UPDATE From THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT
PROTECTION
CONVENTION SECRETARIAT (IPPC)
(AS of 15 october 2016)
The following communication,
received on 24 October 2016, 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 2016.
1.2. The secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC) has begun actively implementing the results of the IPPC Secretariat Enhancement
Evaluation. The secretariat has finished 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; the secretariat is simply awaiting the FAO DG's final approval.
1.3. The IPPC secretary once again 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).
1.4. The ePhyto project has begun, with funding provided by the United
States and in-kind support from Canada. Deposit of resources from the STDF into
the IPPC ePhyto budget are pending final signature from the FAO bureaucracy.
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 September 2016): The following draft ISPMs were submitted for
consultation by the Standards Committee (SC) or Standards Committee Working
Group (SC-7):
a. First consultation: 2016
Draft Amendments to ISPM 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms) (1994-001), Draft
revision of ISPM 6 National surveillance systems (2009-004), Draft ISPM on Requirements for the use of temperature treatments as a phytosanitary
measure (2014-005), Draft DP for Phytophthora ramorum
(2004-013), Draft DP for Fusarium circinatum
(2006-021), Draft DP for Candidatus Liberibacter
solanacearum (2013-001).
b. Second consultation:
Draft ISPM on International movement of Seeds (2009-003), Draft ISPM on
International movement of vehicles, machinery and equipment (2006-004), Draft
ISPM on Arrangements for verification of compliance of consignments by the
importing country in the exporting country (2005-003).
c. Third consultation:
Draft ISPM on International movement of wood (2006-029), Draft ISPM on
International movement of growing media in association with plants for planting
(2005-004).
2.2. Standard Setting Calendar. The standard setting calendar is
available on the IPP.[2]
3 National Reporting Obligations
3.1. IPPC contact points continue to update their information on the
International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP). Any contracting parties communicating
with other IPPC contact points should visit the IPP frequently to ensure they
have the latest contact information. The secretariat continues working with
countries to update this information as a matter of high priority.
3.2. The International Phytosanitary Portal https://www.ippc.int has been updated with new
features and a new look. Please visit the website regularly to get the latest
updates, especially for IPPC contact points as they change frequently.
3.3. Usage of the National Reporting Obligations (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 multilateral
instruments of equal status. This remains a serious issue of concern.
3.5. 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. This remains one of the greatest challenges to the work of
the IPPC.
3.7. Communications. 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.
4.2. The IPPC is also engaged with 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, a
Focus Group on establishment of a new subsidiary body for implementation of the
IPPC met from 18-22 July 2016 at the EPPO Headquarters in Paris, France. The
Focus Group was established following the decision by CPM 11 (2016) so as to
carefully consider the purpose, scope and functions of the new subsidiary body
and to propose governance, membership, and Rules of Procedure. The Focus Group
was composed of a member from each region nominated through their Bureau
member, as well as of one representative from the CPM Bureau, the Capacity
Development Committee (CDC), the Standard Committee (SC), the Regional Plant
Protection Organizations (RPPOs) and the IPPC secretariat. Following
discussions on the results of the focus group meeting at both the October 2016
Bureau and Strategic Planning meetings, the Bureau decided, based on the
results of those discussions, to recommend to CPM-12 (2017) the finalized Terms
of Reference and Rules of Procedure for the new subsidiary body.
5.2. The new 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 2015 budget and activities of the IPPC.
The IPPC once again encourages them to consider future, sustainable
contributions. Sustainable contributions will be a focus of the Bureau's
efforts at the upcoming CPM which is going to be held outside of Rome for the
first time in Incheon, Republic of Korea. 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 reduced. Indeed
preparations have been made for a reduced standard setting effort in 2017 as a
result of the limited resource situation. 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 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANT HEALTH
10.1. FAO'S Council on Agriculture formally discussed the International
Year of Plant Health (IYPH) during their plenary on 29 September 2016, held in
Rome, Italy. Mr Veli-Pekka Talvela, Director General of Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry of Finland, presented the proposal on behalf of the Government of
Finland providing both background and justification for the proposed IYPH 2020.
He stated that plant health is critically important to agriculture, food
security and ecosystems and highlighted the urgent need to raise awareness at a
global level. There was a full support from countries and regional
representatives for IYPH 2020 with 17 countries actively expressing their
strong support. COAG approved the proposal by the Government of Finland to
establish IYPH 2020 in the UN system and endorsed the Draft Conference
Resolution as proposed to COAG. This proposal will now go for the consideration
of the 155th Session of FAO Council to be held in December 2016, and
for the approval by the 40th Session of the FAO Conference to be
held in June 2017.
11 Cooperation with the WTO Standard Setting Organizations
11.1. 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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