REPORT of THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION
CONVENTION SECRETARIAT (IPPC)
(As of 1 october 2015)
The following communication,
received on 10 October 2015, is being circulated at the request of the International
Plant Protection Convention secretariat (IPPC).
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1 Introduction
1.1. This report covers the period July - October 2015.
1.2. The Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC) has begun actively implementing the results of the 2014 IPPC Secretariat
Enhancement Evaluation. Among other things, the Secretariat is finalizing an
action plan which will include restructuring of the Secretariat, enhanced
internal communication and working procedures, streamlining of reporting lines
and a more open attitude to FAO and other partners.
1.3. The IPPC Secretary and Coordinator participated in a meeting of the
Liaison Group of Biodiversity related Conventions in early September. The
agenda covered a wide variety of topics, and the IPPC reported on developments
related to activities related to the International Year of Plant Health
proposal (https://www.ippc.int/en/iyph/),
as well as ePhyto efforts (to include additional cooperation between CITES and
IPPC on similar systems). BLG conventions were invited to take part in the
upcoming International Symposium on ePhyto to be held in Korea on 9‑13 November
2015. Of particular note was a request from CBD for parties to all of the MEAs
to work with their CBD national focal point to identify financial needs for the
next Global Environmental Fund (GEF) funding cycle.
2 Standard Setting Work Programme
2.1. Member Consultation. The following draft ISPMS were approved by the
Standards Committee for member consultation[1]
(1 July-30 November 2015): (1) Draft Appendix to ISPM 20 Arrangements
for verification of compliance of consignments by the importing country in the
exporting country (2005-003); (2) Draft revisions to ISPM 15 (Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade)
– Annex 1 and 2 for inclusion of the phytosanitary treatment Sulphuryl fluoride fumigation of wood packaging material
(2006-010A) and the
revision of the dielectric heating section in Annex 1 of ISPM 15 (2006-010B);
(3) Draft Annex to ISPM 27 - Aphelenchoides besseyi,
A. fragariae and A. ritzemabosi
(2006-025); (4) Draft Annex to ISPM 27 - Xanthomonas fragariae
(2004-012); (5) Draft Annex to ISPM 27 - Sorghum halepense
(2006-027); (6) Draft Annex to ISPM 28 - Heat treatment of wood
using dielectric heating (2007-114); (7) Draft Annex to ISPM 28 - Sulphuryl fluoride fumigation of insects in debarked wood
(2007-101A); (8)
Draft Annex to ISPM 28 - Sulphuryl fluoride
fumigation of nematodes and insects in debarked wood (2007-101B);
and (9) Draft Annex to ISPM 28 - Vapour heat treatment for
Bactrocera tryoni on Mangifera indica (2010-107).
2.2. Standard Setting Calendar. The standard setting calendar is
available on the IPP.[2]
3 National Reporting Obligations
3.1. Contact points. IPPC contact points continue to update their
information on the IPP – there are more than 50 new contact points alone in the
last 12 months. Any contracting parties communicating with other IPPC contact
points should visit the IPP frequently to ensure they have the latest contact
information. Although the "IPPC Year of the IPPC Contact Point" is
now complete, the Secretariat continues working with countries to update this
information as a matter of high priority.
3.2. International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) https://www.ippc.int. There have been a number
of updates on the recently updated IPPC website by contracting parties, along
with news and information from the Secretariat. Please visit the website
regularly to get the latest updates, especially for IPPC contact points as they
change frequently.
3.3. Usage of the NRO webpage continues to increase. Countries that are
reporting IPPC obligatory information to the WTO are encouraged to provide this
information (minimal modification is necessary) through the IPP to ensure they
meet their IPPC reporting obligations.
3.4. The IPPC once again reminds SPS Committee Members that it continues
to see evidence of a lack of coordination and/or communication between SPS
authorities and IPPC contact points in countries, as well as a lack of
understanding by some governments that meeting their WTO notification
obligations does not in any way automatically meet their IPPC reporting
obligations; i.e. they are two totally legally independent multi-lateral
instruments of equal status. This remains a serious issue of concern.
3.5. The information available through the IPP has substantially
increased the number of resources available to support standard and IPPC
implementation, capacity development and the Implementation Review and Support
System (IRSS). This information is being increased continually and is available
through: (1) Phytosanitary Resources in Support of IPPC Implementation: http://www.phytosanitary.info; (2) IRSS:
https://www.ippc.int/en/irss/activities/; (3) IPPC Projects Database:
http://www.phytosanitary.info/projects;
(4) eLearning: http://elearning.phytosanitary.info;
and (5) A summary of IPPC Publications: https://www.ippc.int/en/media-kit/.
3.6. Pest Reporting.
The secretariat is working to improve pest reporting in order to allow users to
access this information in a more constructive and analytical manner. We remind
members that the secretariat is now in a position to accept pest reporting from
IPPC contracting parties via EPPO i.e. to undertake pest reporting through the
RPPOs (as agreed in CPM). This should significantly increase the number,
accuracy and timeliness of pest reports received from EPPO member countries.
3.7. Communications. The International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) has
been confirmed as the IPPC's main communication tool, and an IPPC newsletter
has been developed. New publications and manuals are also under development.
The following social media pages for the IPPC are
available: (1) Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Plant-Protection-Convention-IPPC/113230338690380;
(2) Twitter: https://twitter.com/ippcnews;
(3) LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3175642&trk=hb_side_g; (4) Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/international_plant_protection_convention/;
and (5) YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/IPPCnews.
4 Dispute Settlement
4.1. The IPPC secretariat has for a number of years been very active in
dispute avoidance and this remains the focus for IPPC contracting parties. The secretariat
is revising all documentation to explicitly detail options available for
dispute avoidance.
4.2. The IPPC is also engaged with the two of the IPPC contracting
parties in the resolution of a dispute. The formation of an expert panel to
review the issue has been somewhat difficult as options are quite limited for
panellists without prior involvement in this issue. As of the writing of this
paper, the secretariat is still unable to form an expert panel.
5 IPPC Capacity Development Committee (CDC)
5.1. As a result of the 2014 IPPC secretariat Enhancement Evaluation,
changes will be forthcoming as the evaluation recommends the formation of a new
committee under the auspices of a new unit to be called the Implementation
Facilitation Unit. While the terms of reference for this new committee are yet
to be established, the committee will be taking on the roles of the current
Capacity Development Committee as well as others. Until the time of the new
committee being established, the CDC will continue to operate. The next meeting
of the CDC will be taking place from 30 November to 4 December 2015.
6 Technical resources and other information for technical assistance
6.1. The phytosanitary technical resources web page (http://www.phytosanitary.info) has the
objective to be used as an information platform for technical resources to
support the implementation of the IPPC and its standards. The page includes
various categories of phytosanitary resources and tools (advocacy, diagnostic
protocols, guides, manuals, pest information, photos, standard operating
procedures, videos, etc.). Members are encouraged to visit the page as well as
propose additional contributions.
6.2. Additional new materials such as manuals that were developed under
the auspice of the IPPC secretariat and with the direction of the CDC have been
posted on the web page. Other materials in development will be made available
in the near future.
7 REGIONAL IPPC WORKSHOPS
7.1. The IPPC continues to support and attend the Regional IPPC workshops
to review draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) to
the greatest extent possible based on the resources available. Workshops have
already taken place in the Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the
Caribbean and the Near East.
7.2. The workshops now address a broader range of IPPC-related issues in
addition to discuss and prepare the comments on draft ISPMs. These Regional
IPPC workshops are planned in cooperation with a range of regional partners,
and some with EU funding. In the future, the IPPC plans to make even greater
use of these workshops as a means to facilitate enhanced communication with our
contracting parties.
8 IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND SUPPORT SYSTEM (IRSS)
8.1. The second three year cycle of the IRSS began in April 2014 and is focusing
on strengthening the Support element using largely the outputs of the first
cycle in particular the data gathered through its many surveys.
8.2. The IRSS has had notable impact resulting in stimulating the CPM to
discuss the need for a more focused approach on implementation activities. In
this regard the CPM decided to establish an open ended working group on
Implementation which convened in Rome in August 2014 and considered the
elements for such a programme including a pilot activity on pest surveillance
building on current IPPC and IPPC partner activities and the results of the
work of the IRSS.
8.3. Subsequent to this meeting, as well as discussions held in the
Strategic Planning Group and Bureau, CPM-10 (2014) agreed to go forward, if
resources become available, with an implementation programme focusing on ISPM 6
which covers surveillance. As some resources have been identified, this effort
has been initiated.
9 RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
9.1. The secretariat would like to thank all those contracting parties
and other donors who contributed to the 2014 budget and activities of the IPPC.
The IPPC once again encourages them to consider future, sustainable
contributions. These donations will help to ensure the core work programme will
be delivered. A full list of support is made available to CPM each year and can
be found at: https://www.ippc.int/resource-mobilisation.
9.2. The sustainability of the IPPC secretariat, and hence the work
programme of the IPPC, continues to be addressed as a high priority on an
on-going basis. The current resource allocation (financial and human resources)
measured against projected tasks is not sustainable, and in the absence of
additional voluntary contributions for 2016 will be drastically reduced. The secretariat
continues to engage in discussions with the governing body as well as
traditional and non-traditional partners to improve the situation. In addition,
the secretariat has established a resource mobilization task force which is now
actively engaging in a resource mobilization effort.
9.3. It cannot be stressed enough that it is essential the IPPC receive
regular and predictable contributions to provide sustainability to the work
programme. The FAO continues to faces severe financial challenges and is
seeking cost reduction efforts in most areas; as a result the resources
available to the IPPC activities continue to be affected, specifically in the
area of information technology and support for the On-line Comment System.
9.4. The secretariat remains open to any discussion with members or
partner organizations that could provide solutions to the current challenges,
particularly in the medium to long term.
10 Cooperation with the WTO Standard Setting Organizations
10.1. The IPPC secretariat would like to once again draw attention to the
following current on-going activities with Codex and OIE: (1) Codex and the
IPPC continue explore ways of addressing their IT needs in a more sustainable
manner and share tools and skills when appropriate; (2) Codex and the IPPC
are now collaborating fully in the operational maintenance and improvement of
the OCS; (3) Codex, OIE and the IPPC continue to engage in consultations on
Standard Trade and Development Facility (STDF) activities to understand each
other's positions and coordinate activities and responses; (4) There is ongoing
cooperation between the "three sisters" on SPS-related capacity
development projects, if and when appropriate; (5) the secretariat continues to
participate in coordination meetings between the "three sisters" to
improve coordination and collaboration in SPS Committee meetings; (6) Ad hoc
consultations are undertaken as and when subjects arise that are of mutual
interest; and (7) the secretariat is committed to sustaining the deeper
relationship between the "three sisters" to address future issues in
the SPS Committee Secretariat and beyond.
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