. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/528 
28 October 2004 
 (04-4580) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION 
SECRETARIAT SINCE JUNE 2004 
  
Submission by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC
) 
 
  The following communication, received on 26 Octo ber 2004, is being circulated at the request 
of the IPPC. 
_______________ 
  
The development, adoption and monitoring of the implementation of ISPMs  
 
1. Four expert groups met on: 
 - the revision of ISPM 2:  Guidelines for pest risk analysis ; 
 - Efficacy of measures;  - ISPM 8 Glossary;  and   - the review of ISPM 1:  Principles of plant quarantine as related to international trade. 
 
2. New technical panels have b een constituted and met during the period, one on Diagnostics 
and the other on Fruit flies. 
3. The following draft standards were sent out for country consultation on 15 June 2004: 
 - Amendments to ISPM 5 ( Glossary of phytosanitary terms );  
 - Guidelines for consignments in transit;  
 - Guidelines for inspection of consignments;  
 - Revision of ISPM 3 ( Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological 
control agents and beneficial organisms );  
 - Guidelines on the concept of equivalence of phytosanitary measures and its application in 
 international trade; and  
 - Requirements for the establishment, mainte nance and verification of areas of low pest 
 prevalence. 
Official comments are now being considered by th e Stewards of the individual standards.  The 
comments will be considered by a section of  the Standards Committee in November 2004. 
 
Wood Packaging (ISPM 15) 
 
4. Many questions continued to be asked on ISPM 15 on Wood Packaging.  The STDF has 
committed funding for a workshop on wood packaging in early 2005. 
 
 G/SPS/GEN/528 
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 Information exchange 
 
5. A new version of the International Phyt osanitary Portal was launched in June. 
The development of the phytosanitary capacity  of members by promoting the provision of 
technical assistance   
 
6. Regional workshops on draft standards were held for: 
 - English-speaking Africa (SADC countries) in Pretoria, South Africa; 
 - French-speaking Africa in Accra, Ghana;  
 - the Pacific Countries in Fiji (with the Pacific Plant Protection Organization);   - Asian countries in Bangkok, Thailand (in collaboration with the APPPC);  
 - Near East in Cairo, Egypt;  and  
 - the Caribbean in St. Lucia (in cooperation with the CPPC). 
7. Finally the IPPC worked closely with IICA on a regional workshop for Latin America which 
was held in Costa Rica. 
8. Regional workshops on Phytosanitary Capacity  Evaluation were held in Kuala Lumpur, 
Malaysia and in Nairobi, Kenya. 
9. The IPPC Secretariat continued to support t echnically the implementation of technical 
cooperation funding that provides assistance to countri es to evaluate and establish their phytosanitary 
infrastructure. 
The maintenance of an effective and efficient administrative framework 
 
10. A focus group met in July.  A major task of the group was the revision of the IPPC Business 
Plan and discussion of long term funding options for the IPPC.  The focus group met also with representatives of Regional Plant Protection Organizati ons to draft the recommendations on the roles 
and functions of RPPOs in thei r relationships with the IPPC. 
11. The 16
th Technical Consultation among the Regional Plant Protection Organizations met in 
Nairobi in September 2004.  The T echnical Consultation, among other, reviewed the role of RPPOs in 
the Interim Commission of the IPPC. 
12. The informal working group on Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance (SPTA) met in 
October.  It reviewed and made recommendations, in  particular, on the Strategic Plan, the Business 
Plan, budgetary matters, long-term funding priority  for standards, and the role of RPPOs in the 
implementation of the Convention.  It also made recommendations on the role of the IPPC in relation 
to regionalization.  
Promotion of IPPC and cooperation with the relevant international organizations 
 
13. Adherence to the Convention: 
 - There are now 127 parties to the Convention and 59 parties accepted the 1997  
 amendments. 
 - The Secretariat participated in several of the WTO/SPS regional workshops.  
 
 
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