordination in the conduct of such studies and in the utilization of the results therefrom by neighboring countries with similar agro-ecological conditions. In this connection, the Conference noted the importance of achieving close co-ordination between FAO and Unesco on matters relating to agricultural research along the lines envisioned in agricultural education, as outlined in para. 289 above.

296. The Conference recognized the need to consider agricultural education and training in Africa relation to general education, and urged the Organization and Member Governments to make every effort to ensure the fullest co-ordination of programs in these fields.

297. The Conference felt that the particular nature of the Special Program for Agricultural Education and Training in Africa made It difficult to carry It out adequately on a temporary basis. It therefore recommended that it be integrated within the continuing Program of Work and Budget at the earliest possible opportunity within the ensuing biennium.

298. The Conference invite the Director-General to consider the possibility of carrying out a comparative study of the programs, certificates, degrees, etc., of international and national agricultural educational institutions, with a view to avoiding any misunderstanding through the use of similar designations for widely differing academic degrees. The Conference suggested that Unesco and the International Association of Universities be approached in order that they complete and bring up to date the Information compiled by the Association some years ago in answer to a request by FAO.

Recommendations and Suggestions on Future Trends beyond the Biennium 1966-67

299. The Conference noted that greater demands for assistance in the improvement of human resources and social institutions and in the organization of administrative services and research programs were likely to be made in the future. It therefore recommended that the Director-General give consideration to the further strengthening of these aspects of the Rural Institutions and Services Division's work, and in particular the fields of intermediate agricultural education, the training of farmers and their families and the establishment and strengthening of co-operatives and land reform. Should it not prove possible to strengthen the professional staff assigned to work on co-operatives during the 1966-67 biennium, this should then be given primary consideration in future programs.

300. The Conference endorsed Recommendation 4/64 of the Seventh FAO Regional Conference for the Near East and urged the Director-General to establish a Commission on Food and AgriculturalEducation and Extension in the Near East region at the earliest possible time, on the understanding that the Member Governments concerned would be responsible for the expenditures incurred through attendance at such a Commission.

301. The Conference further endorse Recommendation 5/64 of the Seventh FAO Regional Conference for the Near East, and requested the Director-General to take the necessary steps to provide the essential specialized services to evaluate the present and future situation with regard to the supply and demand of qualified personnel at all levels in the fields of food and agriculture.

Statistics

Recommendations and Suggestions on Points Affecting the Program of Work within the Approved Budget for the Biennium 1966-67

302. The Conference stressed the need of many developing countries for technical and material assistance for participating in the 1970 World Census of Agriculture. Attention was drawn to the need for training personnel at higher levels which should serve as a means of further training, and the possibility of establishing regional institutes for research and training in agricultural statistics. This should not be limited to agricultural census methods but cover the entire field of agricultural statistics. Particular attention should be given to organizing such training courses for Africa.

303. The Conference invited the Director-General to discuss with the United Nations Special Fund the Possibility of the Fund helping to finance such institutes.

304. The Conference also recommended that the Director-General Investigate the possibility of appointing regional census advisers, as was done for promoting the 1960 World Census of Agriculture in Asia and the Far East, under a grant from the Ford Foundation.

305. The Conference considered that in further programing work for the Census, particular attention should be given to the co-ordination of the sections Employment in Agriculture and on Farm Population in the FAO Census Program with the relevant sections of the 1970 United Nations World Population Census. The Conference recommended further regional consultation on the classification of agricultural holdings in Europe in the programing work for the 1970 World Census of Agriculture.

306. The Conference recommended that efforts to promote food consumption surveys, which were a basic necessity of the Indicative World Plan and the only means of obtaining information on certain aspects of the world food problem, be Intensified, in co-operation with the Nutrition Division. The Conference recommended that work on consumption statistics should as soon as practical be expanded to include data on end uses of nonfood agricultural commodities, both through the preparation of general commodity balance sheets as well as through the inclusion of such commodities in special consumption surveys.

307. The Conference recommended that the Production Yearbook be split into two yearbooks, which might later be expanded, one dealing with production statistics and the other with economic and social statistics, provided that this could be done within the budget provisions approved for the 1966-67 biennium.

308. The Conference welcomed the plan to revise the base period of FAO index numbers of agricultural production, and recommended that the selection of the new base periods should take into consideration the need to have comparability with other types of Index numbers in agriculture and in other sectors of the economy.

309. The Conference noted the working arrangements being made with the United Nations Trade Center for the development of commodity trade statistics by trading partners, and drew attention to the need for avoiding duplication in the requests for the same type of trade statistics from countries.

Recommendations and Suggestions on Future Trends beyond the Biennium 1966-67

310. The Conference emphasized that sound development planning depended on reliable statistical data, which were frequently unavailable. The Conference was of the view that the work of promoting the development of national statistics should be the main theme of the Organization's long-term program of work on statistics. In this respect the Director-General was requested to (a) prepare in the immediate future a special program of development and improvement of agricultural statistics, and (b) accommodate in the 1968-69 program of work the implementation of basic steps and measures of this program, in connection with the preparations for the 1970 Census.

311. The Conference noted the importance of work on statistics of output, inputs and Income of agriculture, and recommended that such work should be included in the Statistics Division's program of work as soon as possible. In this connection the Conference recommended that more emphasis should be placed on the work on standardization of concepts, definitions and agricultural sector accounts methods.

312. The Conference stressed the usefulness of the manuals that had been published in the past, and recommended that the manuals on Methods of Collecting Current Agricultural Statistics and on the Preparation of Food Balance Sheets be revised and others, Including manuals on the Methodology Food Consumption Surveys and on Use of Aerial Photography in Agricultural Statistic be prepared.

F. Other activities

Conference council and other sessions
Office of the director-general
Department of administration and finance
Common services
Fellowships
Area liaison service (regional offices)
Freedom from hunger campaign
Miscellaneous expedition and contingencies
Reserve to cover possible future mandatory increases
Miscellaneous income

Conference council and other sessions

313. The Director-General's proposals with respect to Chapter I of the draft Program of Work and Budget for 1966,67 were approved, as set out in document C 65/3. Some questions were raised however on the manner in which the regional conferences might most effectively be organized. Several delegates stressed that these conferences should put emphasis on the main problems of their regions, that the use of outside consultants should be limited and that they should be carefully selected. Some delegates also suggested that it was desirable to limit the number of FAO officials attending these Conferences to the necessary minimum. It was suggested that one of the major topics for discussion at the 1966 regional conferences should be the Indicative World Plan. The Conference also noted the steps which had been taken to strengthen co-ordination of schedules of all conferences and sessions in order to render participation of governments and FAO staff as effective as possible at a minimum cost. (See also paras. 291 and 384).

Office of the director-general

314. The Conference approved the proposed program of work, Including the transfer of the Joint FAO/WHO Program on Food Standards (Codex Alimentarius Program) in the Regular Program as recommended at its Twelfth Session; and the appointment of an officer to deal with the growing volume of liaison work in respect of volunteers.

Department of administration and finance

315. The Conference noted that the increase of expenditure in the Department of Administration and Finance covered mainly the cost of strengthening the staff in the Division of Personnel and Management and the Division of Finance. It also took note of the establishment of a new Office of Social Security in the Assistant Director-General's office to deal with all Pension Fund, Staff Compensation Plan, and social security matters including health plans. In this connection note was taken that a study had been initiated with a view to introducing in 1966 a worldwide health plan which would afford uniform health protection for all staff members and their eligible dependents.

316. The Conference further took note of the proposal to explore the computer needs and problems of the Organization.

Common services

317. The Conference noted that the estimates for "Premises Expenses", show in paragraph 4(a) of document C 65/3, related only to current arrangements. In light of increases in Headquarters staff now foreseen under various programs, the need for additional office premises in the near future was becoming apparent. The Conference was informed that the costs of any such premises would be met from budgetary savings and from Income from extra-budgetary programs.

Fellowships

318. The Conference was informed that, as requested at the Twelfth Session of the Conference, the Program Committee had reviewed the André Meyer Fellowship Program, and that the Committee's proposals had been endorsed by the Council at its Forty-Fourth Session.

319. The Conference approved the division of the awards into two types, "André Mayer Research Fellowships" and "André Mayer Research Training Fellowships", the first type being open to candidates from all Member Nations of FAO and the second type being restricted to candidates from developing countries. It endorsed the proposal that a list should be prepared of research subjects of priority interest to FAO, which would accompany the next announcement of André Mayer Fellowships to Member Governments but emphasized that this list should not be restrictive, candidates from Member Nations being free to put forward research projects not appearing in the list. Such projects should be given full consideration by the Director-General if they were judged to be within the field of interest of FAO.

320. The Conference reviewed the statement of the Director-General in the Program of Work and Budget, and approved the continuation of the budget at the level of $150, 000 for the biennium 1966-67. It noted however that in spite of the increased budget approved by the Twelfth Session of the Conference, the expected growth in the number of fellowships awarded yearly had unfortunately not materialized, this being due to rising fellowship costs and also to the fact that a longer-than-average period of study was needed under the second type of award to obtain a good training in research. Several delegates indicated that the Director-General should give consideration to the need for increasing funds for the André Mayer Program in future biennia.

Area liaison service (regional offices)

321. The Conference noted that FAO's regional structure was under review, and that as a result the Director-General had not proposed any extensive strengthening of the regional structure for 1966-67. It endorsed the Director-General's proposals for the 1966-67 biennium, including the establishment of a subregional office for the east south zone of Africa, and a Liaison Officer for the Caribbean area.

Freedom from hunger campaign

322. The Conference approved the proposed program of work for the FFHC as set out in Chapter VIII of the draft Program of Work and Budget for 1966-67, including the integration of Central Campaign Costs into the Regular Program budget.

323. It was explained that the Director-General's proposal for three regional liaison officers had been made to enable FAO to take advantage of the impetus given to its work by FFHC, and to assist in the strengthening and development of the necessary Campaign structures which would enable the work to be expanded still further. The need for such officers had been strongly supported by the FAO regional conferences concerned.

324. The Conference noted that two of the three professional posts for Information duties now included in the budget had previously been financed from the FFHC Trust Fund. The third professional post of this type was required to strengthen the staff for the proposed FAO Magazine-

325. The Conference supported the Director-General's proposal to appoint three additional regional liaison officers for specific Campaign duties in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the proposal for the inclusion of three professional posts for information duties. Some delegates felt however that the increase in the number of General Service posts was disproportionately high.

326. In connection with the Second World Food Congress, some delegates questioned whether such a congress could make effective use of the Basic Studies which it was proposed should be made by consultants. It was suggested that such studies could be as effectively carried out by the FAO staff. The Conference was Informed that consultants were used by FAO only where very highly specialized knowledge was required, that the amount included for this purpose was quite small and that in fact most of the Basic Studies would be based upon existing material and information.

Miscellaneous expedition and contingencies

327. The Conference approved these items (See Chapters IX and X of C 65/3).

Reserve to cover possible future mandatory increases

328. The Conference noted that in Chapter XI of the Program of Work and Budget, provision had been made for a reserve of $1, 350, 000 to cover possible future mandatory increases, which, it had appeared last January, would have been realized by the time of the Thirteenth Session of the Conference. In addition, the Finance Committee and the Council had also recommended another $1, 740, 000 to cover the ICSAB salary recommendations for the Professional staff; an additional $450, 000 TO COVER a further increase in the cost of living in Rome, which the Council had in fact authorized the Director-General to make as of 1 December 1965; and a further $69, 000 to cover the unexpected rise in the Italian postal rates. These mandatory increases added up to $3,609,000. (See para. 386.)

Miscellaneous income

329. The Conference reviewed the Director-General's estimates of miscellaneous income, and incorporated increases, recommended by the Finance Committee at its Thirteenth Session and endorsed by the Forty-Fourth Session of the Council, involving the following amendments:

330. The budgeted estimate for Miscellaneous Income was accordingly increased from $860, 000 to $1,000,000 for the 1966-67 biennium.

G. Interagency relations and consultations on matters of common interest

Matters arising out of ECOSOC and ACC discussions
FAO/UNICEF relations
Codex Alimenitarius commission
FAO/IBRD co-operative program
Joint activities with the Inter-American development bank (IDB)

Matters arising out of ECOSOC and ACC discussions

331. The Conference reviewed the report of the Director-General on matters arising out of ECOSOC and ACC discussions (document C 65/24), and generally endorsed the manner in which the Director-General was arranging FAO's contribution to interagency co-operation and co-ordination matters.

332. Among other things, the Conference noted the standing arrangement for closer co operation between ECOSOC and ACC; measures initiated to provide ECOSOC with Information on approved programs of work of agencies, in lieu of the agencies having a uniform layout for the presentation of budgets which, in practice, would be difficult to achieve; the close liaison FAO was maintaining with the ECOSOC Advisory Committee on Science and Technology, and the manner in which the Director-General proposed to take into account the recommendations of the Committee in fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities and in formulating the work program of the Organization to the Conference.

333. The Conference took special note of Resolution 1078 of the Thirty-Ninth Session of ECOSOC on Land Reform, as being of great importance to social and economic development and of particular interest to developing countries. It recommended that the Director-General take the necessary measures to implement those aspects of the resolution which concerned the Organization. It also expressed particular Interest in the forthcoming UN/FAO World Land Reform Conference to be convened in 1966 (see also paras. 46, 215, 294 and 383).

334. Finally, the Conference noted with interest FAO's participation in the work of the Regional Economic Development and Planning Institutes, in view of the Organization's concern with planning and development programing in the agricultural sector. It also noted the stress laid by ACC on the importance of standing institutional arrangements between these Regional Institutes and substantially interested Specialized Agencies such as FAO (see also para. 277).

FAO/UNICEF relations

335. The Conference considered the report submitted by the Director-General on FAO/UNICEF relations (C 65/25). It noted that the recommendations in the Report of the FAO/UNICEF Joint Policy Committee, which met in New York from 31 March to 2 April 1965, had been accepted by the Forty-Fourth Session of the FAO Council and by the UNICEF Executive Board at their June 1965 Sessions. This Report had dealt largely with the technical aspects of FAO/UNICEF co-operation, within the policies laid down by the two Organizations in applied nutrition, the development of new protein-rich food, milk conservation schemes and the planning for food and nutrition needs of children in the overall development programs of different countries.

336. The Conference noted that UNICEF was continuing to contribute generously toward the provision of funds to FAO for FAO field project experts on jointly-assisted projects. It also noted with satisfaction that an increased number of such experts was now included in the FAO/EPTA programs and that the number of FAO/UNICEF jointly-assisted projects was increasing.

337. Note was taken of the new emphasis being placed in the FAO/UNICEF jointly-assisted projects on the increased importance of training nationals at country and/or regional levels, the intensification of activities leading to increased milk production to be processed in jointly aided milk plants, the increased attention being devoted to assisting young people in rural areas through various organized activities, often involving agricultural extension services, and the attention being devoted to ensuring adequate provision regarding children and young people in overall plans of national economic and social development.

338. Certain delegates were concerned about reported underutilization of some of the milk plants established jointly by FAO and UNICEF, which was caused by inadequate supplies of locally produced milk and of Imported skimmed milk powder. The Conference considered that a careful survey of the quantities of skimmed milk powder required, and of the availability and sources of such supplies needed, should be made before a new milk plant was established. It also requested that the Director-General of FAO and the Executive Director of UNICEF arrange for an investigation into the value of milk plants in the development of local dairying industries. This investigation should be carried out in close connection with the CCP study Economic Impact of Dairy Development in Developing The findings of this investigation should be made available to the Fourteenth Session of the Conference (see also para. 170).

339. A plea was made for increased representation of developing countries on the FAO/UNICEF Joint Policy Committee, and for greater rotation in membership. The Conference was of the opinion that this matter could be considered by the Council when a decision would next be taken on the membership of the Joint Committee and the policy of the two Organizations regarding the Committee's future.

340. The Conference welcomed the assurances given of increasingly close co-operation between the two Organizations, and expressed the hope that resources would be forthcoming to enable this joint program to be still further developed.

Codex Alimenitarius commission

341. The Conference reviewed the report of the Director-General on matters arising out of the Second and Third Sessions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (document C 65/27), and expressed its satisfaction at the way in which work on food standardization was developing. The Codex Alimentarius Commission had adopted working arrangements which would afford all governments an opportunity to comment at each stage of the elaboration of standards by the Commission. The Conference stressed the importance of these procedures and also of the general principles which should be followed in preparing the standards. The Conference expressed the view that these arrangements constituted a practical and realistic approach to the problem of international agreement on food standards in relation to the two principal aims of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program, protection of the health of the consumer and the facilitating of international trade in food.

342. The Conference was pleased to note that some sixty countries were participating regularly in the work of the FAO/WHO Food Standards Program, and that following the Conference's approval of the incorporation of the FAO/WHO Food Standards Program into the Program of Work and Budget of the Organization the Director-General of FAO and WHO would be inviting all Members and Associate Members of both Organizations to join the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Conference considered that as a result of the arrangements for a more stable method of financing, the number of governments who would wish to participate in the activities of the Commission was likely to increase. A much wider participation could also be expected from developing countries. The Conference welcomed this Increased interest, and noted a proposal of Member Countries of the African region for the establishment of a co-ordinating committee for Africa. The Director-General would be communicating with governments in the African region concerning this proposal, and in the light of their replies a report would be submitted for consideration by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at Its next session.

343. The Conference approved the Incorporation of provision for the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program in the Regular Program of Work and Budget for 1966/67, and noted that similar action had been taken by the Eighteenth World Health Assembly of WHO. The Conference further noted that in view of the rapid expansion and progress of the work by the subsidiary bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an increasing workload was falling upon the Joint Office of the FAO/WHO Food Standards Program. The Conference welcomed the fact that a careful review of the resources available to the Program would be made so that adequate finance and staffing could be provided for in the biennium 1968/69. In the mean time, and in view of the priority which should be given to work on International food standards, the Conference thought that there might be some strengthening of the Joint Office of the FAO/WHO Food Standards Program in 1966/67, should the Director-General be able to find the necessary savings.

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