The 18th Session of Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV)

24 – 28 February, 2014,

Bangkok, Thailand

Co-hosted by

National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS), Thailand

In cooperation with

Dirección General de Normas (DGN), Mexico

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INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES

The 18th Session of Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV)

24 – 28 February, 2014,

Bangkok, Thailand

------1. Meeting information

Date and Venue of the meeting

Date : 24 – 28 February, 2014

Venue : Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok 11 Sukhumvit Soi 24, Klongton, Klongtoei, Bangkok, Thailand

Tel : (+66) (0) 2 620 6666 Fax: (+66) (0) 2649 6709 E-mail : [email protected]

Accommodation Hotel room blocks have been reserved for participants attending the 18th Session of Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (CCFFV) at the Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, until 16th February 2014.

Registration/Opening Registration services will be provided at registration desk in front of Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor, the Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok from 08.00 to 12:00 hrs: - The official opening ceremony will be taken place before plenary session on 24 Febraury 2014 at 9.30 hrs at Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor Name badges will be provided at the registration desk. Delegates are requested to wear their name badges at all functions during the meeting.

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Documentation For this session there will not be hard copies of the working documents provided except (CRDs). Delegates are requested to bring their own documents to the meeting. These are available in English, French and Spanish on www.codexalimentarius.org

Translation and Interpretation Services The 18th CCFFV Meeting will be conducted in English, French and Spanish. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in these languages during the meeting.

Accommodation

The Meeting will be taken place in Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok where the participants will get the special rate. Delegates are reminded that they are responsible for making their own hotel accommodation arrangement. It is recommended that the reservation should be made by 16th February 2014 to guarantee this special rate.

Daily Room rates Single Twin Guest Room Category THB 5,300.*- Net THB 5,800.*- Superior Room Net

*The room rates quoted above are: - Inclusive of buffet breakfast - Inclusive of broadband internet access in room. Reservation can be made directly to the hotel. Please use the attached hotel reservation form to secure your reservation.

Travel from Airport to the Hotel 1. Taxi Taxi is the most convenient transportation from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel. The taxi stand is on the 1st floor. The taxi fare will be charged by metering which is around 350-450 Thai Baht (depend on traffic) plus 50 baht service charge ad 75 baht express way fee. The transportation time is around 1-1.30 hrs depends on traffic.

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2. Airport Rail Link The Airport Rail Link City Line provides service between Suvarnabhumi Airport (underground floor) to Phayathai station where the passenger can take taxi or connect to BTS skytrain to Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel. The fare of City Line is 45 Baht while the running time is 30 minutes.The nearest BTS skytrain station to the hotel is Phromphong (ES) on Sukhumvit Line. Walking from the station to the hotel is ≈ 10 minutes.

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Other hotels located nearby the Meeting Venue Please use Code : 18th CCFFV

Walking Hotel Contact detail Room rate Distance to the Venue 1. Double Tree by 18/1 Sukhumvit Soi 26, Bangkok, 10110, Single THB 4,100.-Net 5 min Hilton Sukhumvit Thailand Double THB 4,400.-Net Tel: +66 (0)2649 6666 Fax: +66 (0)2649 6709 Email: [email protected] 2. Ariston Hotel 19 Sukhumvit Soi 24, , Superior 5-10 min Bangkok Bangkok 10110, Thailand - Single THB 1,800.- Net Tel. +66(0)2 260 0088 - Double THB 2,000.- Net fax: +66(0) 259 0970-1 Executive suites E-mail: reservation@ariston - Single THB 2,500.- Net hotelbkk.com - Double THB 2,700.- Net

Deluxe suites (with Jacuzzi)

- Single THB 2,900.- Net - Double THB 3,100 .- Net Princess suites (with Jacuzzi) - Single THB 2,900.- Net - Double THB 3,100.-Net

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Walking Hotel Contact detail Room rate Distance to the Venue 3 Arize Hotel 8/8 Sukhumvit Soi 26, Sukhumvit Road, Superior 5-10 min Sukhumvit Bangkok 10110, Thailand - Single THB 2,590.- Net Tel +66(0)2204 4888 fax: +66(0)2204 4848 - Double THB 2,825.- Net E-mail: [email protected] Deluxe - Single THB 2,707.- Net - Double THB 2,943 .- Net 1 Bed room suite - Single THB 3,296.- Net - Double THB 3,531 .- Net

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2. General Information

About Thailand

Location Thailand is situated in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland, covering an area of 513,115 square kilometers and extending about 1,620 kilometres from north to south and 775 kilometres from east to west. Bordering Lao PDR, the Union of Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia, the country is topographically divided into four distinct areas: the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and the Southern peninsula.

Historical Background Siam is the name by which the country was known to the world until 1939 and again between 1945 and 1949. On May 11, 1949, an official proclamation changed the name of the country to “Prathet Thai” or “Thailand” which means “Land of the Free”.

Capital The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok. It is located in the central part of the country on the low-flat plain of the Chao Phraya River, which is the main waterway of the country. The metropolis has a total area of 1,568 square kilometres. The current population of Thailand approximates 65 millions, of which around 8 millions in the capital city, Bangkok.

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Climate

Thailand has a warm, humid, tropical climate all year which affected by an annual monsoon. There are basically three seasons; cool, summer, and rainy whilst the southern region of Thailand has only two. The cool season mark from end of November to early of February. The weather in Bangkok during late February ranges from 18ºC to 32ºC. The day temperature sometime may climb down to below 30°C. The night temperature may occasionally drop to lower 20°C while in northern and northeast Thailand, temperatures can get quite cool with night temperatures as low as 8º C to 12º C.

The rainy season begins from June through October, with temperatures ranging from 24 oC to 34 oC. The amount of rainfall varies with topography. However, it is usually broken up with a moment or a day of sunshine.

Summer is generally dry from March to May with average temperatures around 34 oC in Bangkok, but sometimes it can reach 42 oC with the humidity levels of 75%, especially during April.

Electricity 220 volts 50 cycles throughout the country

Currency and Exchange The official monetary unit in Thailand is BAHT. The exchange rate of 1 US$ is equivalent to approximately 31 baht (as of November 2013). Currency exchanges are available at banks and foreign exchange houses. 1 Baht = 100 Satangs Bank Notes: 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 Baht Coins: 1, 2, 5, and 10 Baht

Foreign Exchange Delegates may bring with them into Thailand unrestricted sums of foreign currency in the form of traveller’s cheques, drafts, letters of credit or other banking instruments which may be exchanged for Thai currency at the prevailing bank rates. However, participants may be required to declare the amount of traveller’s cheques or foreign currency in their possession upon arrival at the International Airport in Bangkok .

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Credit cards Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops. Business Hours (Monday to Friday) Government sector: 8.30 to 16.30 hrs. Bank: 8.30 to 15.30 hrs. Public agency: 8.30 to 16.30 hrs. Shopping centres: 10.00 to 21.00 hrs.

Telephone Services : The international dialing code for Thailand is 66. When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001+country code + area code + telephone number

Smoking Smoking in the public area is prohibited

Drinking Water Tap water is clean but drinking from it directly is not recommended. Bottled water is recommended

Entry Requirements

Visitors must be in possession of a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six (6) months beyond the intended visiting period. Delegates are strongly recommended to check with visa requirement and apply for visa, if required, at least 30 days before travel date. For updated information on visa requirement, please visit: http://www.immigration.go.th.

VAT Refund

Visitors entering the Kingdom on tourist visas are entitled to refunds of the 7% value- added tax (VAT) paid on goods purchased at shops and department stores displaying “VAT Refund for Tourists” signs.

Thai Fruits

Thailand is home for wide variety of nutritious tropical fruits, both seasonal, such as durian(the king of fruit), rambutan, mangosteen, longan, lychee and all-year-round, such as papaya, guava, coconut, banana, pineapple, rose apple. Thailand is the major durian producer. The durian season is generally peak in the middle of the year around June-July. Four major cultivars grown commercially are Mon Thong and

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Chanee, which covered 90% of the fruit produced while the remaining 10% are the cultivars Kaan Yao and Kradum Thong.

BANGKOK

ATTRACTION

The The Grand Palace is where every visitor must pay a visit. It was built in 1782 during the reign of King Rama I, the founder of Chakri Dynasty, The Grand Palace is divided into three zones: The Outer Court, that is home to royal offices, public buildings and or the Temple of Emerald Buddha; the Middle Court, which is where the most important residential and state buildings are; and the Inner Court, which is exclusively reserved for the king, his queen and his consorts.

Wat Phra Kaew Wat Phra Kaew, commonly known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The temple is in the outer section of the Royal Enclosure west of the Grand Palace. it enshrines the image of the Emerald Buddha (Phra Putta Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn or Phra Kaeo Morakot), carved from a single block of jade. It was built on the orders of King Rama I along with the Grand Palace and Rattanakosin Island. It has no resident monks. Opening Hours: Daily 8.30 am to 3.30 pm

SHOPPING In Bangkok’s incredibly urbanised cityscape there are shopping malls and department stores everywhere. When out shopping in Bangkok you can discover ultra-chic and trendy malls such as :

Terminal 21

Bangkok's is the newest shopping centre to be opened in Bangkok. This recentlty opened mall is situated on Sukhumvit and Asok intersection

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(between Soi 19 and 21) and directly connected to BTS Skytrain and Bangkok Metro with skywalk, at Asok Station and Sukhumvit Station. Terminal 21 is diffferent from the other high end malls because it has a large number of privately owned shops rather than typical brand named chain stores. Every floor in this mega mall has its own theme. It gives you the opportunity to visit several destinations in the world in just one day as it was decorated as well-known city streets such as Rome, Paris, Tokyo, London, Istanbul etc.

Siam Paragon For years the Emporium has enjoyed the position of the leading Shopping Mall in not just Bangkok but Thailand, followed very closely by some of the Central Department Stores such as the Central Chidlom. The and also Central Chidlom have now in our view taken over this prestigious accolade and they offer everything, if not even more, than the Emporium. The Siam Paragon opened its doors in December 2005 and is quite literally enormous. This is an absolute must for travelers to Bangkok in search of high quality merchandise. As with most other Malls and Department Stores do, remember to take your passport so you can enjoy the 5% Tourist Discount, and also make sure you claim VAT. It should also be noted that the Siam Paragon is home to many of the world's leading designers in Bangkok and while the actual mall may close at around 10:30 many of the designer shops close much earlier, so if you are looking for Gucci, Zegna, LV, etc then an afternoon or morning visit is advised.

Emporium Emporium, Sukhumvit Soi 26, is an excellent shopping centre and was for many years the best in Bangkok, it has a cinema, and a lot of quality designer wears. They also have an excellent food court at ridiculously cheap prices, which offers diners a lovely view over the adjacent small park. They regularly have very good sales, which are always worth checking out with discounts anywhere from 15 - 80% off at times. While this should still be a must visit on your shopping spree in Bangkok, we do recommend Central Chidlom and Siam Paragon over the Emporium. As with most major malls a tourist card which is available for free, will allow you 5% or 10% discount off regular priced items. (skytrain station Phrom Phong).

Siam Square This is a small area with lots of excellent shops can be found. The Hard Rock Cafe and CM2 disco is also in this vicinity.

MBK (Mahbunkrong) MBK is 6 floors of little shops that sell assorted goods. Everything can be bought here at very good prices. It is hectic and busy especially at the weekend, but if you are looking for a bargain this is a great, if not a tiring place to start. MBK is a shopping must on any visit to Bangkok.

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Jatujak Weekend Market (JJ Market) Covering 70 rai (35 acres) of land with over 15,000 stalls and more than 200,000 visitors every Saturday and Sunday, in Bangkok is the mother of all markets - and possibly one of the biggest and most famous markets in the world. If bargain-hunting gives you an adrenalin rush, get ready for a head-spinning, earth-moving experience. Conquering this massive market is no easy feat though. The reward for taking a lot of patience along - together with a bottle of water - is that you can find pretty much anything here.

Platinum Fashion Mall. A relatively new shopping center in the Petchburi area, caters especially to wholesale clothing, selling a similar range of clothing to the Pratunam Market across the street, except in air-conditioned comfort. The mall has six floors which are filled with small outlets - most of them specialising in women's clothing and fashion accessories. Since this is a wholesale mall, you can get items at very reasonable prices - provided you buy larger quantities, usually three items and up. The price you pay will be about 30% lower per piece. Some shops allow you to mix different types of items, for example, purses and bags, shirts and trousers. And as with most shopping malls in the city, there is also a food court on the fifth floor, along with cafés and fast food chains. If you're coming from Central World, you shouldn't have any trouble finding it. Just head north, cross the small canal, and turn left into Petchburi Road, a few metres along and you're there.

Asiatique The the Riverfront is a Bangkok's trendiest riverside community mall combining shopping, dining, sightseeing, activities and events under one roof, located on Charoen Krung Road. It was built under the Life Museum concept, taking visitors back to the past, while decorations combine the hints of modern living. The design of Asiatique was influenced by the architectural style during the reign of His Majesty King Rama V, indicating the rise of the era in the past. There are also the spectacular Cabaret show from Calypso Bangkok and the life-like movements of Thai puppets featured by Joe Louis Puppet Theatre. Visitors can discover new perspective of Bangkok at the highest point of ASIATIQUE sky, the highest Ferris wheel in Thailand.

Tourist Information Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) Head Office: Tel: +66 2694 1222 ext. 1000-1004, +66 2282 9773-6 Website: www.tat.or.th, www.tourismthailand.org, www.bangkok.com

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If you have any questions regarding this meeting, please contact Thailand’s Codex Contact Point at Tel : (+66) (0) 2 561 2277 ext 1411 , Fax: (+66) (0) 2 561 3357, 561 3373 or e-mail to [email protected]

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