Constitution of the International Rice Commission. Formulated at the International Rice Meeting at Baguio March 1-13, 1948; approved by a resolution adopted at the Fourth Session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held in Washington November 15-29, 1948; instrument of acceptance deposited by the United States of America February 28, 1949; entered into force January 4, 1949; entered into force with respect to the United States of America February 28, 1949. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANI- March 13, 1948 [T. I. A. S. 1938) ORGANISATION DES NATIONS CONSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL RICE COMMISSION PREAMBLE The Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, having regard to the deliberations of the Rice Study Group which met at Trivandrum, of the Third Session of the Conference of the Organization, and of the International Rice Meeting held at Baguio, and with a view to co-operative action in matters relating to the production, conservation, distribution, and consumption of rice (excepting matters relating to international trade) hereby establishes an International Rice Commission in accordance with the following Constitution. ARTICLE I THE COMMISSION There shall be a Commission, known as the International Rice Commission, with the functions set forth in Article IV of this Constitution. ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP The members of the Commission shall be such of the governments members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as may accept this Constitution in accordance with the provisions of Article VII hereof. ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION 1. Each government that becomes a member of the Commission as defined in Article II hereof (hereinafter called a "member government") shall have the right to be represented at meetings of the Commission by a single delegate, who may be accompanied by an alternate and by experts and advisers. Alternates, experts, and advisers shall be entitled to take part in the proceedings of the Com governments. mission but not to vote, except in the case of an alternate who is duly authorized to act for a delegate. Votes of member 2. Each member government shall have one vote. Decisions of the Commission shall be taken by a simple majority of votes cast except as otherwise provided by this Constitution. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Chairman. time and place of meetings. 3. The Commission shall elect a Chairman from among the delegates, who shall serve for a period of one year, without prejudice to the right of re-election. Rules of procedure; 4. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 5 of this Article, the Commission shall, with the concurrence of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, establish its own rules of procedure and determine the time and place of its meetings. mission. Meeting of Com 5. The Chairman shall call a meeting of the Commission at least once a year, unless otherwise directed by a majority of member governments. The initial meeting shall be called by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization within six months after the entry into force of this Constitution and at such place as he may designate. Special meeting. 6. Any member government shall have the right, with the concurrence of the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, to call for a special meeting of the Commission. Seat of Commission. 7. The seat of the Commission shall be the same place as the seat of the Far Eastern regional office of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Secretary. 8. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization shall appoint a Secretary to the Commission and shall provide its secretariat from the staff of the Far Eastern regional office. ARTICLE IV FUNCTIONS The Commission shall, except in matters relating to international trade, have the functions of: (a) formulating and keeping under review the scientific, technical, and economic problems involved in the production, conservation, distribution, and consumption of rice; (b) promoting and co-ordinating research into those problems and its application to the development and adoption of improved methods in everyday practice; (c) encouraging and assisting the mobilization and use of scientifically and technically trained persons in such a way as to secure the greatest common benefit to member countries in matters relating to the production, conservation, distribution, and consumption of rice; (d) undertaking, where necessary and appropriate, co-operative projects directed to the solution of the above-mentioned problems; (e) assembling, collating, and disseminating, through the publications of the Food and Agriculture Organization and otherwise, information relating to the production, conservation, distribution, and consumption of rice; (f) establishing such committees and calling such meetings of experts as the Commission may consider desirable for the performance of the foregoing functions; (g) recommending to member governments, through the Food and Agriculture Organization, such national and international action as may appear to the Commission to be necessary or desirable for the solution of the above-mentioned problems; (h) recommending to the Food and Agriculture Organization the provision of technical assistance to member governments in measures directed to that end; (i) extending its good offices in assisting member governments to secure materials and equipment necessary for improvement of the production, conservation, distribution, or consumption of rice; (j) reporting annually on its activities to the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization, and making such other reports to the Food and Agriculture Organization on matters relating to the production, conservation, distribution, and consumption of rice as the Commission itself may consider expedient or the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization may require. ARTICLE V CO-OPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The Commission shall maintain, through the Food and Agriculture Organization, close liaison with the United Nations and its specialized agencies in matters of mutual interest. ARTICLE VI EXPENSES 1. Expenses incurred by delegates and their alternates, experts, and advisers in attending meetings of the Commission and expenses incurred by experts under paragraph (f) of Article IV hereof shall be determined and paid by their respective governments. 2. The expenses of the secretariat of the Commission and any expenses incurred by the chairman of the Commission in performing duties connected with its work in intervals between meetings of the Commission shall be determined and paid by the Food and Agriculture Organization within the limits of an annual budget prepared and approved in 81939-52-PT. III- -16 accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Financial Regulations. of that Organization for the time being in force. 3. Expenses incurred by the Commission in undertaking any co-operative project in accordance with paragraph (d) of Article IV hereof shall, unless they are met by the Food and Agriculture Organization or from any other source, be determined and paid by member governments in such manner and proportions as they may mutually agree. ARTICLE VII ACCEPTANCE AND WITHDRAWAL 1. Acceptance of this Constitution by any member government of the Food and Agriculture Organization shall be effected by the deposit of a notification of acceptance with the Director-General of the Organization and shall take effect on receipt of such notification by the Director-General, who shall forthwith inform each of the member governments of the Organization. 2. Any member government may withdraw from the Commission at any time after the expiration of one year from the date on which its acceptance takes effect, or this Constitution comes into force, whichever is the later, by giving written notice of such withdrawal to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, who shall forthwith inform all member governments of the Commission. Any such notice of withdrawal shall become effective six months after the date of its receipt by the Director-General. ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS This Constitution may be amended by the vote of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Commission, with the concurrence of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization. ARTICLE IX ENTRY INTO FORCE This Constitution shall enter into force as soon as notifications of acceptance have been received from the governments of at least ten countries members of the Food and Agriculture Organization representing in the aggregate not less than half of the world production of rice in the crop year 1947/48 as shown by official statistics. I hereby certify that this document is a true copy of the Constitution of the International Rice Commission. NORRIS E. DODD Norris E. Dodd Director General The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to the Secretary of State I have the honor to acknowledge your letter 501.SA/3-249 of 6 May 1949, [1] and to enclose with this letter a certified copy of the Constitution of the International Rice Commission. The Governments which have accepted this Constitution are as follows: The Constitution came into force on 4 January 1949 on receipt of notification of acceptance of the Government of the Philippine Republic. Accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. N.E. DODD Norris E. Dodd Director General The Honorable THE SECRETARY OF STATE Department of State 'Not printed. Washington, D. C. |
