INTERNATIONAL COFFEE AGREEMENT 2001

(London, 28 September 2000)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: provisionally on 1 October 2001 and definitively on 17 May 2005, in accordance with article 45

Depository: Secretary-General of the United Nations

PREAMBLE

The Governments Party to this Agreement,

Recognizing the exceptional importance of coffee to the economies of many countries which are largely dependent upon this commodity for their export earnings and thus for the continuation of their development programmes in the social and economic fields;

Recognizing the importance of the coffee sector to the livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in developing countries, and bearing in mind that in many of these countries production is on small-scale family farms;

Recognizing the need to foster the development of productive resources and the promotion and maintenance of employment and income in the coffee industry in Member countries, thereby bringing about fair wages, higher living standards and better working conditions;

Considering that close international cooperation on trade in coffee will foster the economic diversification and development of coffee-producing countries, will contribute to the improvement of political and economic relations between coffee exporting and importing countries, and will provide for increasing consumption of coffee;

Recognizing the desirability of avoiding disequilibrium between production and consumption which can give rise to pronounced fluctuations in prices harmful both to producers and to consumers;

Considering the relationship between the stability of the trade in coffee and the stability of markets for manufactured goods;

Noting the advantages derived from the international cooperation which resulted from the operation of the International Coffee Agreements 1962, 1968, 1976, 1983 and 1994,

Have agreed as follows:

CHAPTER I – OBJECTIVES

Article 1

Objectives

The objectives of this Agreement are:

(1) to promote international cooperation on coffee matters;

(2) to provide a forum for intergovernmental consultations, and negotiations when appropriate, on coffee matters and on ways to achieve a reasonable balance between world supply and demand on a basis which will assure adequate supplies of coffee at fair prices to consumers and markets for coffee at remunerative prices to producers, and which will be conducive to long-term equilibrium between production and consumption;

(3) to provide a forum for consultations on coffee matters with the private sector;

(4) to facilitate the expansion and transparency of international trade in coffee; 

(5) to act as a centre for and promote the collection, dissemination and publication of economic and technical information, statistics and studies, as well as research and development, in coffee matters;

(6) to encourage Members to develop a sustainable coffee economy;

(7) to promote, encourage and increase the consumption of coffee;

(8) to analyse and advise on the preparation of projects for the benefit of the world coffee economy, for their subsequent submission to donor or financing organizations, as appropriate;

(9) to promote quality; and

(10) to promote training and information programmes designed to assist the transfer to Members of technology relevant to coffee.

CHAPTER II – DEFINITIONS

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Agreement:

(1) Coffee means the beans and cherries of the coffee tree, whether parchment, green or roasted, and includes ground, decaffeinated, liquid and soluble coffee. The Council shall, as soon as possible after this Agreement enters into force, and again three years after such date, review the conversion factors for the types of coffee listed in sub-paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (g) below. Following such review the Council shall, by a distributed two-thirds majority vote, determine and publish appropriate conversion factors. Prior to the initial review, and should the Council be unable to reach a decision on this matter, the conversion factors will be those used in the International Coffee Agreement 1994, which are listed in Annex I to this Agreement. Subject to these provisions, the terms listed below shall have the following meaning:

(a) green coffee means all coffee in the naked bean form before roasting;

(b) dried coffee cherry means the dried fruit of the coffee tree; to find the equivalent of dried coffee cherry to green coffee, multiply the net weight of the dried coffee cherry by 0.50;

(c) parchment coffee means the green coffee bean contained in the parchment skin; to find the equivalent of parchment coffee to green coffee, multiply the net weight of the parchment coffee by 0.80;

(d) roasted coffee means green coffee roasted to any degree and includes ground coffee;

(e) decaffeinated coffee means green, roasted or soluble coffee from which caffeine has been extracted;

(f) liquid coffee means the water-soluble solids derived from roasted coffee and put into liquid form; and

(g) soluble coffee means the dried water-soluble solids derived from roasted coffee.

(2) Bagmeans 60 kilogrammes or 132.276 pounds of green coffee; tonne means a mass of 1,000 kilogrammes or 2,204.6 pounds; and pound means 453.597 grammes.

(3) Coffee year means the period of one year, from 1 October to 30 September.

(4) Organization and Council mean, respectively, the International Coffee Organization and the International Coffee Council.

(5) Contracting Party means a Government or intergovernmental organization referred to in paragraph (3) of Article 4 which has deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or provisional application of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Articles 44 and 45 or has acceded thereto in accordance with the provisions of Article 46.

(6) Member means a Contracting Party; a designated territory or territories in respect of which separate membership has been declared under the provisions of Article 5; or two or more Contracting Parties or designated territories, or both, which participate in the Organization as a Member group under the provisions of Article 6.

(7) Exporting Member or exporting country means a Member or country, respectively, which is a net exporter of coffee; that is, a Member or country whose exports exceed its imports.

(8) Importing Member or importing country means a Member or country, respectively, which is a net importer of coffee; that is, a Member or country whose imports exceed its exports.

(9) Distributed simple majority votemeans a vote requiring more than half of the votes cast by exporting Members present and voting and more than half of the votes cast by importing Members present and voting, counted separately.

(10) Distributed two-thirds majority votemeans a vote requiring more than two-thirds of the votes cast by exporting Members present and voting and more than two-thirds of the votes cast by importing Members present and voting, counted separately.

(11) Entry into force means, except as otherwise provided, the date on which this Agreement enters into force, whether provisionally or definitively.

CHAPTER III – GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS BY MEMBERS

Article 3

General undertakings by Members

(1) Members undertake to adopt such measures as are necessary to enable them to fulfil their obligations under this Agreement and fully cooperate with one another in securing the attainment of the objectives of this Agreement; in particular, Members undertake to provide all information necessary to facilitate the functioning of this Agreement.

(2) Members recognize that Certificates of Origin are important sources of information on the trade in coffee. Exporting Members, therefore, assume responsibility for ensuring the proper issuing and use of Certificates of Origin according to the rules established by the Council.

(3) Members recognize further that information on re-exports is also important for the proper analysis of the world coffee economy. Importing Members, therefore, undertake to supply regular and accurate information on re-exports, in the form and manner determined by the Council.

CHAPTER IV – MEMBERSHIP

Article 4

Membership of the Organization

(1) Each Contracting Party, together with those territories to which this Agreement is extended under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 48, shall constitute a single Member of the Organization, except as otherwise provided for under the provisions of Articles 5 and 6.

(2) A Member may change its category of membership on such conditions as the Council may agree.

(3) Any reference in this Agreement to a Government shall be construed as including a reference to the European Community, or any intergovernmental organization having comparable responsibilities in respect of the negotiation, conclusion and application of international agreements, in particular commodity agreements.

(4) Such intergovernmental organization shall not itself have any votes but in the case of a vote on matters within its competence it shall be entitled to cast collectively the votes of its Member States. In such cases, the Member States of such intergovernmental organization shall not be entitled to exercise their individual voting rights.

(5) Such intergovernmental organization shall not be eligible for election to the Executive Board under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 17 but may participate in the discussions of the Executive Board on matters within its competence. In the case of a vote on matters within its competence, and notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph(1) of Article 20, the votes which its Member States are entitled to cast in the Executive Board may be cast collectively by any one of those Member States.

Article 5

Separate membership in respect of designated territories

Any Contracting Party which is a net importer of coffee may, at any time, by appropriate notification in accordance with the provisions of paragraph(2) of Article 48, declare that it is participating in the Organization separately with respect to any of the territories for whose international relations it is responsible, which are net exporters of coffee and which it designates. In such case, the metropolitan territory and its non-designated territories will have a single membership, and its designated territories, either individually or collectively as the notification indicates, will have separate membership.

Article 6

Group membership

(1) Two or more Contracting Parties which are net exporters of coffee may, by appropriate notification to the Council and to the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the time of deposit of their respective instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, provisional application or accession, declare that they are participating in the Organization as a Member group. A territory to which this Agreement has been extended under the provisions of paragraph(1) of Article 48 may constitute part of such Member group if the Government of the State responsible for its international relations has given appropriate notification thereof under the provisions of paragraph(2) of Article 48. Such Contracting Parties and designated territories must satisfy the following conditions:

(a) they shall declare their willingness to accept responsibility for group obligations in an individual as well as a group capacity; and

(b) they shall subsequently provide satisfactory evidence to the Council that:

(i) the group has the organization necessary to implement a common coffee policy and that they have the means of complying, together with the other parties to the group, with their obligations under this Agreement; and 

(ii) they have a common or coordinated commercial and economic policy in relation to coffee and a coordinated monetary and financial policy, as well as the organs necessary to implement such policies, so that the Council is satisfied that the Member group is able to comply with the group obligations involved.

(2) Any Member group recognized under the International Coffee Agreement 1994 shall continue to be recognized as a group unless it notifies the Council that it no longer wishes to be so recognized.

(3) The Member group shall constitute a single Member of the Organization, except that each party to the group shall be treated as if it were a single Member in relation to matters arising under the following provisions:

(a) Articles 11 and 12; and

(b) Article 51.

(4) The Contracting Parties and designated territories joining as a Member group shall specify the Government or organization which will represent them in the Council on matters arising under this Agreement other than those specified in paragraph(3) of this Article.

(5) The voting rights of the Member group shall be as follows:

(a) the Member group shall have the same number of basic votes as a single Member country joining the Organization in an individual capacity. These basic votes shall be attributed to and cast by the Government or organization representing the group; and

(b) in the event of a vote on any matters arising under the provisions of paragraph(3) of this Article, the parties to the Member group may cast separately the votes attributed to them under the provisions of paragraph(3) of Article 13 as if each were an individual Member of the Organization, except for the basic votes, which shall remain attributable only to the Government or organization representing the group.

(6) Any Contracting Party or designated territory which is a party to a Member group may, by notification to the Council, withdraw from that group and become a separate Member. Such withdrawal shall take effect upon receipt of the notification by the Council. If a party to a Member group withdraws from that group or ceases to participate in the Organization, the remaining parties to the group may apply to the Council to maintain the group; the group shall continue to exist unless the Council disapproves the application. If the Member group is dissolved, each former party to the group will become a separate Member. A Member which has ceased to be a party to a group may not, as long as this Agreement remains in force, again become a party to a group.

(7) Any Contracting Party which wishes to become party to a Member group after this Agreement has entered into force may do so by notification to the Council provided that:

(a) other Members of the group declare their willingness to accept the Member concerned as party to the Member group; and

(b) it notifies the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it is participating in the group.

(8) Two or more exporting Members may, at any time after this Agreement has entered into force, apply to the Council to form a Member group. The Councilshall approve the application if it finds that the Members have made a declaration and have provided satisfactory evidence in accordance with the requirements of paragraph(1) of this Article. Upon such approval, the Member group shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (3), (4), (5) and (6) of this Article.

CHAPTER V – THE INTERNATIONAL COFFEE ORGANIZATION

Article 7

Seat and structure of the International Coffee Organization

(1) The International Coffee Organization established under the International Coffee Agreement 1962 shall continue in being to administer the provisions and supervise the operation of this Agreement.

(2) The seat of the Organization shall be in London unless the Council by a distributed two-thirds majority vote decides otherwise.

(3) The Organization shall function through the International Coffee Council and the Executive Board. They shall be assisted as appropriate by the World Coffee Conference, the Private Sector Consultative Board, the Promotion Committee, and specialized committees.

Article 8

Privileges and immunities

(1) The Organization shall have legal personality. It shall in particular have the capacity to contract, acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property and to institute legal proceedings.

(2) The status, privileges and immunities of the Organization, of its Executive Director, its staff and experts, and of representatives of Members while in the territory of the host country for the purpose of exercising their functions, shall continue to be governed by the Headquarters Agreement concluded between the host Government and the Organization on 28 May 1969.

(3) The Headquarters Agreement referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article shall be independent of this Agreement. It shall however terminate:

(a) by agreement between the host Government and the Organization;

(b) in the event of the headquarters of the Organization being moved from the territory of the host Government; or

(c) in the event of the Organization ceasing to exist.

(4) The Organization may conclude with one or more other Members agreements to be approved by the Council relating to such privileges and immunities as may be necessary for the proper functioning of this Agreement.

(5) The Governments of Member countries other than the host Government shall grant the Organization the same facilities in respect of currency or exchange restrictions, maintenance of bank accounts and transfer of monies, as are accorded to the specialized agencies of the United Nations.

CHAPTER VI – THE INTERNATIONAL COFFEE COUNCIL

Article 9

Composition of the International Coffee Council

(1) The highest authority of the Organization shall be the International Coffee Council, which shall consist of all the Members of the Organization.

(2) Each Member shall appoint one representative on the Council and, if it so desires, one or more alternates. A Member may also designate one or more advisers to its representative or alternates.

Article 10

Powers and functions of the Council

(1) All powers specifically conferred by this Agreement shall be vested in the Council, which shall have the powers and perform the functions necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

(2) The Council shall delegate to its Chairman the task of assuring, with the assistance of the Secretariat, the validity of the written communications made with respect to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 9, paragraph (3) of Article 12 and paragraph (2) of Article 14. The Chairman shall report to the Council.

(3) The Council may set up any committees or working groups as it considers necessary.

(4) The Council shall, by a distributed two-thirds majority vote, establish such rules and regulations, including its own rules of procedure and the financial and staff regulations of the Organization, as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and are consistent therewith. The Council may, in its rules of procedure, provide the means whereby it may, without meeting, decide specific questions.

(5) The Council shall also keep such records as are required to perform its functions under this Agreement and such other records as it considers desirable.

Article 11

Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Council

(1) The Council shall elect, for each coffee year, a Chairman and a first, a second and a third Vice-Chairman, who shall not be paid by the Organization.

(2) As a general rule, the Chairman and the first Vice-Chairman shall both be elected either from among the representatives of exporting Members or from among the representatives of importing Members and the second and the third Vice-Chairmen shall be elected from among representatives of the other category of Member. These offices shall alternate each coffee year between the two categories of Member.

(3) Neither the Chairman nor any Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman shall have the right to vote. 

His or her alternate will in such case exercise the voting rights of the Member.

Article 12

Sessions of the Council

(1) As a general rule, the Council shall hold regular sessions twice a year. It may hold special sessions should it so decide. Special sessions shall also be held at the request of the Executive Board, of any five Members, or of a Member or Members having at least 200 votes. Notice of sessions shall be given at least 30 days in advance except in cases of emergency when such notice shall be given at least 10 days in advance.

(2) Sessions shall be held at the seat of the Organization, unless the Council decides otherwise by a distributed two-thirds majority vote. If a Member invites the Council to meet in its territory, and the Council agrees, the additional costs to the Organization involved above those incurred when the session is held at the seat shall be borne by that Member.

(3) The Council may invite any non-member country or any of the organizations referred to in Article 16 to attend any of its sessions as an observer. In case such invitation is accepted, the country or organization concerned shall send a communication to that effect in writing to the Chairman. If it so wishes it may in that communication request permission to make statements to the Council.

(4) The quorum required for a Council session to take decisions shall be the presence of more than half of the number of exporting and importing Members representing respectively at least two-thirds of the votes for each category. If on the opening of a Council session or of any plenary meeting there is no quorum, the Chairman shall postpone the opening of the session or plenary meeting for at least two hours. If there is still no quorum at the new time set, the Chairman may again postpone the opening of the session or plenary meeting for at least a further two hours. If at the end of this new postponement there is still no quorum, the quorum required for taking decisions shall be the presence of more than half of the number of exporting and importing Members representing respectively at least half of the votes for each category. Representation in accordance with paragraph (2) of Article 14 shall be considered as presence.

Article 13

Votes

(1) The exporting Members shall together hold 1,000 votes and the importing Members shall together hold 1,000 votes, distributed within each category of Member – that is, exporting and importing Members, respectively – as provided for in the following paragraphs of this Article.

(2) Each Member shall have five basic votes.

(3) The remaining votes of exporting Members shall be divided among such Members in proportion to the average volume of their respective exports of coffee to all destinations in the preceding four calendar years.

(4) The remaining votes of importing Members shall be divided among such Members in proportion to the average volume of their respective imports of coffee in the preceding four calendar years.

(5) The distribution of votes shall be determined by the Council in accordance with the provisions of this Article at the beginning of each coffee year and shall remain in effect during that year, except as provided for in paragraph (6) of this Article.

(6) The Council shall provide for the redistribution of votes in accordance with the provisions of this Article whenever there is a change in the membership of the Organization or if the voting rights of a Member are suspended or regained under the provisions of Article 25 or 42.

(7) No Member shall hold more than 400 votes.

(8) There shall be no fractional votes.

Article 14

Voting procedure of the Council

(1) Each Member shall be entitled to cast the number of votes it holds and shall not be entitled to divide its votes. However, a Member may cast differently any votes which it holds under the provisions of paragraph (2) of this Article.

(2) Any exporting Member may authorize any other exporting Member, and any importing Member may authorize any other importing Member, to represent its interests and to exercise its right to vote at any meeting or meetings of the Council. The limitation provided for in paragraph (7) of Article 13 shall not apply in this case.

Article 15

Decisions of the Council

(1) All decisions of the Council shall be taken, and all recommendations shall be made, by a distributed simple majority vote unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement.

(2) The following procedure shall apply with respect to any decision by the Council which under the provisions of this Agreement requires a distributed two-thirds majority vote:

(a) if a distributed two-thirds majority vote is not obtained because of the negative vote of three or less exporting or three or less importing Members, the proposal shall, if the Council so decides by a majority of the Members present and by a distributed simple majority vote, be put to a vote again within 48 hours;

(b) if a distributed two-thirds majority vote is again not obtained because of the negative vote of two or less exporting or two or less importing Members, the proposal shall, if the Council so decides by a majority of the Members present and by a distributed simple majority vote, be put to a vote again within 24 hours;

(c) if a distributed two-thirds majority vote is not obtained in the third vote because of the negative vote of one exporting or one importing Member, the proposal shall be considered adopted; and

(d) if the Council fails to put a proposal to a further vote, it shall be considered rejected.

(3) Members undertake to accept as binding all decisions of the Council under the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 16

Cooperation with other organizations

(1) The Council may make arrangements for consultation and cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies and with other appropriate intergovernmental organizations. It shall take full advantage of the facilities of the Common Fund for Commodities and other sources of funding. Such arrangements may include financial arrangements which the Council considers appropriate for achieving the objectives of this Agreement. However, in respect of the implementation of any project under such arrangements the Organization shall not incur any financial obligations for guarantees given by individual Members or other entities. No Member shall be responsible by reason of its membership of the Organization for any liability arising from borrowing or lending by any other Member or entity in connection with such projects.

(2) Where possible, the Organization may also collect from Members, non-members, and from donor and other agencies, information on development projects and programmes focussing on the coffee sector. Where appropriate, and with the agreement of the parties concerned, the Organization may make this information available to such other organizations as well as to Members.

CHAPTER VII – THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Article 17

Composition and meetings of the Executive Board

(1) The Executive Board shall consist of eight exporting Members and eight importing Members elected for each coffee year in accordance with the provisions of Article 18. Members represented in the Executive Board may be re-elected.

(2) Each Member represented in the Executive Board shall appoint one representative and, if it so desires, one or more alternates. Each Member represented in the Executive Board may also designate one or more advisers to its representative or alternates.

(3) The Executive Board shall have a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, who shall be elected by the Council for each coffee year and may be re-elected. These officers shall not be paid by the Organization. Neither the Chairman nor the Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman shall have the right to vote in the meetings of the Executive Board. His or her alternate will in such case exercise the voting rights of the Member. As a general rule, the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman for each coffee year shall be elected from among the representatives of the same category of membership.

(4) The Executive Board shall normally meet at the seat of the Organization, but may meet elsewhere if the Council so decides by a distributed two-thirds majority vote. In case of acceptance by the Council of an invitation by a Member to host the meeting of the Executive Board, the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 12 concerning Council sessions shall also apply.

(5) The quorum required for an Executive Board meeting to take decisions shall be the presence of more than half of the number of exporting and importing Members elected to the Executive Board representing respectively at least two-thirds of the votes for each category. If on the opening of an Executive Board meeting there is no quorum, the Chairman of the Executive Board shall postpone the opening of the meeting for at least two hours. If there is still no quorum at the new time set, the Chairman may again postpone the opening of the meeting for at least a further two hours. If at the end of this new postponement there is still no quorum, the quorum required for taking decisions shall be the presence of more than half of the number of exporting and importing Members elected to the Executive Board representing respectively at least half of the votes for each category.

Article 18

Election of the Executive Board

(1) The exporting and the importing Members of the Executive Board shall be elected in the Council by the exporting and the importing Members of the Organization respectively. The election within each category shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraphs of this Article.

(2) Each Member shall cast for a single candidate all the votes to which it is entitled under the provisions of Article 13. A Member may cast for another candidate any votes which it holds under the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 14.

(3) The eight candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected; however, no candidate shall be elected on the first ballot unless it receives at least 75 votes.

(4) If, under the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Article, less than eight candidates are elected on the first ballot, further ballots shall be held in which only Members which did not vote for any of the candidates elected shall have the right to vote. In each further ballot the minimum number of votes required for election shall be successively diminished by five until eight candidates are elected.

(5) Any Member which did not vote for any of the Members elected shall assign its votes to one of them, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (6) and (7) of this Article.

(6) A Member shall be deemed to have received the number of votes cast for it when it was elected and, in addition, the number of votes assigned to it, provided that the total number of votes shall not exceed 499 for any Member elected.

(7) If the votes deemed received by an elected Member exceed 499, Members which voted for, or assigned their votes to, such elected Member shall arrange among themselves for one or more of them to withdraw their votes from that Member and assign or re-assign them to another elected Member so that the votes received by each elected Member shall not exceed the limit of 499.

Article 19

Competence of the Executive Board

(1) The Executive Board shall be responsible to and work under the general direction of the Council.

(2) The Council may, by a distributed two-thirds majority vote, delegate to the Executive Board the exercise of any or all of its powers other than the following:

(a) approval of the Administrative Budget and assessment of contributions under the provisions of Article 24;

(b) suspension of the voting rights of a Member under the provisions of Article 42;

(c) decisions on disputes under the provisions of Article 42;

(d) establishment of conditions for accession under the provisions of Article 46;

(e) a decision to exclude a Member under the provisions of Article 50;

(f) a decision concerning the negotiation of a new Agreement under the provisions of Article 32, or the extension or termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Article 52; and

(g) recommendation of amendments to Members under the provisions of Article 53.

(3) The Council may, by a distributed simple majority vote, at any time revoke any powers which have been delegated to the Executive Board.

(4) The Executive Board shall examine the draft Administrative Budget presented by the Executive Director and submit it to the Council with its recommendations for approval, elaborate the annual work plan of the Organization, decide on administrative and financial matters concerning the operation of the Organization other than those matters reserved for the Council under the terms of paragraph (2) of this Article, and examine projects and programmes on coffee matters, which shall be submitted to the Council for approval. The Executive Board shall report to the Council. Decisions of the Executive Board shall enter into force if no objection from a Member of the Council is received within five working days of the report of the Executive Board to the Council, or within five working days of circulation of the summary of the decisions reached by the Executive Board should the Council not meet during the same month as the Executive Board. Nevertheless all Members shall have the right of appeal to the Council against any decision of the Executive Board.

(5) The Executive Board may set up any committees or working groups, as it considers necessary.

Article 20

Voting procedure of the Executive Board

(1) Each Member of the Executive Board shall be entitled to cast the number of votes received by it under the provisions of paragraphs (6) and (7) of Article 18. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed. A Member of the Executive Board shall not be entitled to divide its votes.

(2) Any decision taken by the Executive Board shall require the same majority as such decision would require if taken by the Council.

CHAPTER VIII – THE PRIVATE COFFEE SECTOR

Article 21

The World Coffee Conference

(1) The Council shall make arrangements to hold, at appropriate intervals, a World Coffee Conference (hereinafter referred to as the Conference), which shall be composed of exporting and importing Members, private sector representatives, and other interested participants, including participants from non-member countries. The Council, in coordination with the Chairman of the Conference, shall ensure that the Conference contributes to furthering the objectives of this Agreement.

(2) The Conference shall have a Chairman who shall not be paid by the Organization. The Chairman shall be appointed by the Council for an appropriate period, and shall be invited to participate in meetings of the Council as an observer.

(3) The Council shall decide on the form, title, subject matter and timing of the Conference, in consultation with the Private Sector Consultative Board. The Conference shall be held normally at the seat of the Organization, during a session of the Council. If the Council decides to accept an invitation by a Member to hold a session in its territory, the Conference may also be held in that territory, in which case the additional costs to the Organization involved above those incurred when the session is held at the seat of the Organization shall be borne by the country hosting the session.

(4) Unless the Council by a distributed two-thirds majority vote decides otherwise, the Conference shall be self-financing.

(5) The Chairman of the Conference shall report the conclusions of each session to the Council.

Article 22

The Private Sector Consultative Board

(1) The Private Sector Consultative Board (hereinafter referred to as the PSCB) shall be a consultative body which may make recommendations on any consultations made by the Council and may invite the Council to give consideration to matters related to this Agreement.

(2) The PSCB shall consist of eight representatives of the private sector in exporting countries and eight representatives of the private sector in importing countries.

(3) Members of the PSCB shall be representatives of associations or bodies designated by the Council every two coffee years, and may be re-appointed. The Council in so doing shall endeavour to designate:

(a) two private sector coffee associations or bodies from exporting countries or regions representing each of the four groups of coffee, preferably representing both growers and exporters, together with one or more alternates for each representative; and

(b) eight private sector coffee associations or bodies from importing countries, whether Members or non-members, preferably representing both importers and roasters, together with one or more alternates for each representative.

(4) Each member of the PSCB may designate one or more advisers.

(5) The PSCB shall have a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman elected from among its members, for a period of one year. These officers may be re-elected. The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman shall not be paid by the Organization. The Chairman shall be invited to participate in meetings of the Council as an observer.

(6) The PSCB shall normally meet at the seat of the Organization, during regular sessions of the Council. In case of acceptance by the Council of an invitation by a Member to hold a meeting in its territory, the PSCB shall also meet in that territory, in which case the additional costs to the Organization involved above those incurred when the meeting is held at the seat of the Organization shall be borne by the country or private sector organization hosting the meeting.

(7) The PSCB may hold special meetings subject to approval by the Council. 

(8) The PSCB shall submit regular reports to the Council.

(9) The PSCB shall establish its own rules of procedure, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

CHAPTER IX – FINANCE

Article 23

Finance

(1) The expenses of delegations to the Council, representatives on the Executive Board and representatives on any of the committees of the Council or the Executive Board shall be met by their respective Governments.

(2) The other expenses necessary for the administration of this Agreement shall be met by annual contributions from the Members assessed in accordance with the provisions of Article 24, together with revenues from sales of specific services to Members and the sale of information and studies generated under the provisions of Articles 29 and 31.

(3) The financial year of the Organization shall be the same as the coffee year.

Article 24

Determination of the Administrative Budget and assessment of contributions

(1) During the second half of each financial year, the Council shall approve the Administrative Budget of the Organization for the following financial year and shall assess the contribution of each Member to that Budget. A draft Administrative Budget shall be prepared by the Executive Director under the supervision of the Executive Board in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (4) of Article 19.

(2) The contribution of each Member to the Administrative Budget for each financial year shall be in the proportion which the number of its votes at the time the Administrative Budget for that financial year is approved bears to the total votes of all the Members. However, if there is any change in the distribution of votes among Members in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (5) of Article 13 at the beginning of the financial year for which contributions are assessed, such contributions shall be correspondingly adjusted for that year. In determining contributions, the votes of each Member shall be calculated without regard to the suspension of the voting rights of any Member or any redistribution of votes resulting therefrom.

(3) The initial contribution of any Member joining the Organization after the entry into force of this Agreement shall be assessed by the Council on the basis of the number of votes to be held by it and the period remaining in the current financial year, but the assessments made upon other Members for the current financial year shall not be altered.

Article 25

Payment of contributions

(1) Contributions to the Administrative Budget for each financial year shall be payable in freely convertible currency and shall become due on the first day of that financial year.

(2) If any Member fails to pay its full contribution to the Administrative Budget within six months of the date on which the contribution is due, its voting rights, its right to be eligible for election to the Executive Board and its right to have its votes cast in the Executive Board shall be suspended until its contribution has been paid in full. However, unless the Council by a distributed two-thirds majority vote so decides, such Member shall not be deprived of any of its other rights nor relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement.

(3) Any Member whose voting rights have been suspended either under the provisions of paragraph (2) of this Article or under the provisions of Article 42 shall nevertheless remain responsible for the payment of its contribution.

Article 26

Liabilities

(1) The Organization, functioning as specified in paragraph (3) of Article 7, shall not have power to incur any obligation outside the scope of this Agreement, and shall not be taken to have been authorized by the Members to do so; in particular, it shall not have the capacity to borrow money. In exercising its capacity to contract, the Organization shall incorporate in its contracts the terms of this Article in such a way as to bring them to the notice of the other parties entering into contracts with the Organization, but any failure to incorporate such terms shall not invalidate such a contract or render it ultra vires.

(2) A Member’s liability is limited to the extent of its obligations regarding contributions specifically provided for in this Agreement. Third parties dealing with the Organization shall be deemed to have notice of the provisions of this Agreement regarding the liabilities of Members.

Article 27

Audit and publication of accounts

As soon as possible and not later than six months after the close of each financial year, an independently audited statement of the Organization’s assets, liabilities, income and expenditure during that financial year shall be prepared. This statement shall be presented to the Council for approval at its earliest forthcoming session.

CHAPTER X – THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE STAFF

Article 28

The Executive Director and the staff

(1) The Council shall appoint the Executive Director. The terms of appointment of the Executive Director shall be established by the Council and shall be comparable to those applying to corresponding officials of similar intergovernmental organizations.

(2) The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative officer of the Organization and shall be responsible for the performance of any duties devolving upon him in the administration of this Agreement.

(3) The Executive Director shall appoint the staff in accordance with regulations established by the Council.

(4) Neither the Executive Director nor any member of the staff shall have any financial interest in the coffee industry, the coffee trade or the transportation of coffee.

(5) In the performance of their duties, the Executive Director and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any Member or from any other authority external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Organization. Each Member undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Executive Director and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

CHAPTER XI – INFORMATION, STUDIES AND SURVEYS

Article 29

Information

(1) The Organization shall act as a centre for the collection, exchange and publication of:

(a) statistical information on world production, prices, exports, imports and re-exports, distribution and consumption of coffee; and

(b) in so far as is considered appropriate, technical information on the cultivation, processing and utilization of coffee.

(2) The Council may require Members to furnish such information as it considers necessary for its operations, including regular statistical reports on coffee production, production trends, exports, imports and re-exports, distribution, consumption, stocks, prices and taxation, but no information shall be published which might serve to identify the operations of persons or companies producing, processing or marketing coffee. Members, in so far as is possible, shall furnish information requested in as detailed, timely and accurate a manner as is practicable.

(3) The Council shall establish a system of indicator prices and shall provide for the publication of a daily composite indicator price which should reflect actual market conditions.

(4) If a Member fails to supply or finds difficulty in supplying within a reasonable time statistical and other information required by the Council for the proper functioning of the Organization, the Council may require the Member concerned to explain the reasons for non-compliance. If it is found that technical assistance is needed in the matter, the Council may take any necessary measures.

Article 30

Certificates of Origin

(1) In order to facilitate the collection of statistics on the international coffee trade and to ascertain the quantities of coffee which have been exported by each exporting Member, the Organization shall establish a system of Certificates of Origin, governed by rules approved by the Council.

(2) Every export of coffee by an exporting Member shall be covered by a valid Certificate of Origin. Certificates of Origin shall be issued, in accordance with the rules established by the Council, by a qualified agency chosen by the Member and approved by the Organization.

(3) Each exporting Member shall notify the Organization of the government or non-governmental agency which is to perform the functions specified in paragraph (2) of this Article. The Organization shall specifically approve a non-governmental agency in accordance with the rules approved by the Council.

(4) An exporting Member, on an exceptional basis and with proper justification, may submit, for approval by the Council, a request to allow data conveyed in Certificates of Origin concerning its exports of coffee to be transmitted to the Organization using an alternative method.

Article 31

Studies and surveys

(1) The Organization shall promote the preparation of studies and surveys concerning the economics of coffee production and distribution, the impact of governmental measures in producing and consuming countries on the production and consumption of coffee, and the opportunities for expansion of coffee consumption for traditional and possible new uses.

(2) In order to carry out the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article, the Council shall adopt, at its second regular session of each coffee year, a draft annual work programme of studies and surveys, with estimated resource requirements, prepared by the Executive Director.

(3) The Council may approve the undertaking by the Organization of studies and surveys to be conducted jointly or in cooperation with other organizations and institutions. In such cases, the Executive Director shall present to the Council a detailed account of the resource requirements from the Organization and from the partner or partners involved with the project.

(4) The studies and surveys to be promoted by the Organization pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be financed by resources included in the Administrative Budget, prepared in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 24, and shall be undertaken by members of the staff of the Organization and consultants as required.

CHAPTER XII – GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 32

Preparations for a new Agreement

(1) The Council may examine the possibility of negotiating a new International Coffee Agreement.

(2) In order to carry out this provision, the Council shall examine the progress made by the Organization in achieving the objectives of this Agreement as specified in Article 1.

Article 33

Removal of obstacles to consumption

(1) Members recognize the utmost importance of achieving the greatest possible increase of coffee consumption as rapidly as possible, in particular through the progressive removal of any obstacles which may hinder such increase.

(2) Members recognize that there are at present in effect measures which may to a greater or lesser extent hinder the increase in consumption of coffee, in particular:

(a) import arrangements applicable to coffee, including preferential and other tariffs, quotas, operations of government monopolies and official purchasing agencies, and other administrative rules and commercial practices;

(b) export arrangements as regards direct or indirect subsidies and other administrative rules and commercial practices; and

(c) internal trade conditions and domestic and regional legal and administrative provisions which may affect consumption.

(3) Having regard to the objectives stated above and to the provisions of paragraph(4) of this Article, Members shall endeavour to pursue tariff reductions on coffee or to take other action to remove obstacles to increased consumption.

(4) Taking into account their mutual interest, Members undertake to seek ways and means by which the obstacles to increased trade and consumption referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article may be progressively reduced and eventually, wherever possible, eliminated, or by which the effects of such obstacles may be substantially diminished.

(5) Taking into account any commitments undertaken under the provisions of paragraph (4) of this Article, Members shall inform the Council annually of all measures adopted with a view to implementing the provisions of this Article.

(6) The Executive Director shall prepare periodically a survey of the obstacles to consumption to be reviewed by the Council.

(7) The Council may, in order to further the purposes of this Article, make recommendations to Members which shall report as soon as possible to the Council on the measures adopted with a view to implementing such recommendations.

Article 34

Promotion

(1) Members recognize the need to promote, encourage and increase the consumption of coffee, and shall endeavour to encourage activities undertaken in this respect.

(2) The Promotion Committee, which shall be composed of all Members of the Organization, shall promote coffee consumption by appropriate activities, including information campaigns, research and studies related to coffee consumption. 

(3) Such promotion activities shall be financed by resources which may be pledged by Members, non-members, other organizations and the private sector at meetings of the Promotion Committee.

(4) Specific promotion projects may also be financed by voluntary contributions from Members, non-members, other organizations and the private sector.

(5) The Council shall establish separate accounts for the purposes of paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Article.

(6) The Promotion Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure, as well as establish the pertinent regulations for the participation of non-members, other organizations and the private sector consistent with the provisions of this Agreement. It shall report regularly to the Council.

Article 35

Measures related to processed coffee

Members recognize the need of developing countries to broaden the base of their economies through, inter alia, industrialization and the export of manufactured products, including the processing of coffee and the export of processed coffee, as referred to in sub-paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (g) of paragraph (1) of Article 2. In this connection, Members shall avoid the adoption of governmental measures which could cause disruption to the coffee sector of other Members. Members are encouraged to consult on the introduction of any such measures which might be considered to pose a risk of disruption. If these consultations do not lead to a mutually satisfactory solution, parties may invoke the procedures provided for in Articles 41 and 42. 

Article 36

Mixtures and substitutes

(1) Members shall not maintain any regulations requiring the mixing, processing or using of other products with coffee for commercial resale as coffee. Members shall endeavour to prohibit the sale and advertisement of products under the name of coffee if such products contain less than the equivalent of 95 percent green coffee as the basic raw material.

(2) The Council may request any Member to take the steps necessary to ensure observance of the provisions of this Article.

(3) The Executive Director shall submit to the Council a periodic report on compliance with the provisions of this Article.

Article 37

Consultation and cooperation with non-governmental organizations

Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 16, 21 and 22, the Organization shall maintain links with appropriate non-governmental organizations concerned with international commerce in coffee and with experts in coffee matters.

Article 38

Established coffee trade channels

Members shall conduct their activities within the framework of this Agreement in a manner consonant with established trade channels and shall refrain from discriminatory sales practices. In carrying out these activities they shall endeavour to take due account of the legitimate interests of the coffee trade and industry.

Article 39

Sustainable coffee economy

Members shall give due consideration to the sustainable management of coffee resources and processing, bearing in mind the principles and objectives on sustainable development contained in Agenda 21 agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Article 40

Standard of living and working conditions

Members shall give consideration to improving the standard of living and working conditions of populations engaged in the coffee sector, consistent with their stage of development, bearing in mind internationally recognized principles on these matters. Furthermore, Members agree that labour standards shall not be used for protectionist trade purposes.

CHAPTER XIII – CONSULTATIONS, DISPUTES AND COMPLAINTS

Article 41

Consultations

Each Member shall accord sympathetic consideration to, and shall afford adequate opportunity for, consultation regarding such representations as may be made by another Member with respect to any matter relating to this Agreement. In the course of such consultation, on request by either party and with the consent of the other, the Executive Director shall establish an independent panel which shall use its good offices with a view to conciliating the parties. The costs of the panel shall not be chargeable to the Organization. If a party does not agree to the establishment of a panel by the Executive Director, or if the consultation does not lead to a solution, the matter may be referred to the Council in accordance with the provisions of Article 42. If the consultation does lead to a solution, it shall be reported to the Executive Director who shall distribute the report to all Members.

Article 42

Disputes and complaints

(1)
Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement which is not settled by negotiation shall, at the request of any Member party to the dispute, be referred to the Council for decision.

(2) In any case where a dispute has been referred to the Council under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article, a majority of Members, or Members holding not less than one third of the total votes, may require the Council, after discussion, to seek the opinion of the advisory panel referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article on the issues in dispute before giving its decision.

(3)
(a) Unless the Council unanimously agrees otherwise, the advisory panel shall consist of:

(i) two persons, one having wide experience in matters of the kind in dispute and the other having legal standing and experience, nominated by the exporting Members;

(ii) two such persons nominated by the importing Members; and

(iii) a chairman selected unanimously by the four persons nominated under the provisions of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) or, if they fail to agree, by the Chairman of the Council.

(b) Persons from countries whose Governments are Contracting Parties to this Agreement shall be eligible to serve on the advisory panel.

(c) Persons appointed to the advisory panel shall act in their personal capacities and without instructions from any Government.

(d) The expenses of the advisory panel shall be paid by the Organization.

(4) The opinion of the advisory panel and the reasons therefor shall be submitted to the Council which, after considering all the relevant information, shall decide the dispute.

(5) The Council shall rule on any dispute brought before it within six months of submission of such dispute for its consideration.

(6) Any complaint that any Member has failed to fulfil its obligations under this Agreement shall, at the request of the Member making the complaint, be referred to the Council which shall make a decision on the matter.

(7) No Member shall be found to have been in breach of its obligations under this Agreement except by a distributed simple majority vote. Any finding that a Member is in breach of its obligations under this Agreement shall specify the nature of the breach.

(8) If the Council finds that a Member is in breach of its obligations under this Agreement, it may, without prejudice to other enforcement measures provided for in other Articles of this Agreement, by a distributed two-thirds majority vote, suspend such Member’s voting rights in the Council and its right to have its votes cast in the Executive Board until it fulfils its obligations, or the Council may decide to exclude such Member from the Organization under the provisions of Article 50.

(9) A Member may seek the prior opinion of the Executive Board in a matter of dispute or complaint before the matter is discussed by the Council.

CHAPTER XIV – FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 43

Signature

This Agreement shall be open for signature at the United Nations headquarters from 1 November 2000 until and including 25 September 2001 by Contracting Parties to the International Coffee Agreement 1994 or the International Coffee Agreement 1994 as extended, and Governments invited to the session of the International Coffee Council at which this Agreement was negotiated.

Article 44

Ratification, acceptance or approval

(1) This Agreement shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the signatory Governments in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.

(2) Except as provided for in Article 45, instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations not later than 25 September 2001. 

However, the Council may decide to grant extensions of time to signatory Governments which are unable to deposit their instruments by that date. Such decisions shall be transmitted by the Council to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 45

Entry into force

(1) This Agreement shall enter into force definitively on1 October 2001 if by that date Governments representing at least 15 exporting Members holding at least 70 percent of the votes of the exporting Members and at least 10 importing Members holding at least 70 percent of the votes of the importing Members, calculated as at 25 September 2001, without reference to possible suspension under the terms of Articles 25 and 42, have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval. Alternatively, it shall enter into force definitively at any time after 1 October 2001 if it is provisionally in force in accordance with the provisions of paragraph(2) of this Article and these percentage requirements are satisfied by the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval.

(2) This Agreement may enter into force provisionally on 1October 2001. For this purpose, a notification by a signatory Government or by any other Contracting Party to the International Coffee Agreement 1994 as extended, containing an undertaking to apply this new Agreement provisionally, in accordance with its laws and regulations, and to seek ratification, acceptance or approval in accordance with its constitutional procedures as rapidly as possible, which is received by the Secretary-General of the United Nations not later than 25 September 2001, shall be regarded as equal in effect to an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval. A Government which undertakes to apply this Agreement provisionally, in accordance with its laws and regulations, pending the deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be regarded as a provisional Party thereto until it deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, or until and including 30 June 2002 whichever is the earlier. The Council may grant an extension of the time within which any Government which is applying this Agreement provisionally may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

(3) If this Agreement has not entered into force definitively or provisionally on 1 October 2001 under the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2) of this Article, those Governments which have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or made notifications containing an undertaking to apply this Agreement provisionally, in accordance with their laws and regulations, and to seek ratification, acceptance or approval may, by mutual consent, decide that it shall enter into force among themselves. Similarly, if this Agreement has entered into force provisionally but has not entered into force definitively on 31 March 2002, those Governments which have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or made the notifications referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article, may, by mutual consent, decide that it shall continue in force provisionally or enter into force definitively among themselves.

Article 46

Accession

(1) The Government of any State member of the United Nations or of any of its specialized agencies may accede to this Agreement upon conditions which shall be established by the Council.

(2) Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The accession shall take effect upon deposit of the instrument.

Article 47

Reservations

Reservations may not be made with respect to any of the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 48

Extension to designated territories

(1) Any Government may, at the time of signature or deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, provisional application or accession, or at any time thereafter, by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, declare that this Agreement shall extend to any of the territories for whose international relations it is responsible; this Agreement shall extend to the territories named therein from the date of such notification.

(2) Any Contracting Party which desires to exercise its rights under the provisions of Article 5 in respect of any of the territories for whose international relations it is responsible or which desires to authorize any such territory to become part of a Member group formed under the provisions of Article 6, may do so by making a notification to that effect to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, either at the time of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, provisional application or accession, or at any later time.

(3) Any Contracting Party which has made a declaration under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article may at any time thereafter, by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, declare that this Agreement shall cease to extend to the territory named in the notification. This Agreement shall cease to extend to such territory from the date of such notification.

(4) When a territory to which this Agreement has been extended under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article subsequently attains its independence, the Government of the new State may, within 90 days after the attainment of independence, declare by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it has assumed the rights and obligations of a Contracting Party to this Agreement. 

It shall, as from the date of such notification, become a Contracting Party to this Agreement. The Council may grant an extension of the time within which such notification may be made.

Article 49

Voluntary withdrawal

Any Contracting Party may withdraw from this Agreement at any time by giving a written notice of withdrawal to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Withdrawal shall become effective 90 days after the notice is received.

Article 50

Exclusion

If the Council decides that any Member is in breach of its obligations under this Agreement and decides further that such breach significantly impairs the operation of this Agreement, it may, by a distributed two-thirds majority vote, exclude such Member from the Organization. The Council shall immediately notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations of any such decision. Ninety days after the date of the Council’s decision, such Member shall cease to be a Member of the Organization and, if such Member is a Contracting Party, a Party to this Agreement.

Article 51

Settlement of accounts with withdrawing or excluded Members

(1) The Council shall determine any settlement of accounts with a withdrawing or excluded Member. The Organization shall retain any amounts already paid by a withdrawing or excluded Member and such Member shall remain bound to pay any amounts due from it to the Organization at the time the withdrawal or the exclusion becomes effective; provided, however, that in the case of a Contracting Party which is unable to accept an amendment and consequently ceases to participate in this Agreement under the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 53, the Council may determine any settlement of accounts which it finds equitable.

(2) A Member which has ceased to participate in this Agreement shall not be entitled to any share of the proceeds of liquidation or the other assets of the Organization; nor shall it be liable for payment of any part of the deficit, if any, of the Organization upon termination of this Agreement.

Article 52

Duration and termination

(1) This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of six years until 30 September 2007 unless extended under the provisions of paragraph (2) of this Article or terminated under the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Article.

(2) The Council may, by a vote of a majority of the Members having not less than a distributed two-thirds majority of the total votes, decide to extend this Agreement beyond 30 September 2007 for one or more successive periods not to exceed six years in total. Any Member which does not accept any such extension of this Agreement shall so inform the Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations in writing before the commencement of the period of extension and shall cease to be a Party to this Agreement from the beginning of the period of extension.

(3) The Council may at any time, by a vote of a majority of the Members having not less than a distributed two-thirds majority of the total votes, decide to terminate this Agreement. Termination shall take effect on such date as the Council shall decide.

(4) Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, the Council shall remain in being for as long as necessary to take such decisions as are needed during the period of time required for the liquidation of the Organization, settlement of its accounts and disposal of its assets. 

(5) Any decision taken with respect to the duration and/or termination of this Agreement and any notification received by the Council pursuant to this Article shall be duly transmitted by the Council to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 53

Amendment

(1) The Council may, by a distributed two-thirds majority vote, recommend an amendment of this Agreement to the Contracting Parties. The amendment shall become effective 100 days after the Secretary-General of the United Nations has received notifications of acceptance from Contracting Parties representing at least 70 percent of the exporting countries holding at least 75 percent of the votes of the exporting Members, and from Contracting Parties representing at least 70 percent of the importing countries holding at least 75 percent of the votes of the importing Members. The Council shall fix a time within which Contracting Parties shall notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations of their acceptance of the amendment. If, on expiry of such time limit, the percentage requirements for the entry into effect of the amendment have not been met, the amendment shall be considered withdrawn.

(2) Any Contracting Party which has not notified acceptance of an amendment within the period fixed by the Council, or any territory which is either a Member or a party to a Member group on behalf of which such notification has not been made by that date, shall cease to participate in this Agreement from the date on which such amendment becomes effective.

(3) The Council shall notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations of any amendments distributed to the Contracting Parties under this Article.

Article 54

Supplementary and transitional provisions

The following shall apply in relation to the International Coffee Agreement 1994, as extended:

(a) all acts by or on behalf of the Organization or any of its organs under the International Coffee Agreement 1994 as extended, in effect on 30 September 2001, the terms of which do not provide for expiry on that date, shall remain in effect unless changed under the provisions of this Agreement; and

(b) all decisions required to be taken by the Council during coffee year 2000/01 for application in coffee year 2001/02 shall be taken by the Council in coffee year 2000/01 and applied on a provisional basis as if this Agreement had already entered into force.

Article 55

Authentic texts of the Agreement

The texts of this Agreement in the English, French, Portuguese and Spanish languages shall all be equally authentic. The originals shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, having been duly authorized to this effect by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement on the dates appearing opposite their signatures.

ANNEX I

CONVERSION FACTORS FOR ROASTED, DECAFFEINATED, LIQUID AND SOLUBLE COFFEE AS DEFINED IN THE INTERNATIONAL COFFEE AGREEMENT 1994

Roasted coffee

To find the equivalent of roasted coffee to green coffee, multiply the net weight of roasted coffee by 1.19.

Decaffeinated coffee

To find the equivalent of decaffeinated coffee to green coffee, multiply the net weight of the decaffeinated coffee in green, roasted or soluble form by 1.00, 1.19 or 2.6 respectively.

Liquid coffee

To find the equivalent of liquid coffee to green coffee, multiply the net weight of the dried coffee solids contained in the liquid coffee by 2.6.

Soluble coffee

To find the equivalent of soluble coffee to green coffee, multiply the net weight of the soluble coffee by 2.6.