The INC is taking part in a new electronic working group, convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), tasked with revising the UNECE Agricultural Quality Standard for Dates.
As background, at the June 2025 session of the UNECE Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce, delegates reviewed a proposal to amend the standard for dates. The rationale for the proposal is to avoid ambiguity and overlap between the UNECE standard and the Codex Alimentarius standard for fresh dates, which was approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2025. To clarify that the UNECE standard covers dried dates, the proposed amendments would include the words “dried” and “rehydrated” in both the title of the standard and in the definition of the produce.
The INC took part in the first online meeting of the working group on January 9, 2026. The group aims to finalize the proposal at its next meeting, scheduled for February 2. In addition to the INC, the working group includes members representing Algeria, France, Germany and the USA, as well as the International Dates Council.