G/SPS/GEN/2104  
3 March  2023 
(23-1456) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  English  
 
  
REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION (IPPC)  
TO THE SPS COMMITTEE MEETING ON 22-24 MARCH  2023 
FOR THE P ERIOD : NOVEMBER 2022  – FEBRUARY  2023 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE IPPC SECRETARIAT  
The followi ng communication, received on 1 March 2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat  (IPPC).  
 
_______________  
 
 
The International Plant Protection Convention (I PPC) is an intergovernmental treaty  signed by 
184 contracting part ies (as of February 2023 ), aiming to protect the world's plant resources from 
the spread and introduction of pests, and facilitate safe trade. The Convention introduced the 
development and i mplementation of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs)  as 
its main tool to achieve its goals, making it the sole global standard setting organization for plant 
health.  
The IPPC is one of the "Three Sisters" recognized by the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement, along with the Codex Alimentarius Commission for 
food safety standards and the World Organization f or Animal Health (WOAH) for animal health 
standards.  
1  COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (CPM) BUREAU1 
1.1.  Since November 2022, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Bureau convened 
one  meeting in December 2022 (virtually) and another one is scheduled for 22 -24 March 2023 in 
FAO Headquarters, Rome. The CPM Bureau during this meeting will engage in reviewing the 
documents and finalizing the arrangements for the upcoming seventeenth sessio n of the CPM 
(CPM-17), which will be held in person in FAO Headquarters on 27 –31 March 2023. The CPM -17 will 
be live -streamed and conducted in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. 
The CPM-17 meeting papers are posted here. 
2  IPPC OBSERVATORY2 
2.1.  As reported previously, the IPPC Observatory  is a system that monitors the implementation of 
the IPPC, ISPMs and CPM Recommendations, identifies challenges and best practices and provides 
recommendations to the IPPC governing and subsidiary bodies for follow -up actions. This evaluation 
system gather s the best practices and identifies common challenges faced by IPPC contracting 
parties through surveys and studies and provides an overview to the IPPC community on the state 
of implementation of the IPPC, ISPMs and CPM Recommendations at a global level.  
2.2.  To improve collaboration and experience sharing, the IPPC secretariat is fully involved in the 
work of an informal working group with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the 
Codex Alimentarius Commission ( Codex ) on observatories. As a resul t, a side event is planned to 
happen at the margins of the SPS Committee, on the 23 March 2023 at 14:00h (GMT+1, Geneva 
 
1 CPM Bureau: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/bureau/ . 
2 See news item on the IPP: https://www.ippc.int/en/news/cpm -approves -transition -of-implementation -
review -and-support -system -to-the-ippc-observatory/ . G/SPS/GEN/2104  
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  time) organized by the WOAH, the Codex and the IPPC secretariat, where it will present the 
Observatory programmes of these Organisations  (more information are available in the WTO -SPS 
Committee documents).  
2.3.  For more information on the IPPC Observatory you can visit the dedicated webpage , watch the 
IPPC Observatory video  or consult the IPPC Observatory Factsheet . 
3  STANDARDS COMMITTEE3 
3.1.  Since the last update of from the IPPC secretariat to the SPS Committee, the IP PC Standards 
Committee (SC) met in November 2022 and main the focus was to revise and approved draft ISPM 
for recommendation for adoption by the CPM. Also, the SC discussed and propose some adjustments 
to the IPPC standard setting process regarding the len gth of consultation period for draft 
specifications and consultation comments, to be more inclusive. More information at the 
SC November 2022 meeting report here. The IPPC SC also provided a report to the upcoming CPM -17 
in documents CPM 2023/07 , CPM 2023/08  and CPM 2023/09 . 
3.2.  Four draft ISPMs (including Annexes) are being recommended for adoption by CPM -17 (2023):  
1. Draft 2021 amendments to ISPM 5 ( Glossary of phytosanitary terms ) (1994 -001); 
2. Draft annex to ISPM 20 ( Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system ): Use of 
specific import authorizations (2008 -006); 
3. Draft revision of ISPM 18 ( Requirements for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary 
measure ) (2014 -007); 
4. Draft annex to ISPM 28 (Irradiation treatment for Pseudoco ccus jackbeardsleyi ) (2017 -027). 
3.3.  It is to highlight that the adoption of ISPMs follows the IPPC standard setting procedure, and 
that contracting parties may submit objections on draft ISPMs along with the technical justification 
and suggestions for improve ment to the IPPC secretariat no later than three weeks before the CPM 
session (for this year, by 6 March 2023). Concerned contracting parties should make every effort to 
seek agreement before the CPM session. If no objection is received, the CPM will adopt  the ISPMs 
without discussion. If objection is received, it will be added to the CPM -17 (2023) agenda, and the 
CPM-17 (2023) will decide on a way forward. More information is provided in the document 
CPM 2023/11  and its attachments.  
3.4.  The SC has also been engaged in various other works, including a notable collaboration with 
the WTO -SPS Secretariat in the Thematic  Session related to IPPC pest risk analysis related standards  
in November 2022.  
3.5.  The next IPPC SC meeting is scheduled to be from 8 to 12 May 2023 at FAO Headquarter, 
in Rome, Italy. Besides the revision of draft ISPMs for recommendation to first consultati on, 
the SC will also discuss other strategic issues from its work programme, including the report back 
of all IPPC technical panels with the aim to develop international standards. The SC working group 
(SC-7) will meet the week after from 15 to 19 May 2023  at FAO Headquarter, in Rome, Italy to 
revise the draft ISPMs from the first consultation with and to make an in -depth discussion and 
recommendations on the standard setting procedure, to better align with the evolved needs from 
the IPPC contracting partie s. The IPPC Standard Setting Unit secretariat 2023 tentative work plan is 
available here. 
4  IMPLEMENTATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IC)4 
4.1.  The November 2022 IC meeting was held face -to-face from 21 to 25 November in Rome. It  was 
the first time that IC members met in -person since the start of the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.2.  Successful activities conducted throughout 2022, which were highlighted, included improving 
the bi -monthly updates from the IPPC  Implementation Facilitation Unit, publishing of new guides, 
development of e -learning courses, assisting multiple countries in completing Phytosanitary Capacity 
 
3 Standards Committee: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/standards -
committee/ . 
4 https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activiti es/capacity -development/capacity -development -committee/ . G/SPS/GEN/2104  
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  Evaluations (PCEs) as well as the new projects and collaboration with other FAO units funded b y the 
European Union, that feed into the One Health initiative.  
4.3.  The IC endorsed the 2023 IFU proposed workplan , with the secretariat and the IC jointly 
agreeing that one of the focus areas for 202 3 is the successful implementation of the new IPPC 
guides and e -learning courses  developed in 2022. With new implementation materials spanning 
acros s a range of phytosanitary topics – from pest risk analysis, surveillance, pest status, pest 
reporting, contingency planning, inspection and export certification to managing the phytosanitary 
risks associated with wood packaging material and e -Commerce – the IC confirmed that the priority 
remains to increase awareness and use of these materials within the phytosanitary community.  
4.4.  According to the Implementation and Capacity Development committee (IC) Terms of reference 
and rules of procedure (IC TOR and ROP )5, the IPPC launched the 2022 Call for IC members. The  new 
IC members will be confirmed by CPM -17 this year.  
5  EPHYTO  
5.1.  Once again, it is a pleasure to report the continued progress being made with the IPPC ePhyto 
Solution. The ePhyto Solution continues to provide user countries with the opportunity to exchange 
digital phytosanitary certificates with any country using the s ystem. As of end of February 2023, 
there were 115 countries registered (Pakistan and Sao Tome and Principe being the latest to 
register), with 72 countries in full production. In addition, the ePhyto Solution has exceeded 
3.2 million certificates exchanged . Additional features have been added to the Generic ePhyto 
National System (GeNS – the web -based application for countries without their own national 
systems) including eSignature, French and Arabic language versions as well as an ePayment feature. 
The Ar abic language version of the GeNS was developed with the support of the Global Alliance for 
Trade Facilitation.  
5.2.  With more and more countries coming on board there are always requests to add additional 
features. As a reminder, when considering these request s, the IPPC secretariat always strives to 
ensure that any new features added to the system will have applicability across the system for any 
country wishing to make use of the feature. In an additional development, the FAO Economics 
section, with funding f rom the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has been 
working on a review of available statistics with regard to ePhyto and have discovered that the share 
of plant exports from ePhyto participants in the global value of exports of plant produc ts has seen 
an increase of approximately 9 percent points between 2018 and 2021 (from 0.73 percent in 2018 
to 9.59 percent in 2021). However, as of the end of 2021, this still only represents 10.6 percent of 
the value of plant exports requiring phytosanita ry certifications was covered by the ePhyto solution 
(79 billion USD out of 825 billion USD), meaning there is a potential scope for significantly expanding 
country participation in the use of ePhyto.  
5.3.  At the seventeenth Session of the Commission on Phytosa nitary Measures (CPM -17, to be held 
from 27 to 31 March 2023), the IPPC governing body, a proposal from the CPM Focus Group on 
Sustainable Funding of the IPPC ePhyto Solution will be provided. It is anticipated that when CPM 
adopts a sustainable funding me chanism selected from the set of options to be presented, it will 
take at least two years to implement.  
5.4.  As a reminder for our colleagues the system was built to handle up to one hundred thousand 
certificates per day, but at present it is averaging about on e hundred and twenty thousand 
certificates per month. The IPPC again invites our SPS sisters and any other international 
organization wishing to exchange digital certificates to contact the secretariat to discuss ways to 
facilitate those exchanges through the system.  
5.5.  More information can be found on the ePhyto webpage  on the IPP.6 
 
5 https://assets.ippc.int/static/media/files/publication/en/2022/04/IC_2022_IC_ToR_and_RoP .pdf. 
6 ePhyto webpage: https://www.ephytoexchange.org/landing/ . G/SPS/GEN/2104  
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  6  IPPC COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY  
6.1.  The IPPC secretariat continued to produce communication and advocacy materials in cluding  
four issues of the IPPC newsletter sent to around 5 ,000 recipients, 19 headline news and 
13 announcements) in 2022 as well as social media content that reached an audience of around 
169,000 users, with a steady increase in percentages and double th e engagement rate compared to 
the same period in 2021. Content posted by IPPC on social media was substantially amplified by 
FAO accounts and other international/EU institutions (UNDCC, EU DG for Environment, 
UN Biodiversity, etc.) via the Biodiversity Com munications Flotilla group on Twitter.  
6.2.  The IPPC secretariat and the CPM Focus Group on Communications has finalized the draft IPPC 
Communication Strategy 2023 -2030 which will be presented at the CPM -17 for adoption. The IPPC 
secretariat has also developed and has been implementing a new communications plan for 2023 
that is anchored in the global IPPC Communications Strategy.  
7  IPPC CALL FOR EXPERTS AND OTHER MATERIAL  
7.1.  Call for experts for IPPC expert working groups (EWGs) and Technical Panel for the 
Glossary ( TPG) Spanish language expert – deadline 13 March 2023 : The IPPC secretariat is 
soliciting nominations for appropriately qualified experts:  
• for the Spanish language for the Technical Panel for the Glossary (TPG) ; 
• for expert working group on Field inspection  Annex to ISPM 23 ; 
• for revision of ISPM 26 (Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae )). 
7.2.  More information at: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activiti es/standards -setting/calls -experts/ . 
7.3.  Call for Implementation and Capacity Development projects – deadline 31 March 
2023 : The IPPC Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) is reaching out to the 
plant health community to collect, consolidate a nd share phytosanitary implementation and capacity 
development (ICD) project information. This initiative intends to promote global 'best practice ' 
principles, maximize research and development investment, promote project synergies, minimize 
duplication an d facilitate networking opportunities amongst plant health professionals. 
More information  at: https://www.ippc.int/en/calls/call -for-implementation -and-capacity -
development -projects -2/. 
7.4.  For more information on upcoming calls for various IPPC groups, please check the website: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/calls/category/deadline/ . 
8  UPCOMING IPPC  EVENTS  
8.1.  For more information on upcoming meetings, please check the website: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/year/calendar/ . 
• 22-24 March 2023 : CPM Bureau, FAO HQ ; 
• 27-31 March 2023 : 17th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM -17), 
FAO HQ. More information here; 
• 8-12 May 2023 : IPPC Standards Committee (SC) meeting, FAO HQ ; 
• 15-19 May 2023 : IPPC S tandards Committee (SC) working group (SC -7) meeting, FAO 
HQ; 
• 15-19 May 2023 : IPPC Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) May 
meeting, FAO HQ ; 
• 12-16 June 2023 : CPM Bureau, FAO HQ.  
9  IPPC VIDEOS AND OTHER TOOLS  
9.1.  The IPPC secretariat wishes to share with you some tools available.  
• Video on the IPPC standard setting procedure: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8zciLFG --8 G/SPS/GEN/2104  
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  • Video on Pest risk analysis: Why we do it and why it is imp ortant?: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXtQ9zVUqI0&t=212s  
• e-learning course on Surveillance and reporting obligations: 
http://elearning.fao.org/course/view.php?id=824  
• e-learning course on Pest Risk Analysis (developed in collaboration with COLEACP): 
http://training.coleacp.org/course/index.php?category id=208  
• IPPC Observatory Factsheet: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc1022en  
• IPPC Observatory Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tsuqqTpdAQ  
• IPPC Observatory  webpage:  https://www.ippc.int/en/ core-activities/capacity -
development/list -topics -ippc-irss/list  
9.2.  The IPPC secretariat would like to take this opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to the 
WTO-SPS Secretariat for the strong support and close cooperation.  
 
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