WORLD TRADE G/SPS/GEN/33
1October 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-4104)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
MATTERS OFINTEREST ARISING FROM THE WORK
OFOBSERVER ORGANIZATIONS
Statement bytheInternational Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
atthemeeting of15-16 October 1997
Update ontherevision oftheIPPC andtheadoption ofnewISPMs
TheFAOCommittee onConstitutional andLegal Matters (CCLM) isconsidering legalissues
associated withthenewtextoftheInternational Plant Protection Convention andwillbeadvising FAO
Council andConference onitspositions when these bodies consider approving therevised textin
November, 1997. TheCCLM willberequired toprovide advice onfourareas: conformity ofthe
revised textwithFAO Basic Texts andRules; legal formatting; newobligations; andthelegal
implications ofanadditional Article referring toobligations under other agreements. Provisions of
thenewtextpertaining totheformation ofaCommission, adherence tostandards, regulated
non-quarantine pests, riskanalysis, andtechnical assistance arebeing examined withrespect tonew
obligations
Following acceptance oftherevised textbyConference, thenewConvention willcome into
force aftertwo-thirds ofthecontracting parties haveaccepted theamendments. Amendments tothe
textthataredeemed toinvolve newobligations onlycome intoforce foreachcontracting party on
acceptance byit.
Inaddition toconsidering thetextoftherevised Convention andtheopinions oftheCCLM,
theFAOConference istoconsider theadoption offourinterim measures proposed bytheSecretariat:
(a) work onstandards forregulated non-quarantine pests
(b) establishment ofanInterim Commission onphytosanitary measures
(c) implementation oftheamended phytosanitary certificates
(d) thedesignation ofofficial contact points bycontracting parties.
FAOConferencewillalsobeaskedtoapprovetwonewInternationalStandardsforPhytosanitary
Measures (ISPMs):
(a) Export Certification System
(b) Guidelines forSurveillance.
Bothstandards cover vitalareas ofresponsibility forNational Plant Protection Organizations
andprovide important guidance inactivities associated withphytosanitary measures. Theapproval
ofthese newstandards willincrease tosixthenumber ofISPMs adopted under theIPPC.
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Theacceptance oftherevised Convention andtheadoption ofinterim measures byFAO
Conference, particularly theformation ofaCommission, havethepotential togreatly facilitate the
formulation andadoption ofadditional ISPMs.
TheSecretariat encourages governments tosupport theadoption ofinterim measures andto
move asrapidly anddeliberately aspossible fortheacceptance oftheamendments totheIPPC intheir
respective countries. Bringing therevised textintoforce willensure thattheIPPC isabletofillthe
complementary roleenvisioned foritunder theSPSAgreement.
9thTechnical Consultation among Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs)
The9thTechnical Consultation ofRPPOs washeld8-12September inBrasilia. Organized
bytheIPPC Secretariat andgraciously hosted byCOSAVE andtheGovernment ofBrazil, themeeting
hadasitsprimary focus thefuture roleofRPPOs under thenewIPPC. Itwasnoted thatRPPOs
canplayasignificant roleinpromoting theunderstanding andadoption ofthenewConvention.
Discussions alsocovered theopportunities forRPPOs instandard setting andidentified priorities for
standard setting activities intheSecretariat. Inaddition, sources ofrelevant information forbeginning
todraftstandards were identified.
Themeeting agreed thatthe10thTechnical Consultation would beheldinRome andcould beadjacent
tothefirstmeeting ofaninterim Commission.
Technical Assistance
TheIPPC Secretariat participated inaWTO Regional SPSWorkshop inNewDelhi, India.