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Website
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à www.ippc.int
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Objective
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à The
IPPC is an international treaty for plant protection. Its purpose is to "secur[e] common and
effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants
and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures for their control",
i.e. (See 1997 Amendments, Article I).
à Although
the IPPC has strong implications for international trade, its focus is
international cooperation for plant protection. Many forms of cooperation fall within the
scope of the Convention. Its application to plants is not limited to the
protection of cultivated plants or direct damage from pests. The scope of the Convention extends to the
protection of cultivated and natural flora, as well as plant products, and
includes direct and indirect damage by pests.
à The
Preamble recognizes that phytosanitary measures should be technically
justified, transparent and should not be applied in such a way as to
constitute either a means of arbitrary or unjustified discrimination or a
disguised restriction, particularly on international trade; it also takes note of the Agreements
concluded as a result of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade
Negotiations, including the SPS Agreement.
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Date of Adoption
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November 1979
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November 1997
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Entry into force
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4 April 1991
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Not in force (Entry into force requires acceptance by two-thirds
of the contracting parties). (See Article XII:4 of IPPC 1979 below)
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1) Entry into Force: General
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Article XIV – Entry into
force
"As soon as
this Convention has been ratified by three signatory states it shall come
into force between them. It shall come into force for each state ratifying or
adhering thereafter from the date of deposit of its instrument of
ratification or adherence".
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Article XXII – Entry
into force
"As soon as
this Convention has been ratified by three signatory states it shall come
into force among them. It shall come into force for each state or member
organization of FAO ratifying or adhering thereafter from the date of deposit
of its instrument of ratification or adherence".
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2) Entry into Force of Amendments
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Article XII:4 –
Amendment
"4. Any such
proposed amendment of this Convention shall require the approval of the
Conference of FAO and shall come into force as from the thirtieth day after
acceptance by two-thirds of the contracting parties. Amendments involving new
obligations for contracting parties, however, shall come into force in
respect of each contracting party only on acceptance by it and as from the
thirtieth day after such acceptance".
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Article XXI:4 – Amendment
"4. Any such
proposed amendment of this Convention shall require the approval of the
Commission and shall come into force as from the thirtieth day after
acceptance by two-thirds of the contracting parties. For the purpose of this
Article, an instrument deposited by a member organization of FAO shall not be
counted as additional to those deposited by member states of such an
organization".
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Parties
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120
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So far, 44 states have accepted the 1997 Amendments.
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WTO Members
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99 Parties to IPPC are also WTO Members.
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38 states that have accepted the 1997 Amendments are also WTO
Members.
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Openness of membership
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IPPC 1979: Article XI –
Ratification and adherence
"1. This
Convention shall be open for signature by all states until 1 May 1952 and
shall be ratified at the earliest possible date. The instruments of
ratification shall be deposited with the Director-General of FAO, who shall
give notice of the date of deposit to each of the signatory states.
2. As soon as this
Convention has come into force in accordance with Article XIV, it shall be
open for adherence by non-signatory states. Adherence shall be effected by
the deposit of an instrument of adherence with the Director-General of FAO,
who shall notify all signatory and adhering states".
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Article XVII – Ratification and adherence
1. Ibid. IPPC 1979.
2. Ibid. IPPC 1979.
"3. When a
member organization of FAO becomes a contracting party to this Convention,
the member organization shall, in accordance with the provisions of Article
II paragraph 7 of the FAO Constitution, as appropriate, notify at the time of
its adherence such modifications or clarifications to its declaration of
competence submitted under Article II paragraph 5 of the FAO Constitution as
may be necessary in light of its acceptance of this Convention. Any
contracting party to this Convention may, at any time, request a member
organization of FAO that is a contracting party to this Convention to provide
information as to which, as between the member organization and its member
states, is responsible for the implementation of any particular matter
covered by this Convention. The member organization shall provide this
information within a reasonable time".
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