G/SPS/GEN/2199  
 
22 February  2024 
(24-1621) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
  
  Original: English  
 
  
REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION (IPPC)  
TO THE SPS COMMITTEE MEETING ON 20-22 MARCH 2024 
FOR THE P ERIOD : NOVEMBER  2023 – FEBRUARY 2024  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE IPPC SECRETARIAT  
The followi ng communication, received on 19 February  2024, is being circulated at the request of 
the International Plant Protection Convention secretariat  (IPPC).  
 
_______________  
 
 
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC ) is an intergovernmental treaty  signed by 
185 contracting part ies (as of October  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 implementation 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" reco gnized 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 for Animal Health (WOAH) for animal health 
standards.  
1  COMM ISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (CPM)1 
1.1.  The next session of the CPM (CPM -18, 2024) is confirmed for 15 to 19 April 2024, at 
FAO Headquarter s, Rome, Italy.  
1.2.  Several topics are to be discussed and agreed by the CPM -18, including:  
− Adoption of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures  
o Draft 2022 Amendments to ISPM 5 ( Glossary of phytosanitary terms ) (1994 -001);  
o Draft Annex: Criteria for evaluation of available information for determining host status 
of fruit to fruit flies to ISPM 37 ( Determination of host status of fruit to fruit flies  
(Tephritidae )) (2018 -011);  
o Revision of ISPM 4 ( Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas ) (2009 -002);  
o Draft annex to ISPM 28 (Cold treatment for Thaumatotibia leucotreta  on Citrus sinensis ) 
(2017-029). 
− Adjustments to the IPPC Standard Setting Procedure : expediting the development of 
IPPC specific commodity standards . 
− CPM Recommendations  
o Sea Containers2 (for adoption)  
− Recommendations of new topics proposals to the IPPC work programme (from the 
2023 call for topics)  
 
1 CPM webpage: https://www.ippc.int/en/commission/cpm/ . 
2 CPM Focus Group on Sea Containers: https://www.ippc.int/en/commission/cpm -focus-group -
reports/fg -on-sea-containers/ . G/SPS/GEN/2199  
 
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  − Implementation of IPPC Strategic Framework – Overarching report on the 
implementation of the eight development agenda items  (DAIs ) 
o Harmonization of electronic data exchange – ePhyto funding model and procedures 
(decision to be tak en on a way forward for the ePhyto sustainable funding)  
o Commodity - and Pathway -Specific ISPMs  
o Management of e -commerce and postal and courier pathways  
o Enabling the use of third -party entities  
o Strengthening pest outbreak alert and response systems  
o Assessmen t and management of climate change impacts on plant health  
o Global Phytosanitary Research Coordination - Terms of reference for the CPM Focus 
Group for CPM approval  
o Diagnostic Laboratory Networking  - Terms of reference for the CPM Focus Group for CPM 
approv al 
− Update from other CPM Focus Groups  
o Safe Provisions of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid3 
− Implementation issues  
o IPPC Guides and Training Materials  
o Update on projects managed by the IPPC secretariat  
o IPPC Observatory  
o Update on the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation  
o Update on coordination of Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. cubense  TR4 action  
− Collaboration with Regional Plant Protection Organizations  
− Other emerging topics  
o Update on One Health and antimicrobial resistance  
o Update on Africa Phytosanitary Pro gramme4 
o Dispute Settlement Oversight Body (terms of reference and rules of procedure)  
− Participating in CPM: Orientation session  
− E-commerce side session  
− Banana Fusarium TR4 side session  
− (Tentative) Science Session  
− Successes and challenges in implementing the IPPC  
− Financial Report and Budget  
− Update on Communication Activities  
− External cooperation  
2  COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (CPM) BUREAU5 AND THE IPPC 
STRATEGIC PLANNING GROUP (SPG)6 
2.1.  The CPM Bureau, which guides the CPM on the strategi c direction, financial and operational 
management of its activities, also discussed with the IPPC secretariat , plans for holding the next or 
eighteenth CPM (CPM -18) session in 2024. The purpose of the Strategic Planning Group (SPG), 
which  meets at least on ce a year, is to provide a strategic perspective to the work of the IPPC 
community and support improvement through the provision of recommendations and advice to the 
CPM on any issues referred to it or related to its functions.  
2.2.  Since November 2023, the CPM  Bureau convened one virtual meeting in December 2023. 
The IPPC SPG took place in October and highlights were presented in  the June-October report. 
The main highlights of  the December CPM Bureau meeting were:  
− During the meeting the IPPC Secretary provided an update on the secretariat 's core work of 
standard setting, implementation and facilitation, integration and support, and the 
secretariat 's internal management initiatives as well as the new initiative, the global 
phytosanitary programme, with the pilot phase being in Africa (Africa Phytosanitary 
Programme -APP). A key topic discussed during the meeting is the essential role and 
contribution of plant health in the One Health initiative. The IPPC Secretary was encouraged 
 
3 CPM Safe Provisions of Food and Other Human itarian Aid webpage: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/commission/cpm -focus-group -reports/fg -safe-provision -of-food-and-other -
humanitarian -aid/. 
4 IPPC Africa Phytosanitary Programme: https://www.ippc.int/en/about -app/. 
5 CPM Bureau: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/bureau/ . 
6 IPPC Strategic Planning Group (SPG): https://www.ipp c.int/en/commission/strategic -planning -group/ . G/SPS/GEN/2199  
 
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  to engage FAO and other global organ izations to underscore the importance of plant health 
in the context of One Health, including facilitating the submission of a paper on the topic, to 
the Eighth One Health World Congress in September 2024 and to CPM -18; 
− Discussions on  the ePhyto  funding model and procedures , as well as revision of the ePhyto 
implementation strategy ; 
− Discussed and finalize the revised draft prospectus for implementation of the IPP C Strategic 
Framework development agenda items ; 
− Discussed and reviewed the table of activities for Banana Fusarium oxysporium TR4 global 
coordination ; 
− Discussed and finalized terms of reference for two new CPM Focus Groups on: 1) Global 
Research Coordination; 2) Laboratory Diagnostic Networking ; 
− Considered arrangements for CPM -18 scheduled for April 2024.  
3  IPPC OBSERVATORY7 
3.1.  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.  
3.2.  The dedicated Implementation and Capacity  Development Committee ( IC) Subgroup on IPPC 
Observatory held three meetings in 2023 to discuss the workplan for 2023 including four priorities 
agreed by the IC. The  progress of these activities is as follows:  
a) Monitoring implementation of the objectives of  the development agenda items of 
the IPPC Strategic Framework (2020 –2030):  
The IC Subgroup recommended to conduct the monitoring of the implementation of the IPPC 
Strategic Framework through a mid -term evaluation in 2025 and a final evaluation in 2030. 
Additionally, i t was agreed to work on a matrix to monitor the implementation and progress 
of the eight IPPC Strategic Framework 2020 -2030 DAIs, and to support the project 
coordinator, who will be recruited to monitor the implementation  of the Strategic Frame work. 
b) Conducting the IPPC Third General Survey : 
The survey questionnaire has been drafted and reviewed by the secretariat and the 
IC Subgroup and is pending the recruitment of a survey specialist expected for quarter II 
of 2024. 
c) Launching the survey for the e -commerce study:  
The secretariat drafted a survey and presented it to the IC Subgroup and to the IC Team on 
E-commerce for review.  Finalization and launch of the survey are pending the recruitment 
of a survey specialist, who is expected to commence work in quarter II of 2024 . 
d) Launching a call of topics for surveys and studies : 
It was agreed to merge the call for IPPC Observatory topi cs for studies and surveys with the 
IPPC call for Standards and Implementation,  starting from 2025 and to become biannual.  
3.3.  The IPPC Observatory has also conducted the first phase of the survey on AMR (Antimicrobial 
Resistance) in the phytosanitary context for which the results were presented to the CPM Bureau 
and Strategic Planning Group  (SPG) meetings in October 2023. The second phase on fungicides use  
was launched from October to December 2023, and was extended to February 2024. The results of 
these two surveys are to be presented to CPM -18 (2024) . 
3.4.  The IPPC Observatory is continuing the collaboration and experience sharing within the 
Three  Sisters working group with Codex Alimentarius and WOAH (World Organi sation for Animal 
Health).  
3.5.  The 2024 IPPC Observatory work plan was approved by the IC during its November 2023  
meeting . 
 
7 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/2199  
 
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  3.6.  For more information on the IPPC Observatory, you can visit the dedicated webpage , watch  
the IPPC Observatory video  or consult the IPPC Observatory Factsheet . 
4  STANDARDS COMMITTEE8 
4.1.  Since the last update from the IPPC Secretariat to the SPS Committee, the IPPC Standards 
Committee (SC) met from 13-17 November 2023 to revise and approve draft ISPMs for adoption by 
the CPM -18 (see preceding section of this document).  
4.2.  Other strategic topics included:  
− Discussions on a way forward regarding the topic draft Annex Design and use of systems 
approaches fo r phytosanitary certification of seeds (2018 -009) to ISPM 38 ( International 
movement of seeds ); 
− Discussions on the proposals  for new topics  received from the 2023 IPPC call for topics ; 
− Adjustments to the IPPC Standard Setting Procedure, especially in light  of expedit ing the 
development of IPPC specific commodity standards.  
4.3.  The next meeting is scheduled from 6 -10 May 2024, at FAO HQ, Rome, Italy.  
4.4.  More information about the IPPC SC can be found at https://www.ippc.int/en/core -
activities/standards -setting/standards -committee/ . 
5  IMPLEMENTATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IC)9 
5.1.  The 2023 IC November meeting was held face -to-face f rom 6 -10 November 2023 in Rome to 
discuss the outcomes from the October 2023 Strategic Planning Group (SPG) and Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Bureau meetings. The IC received updates from the Technical 
Consultations among regional plant protec tion organizations (TC -RPPOs), the May Standards 
Committee and the 2023 IPPC Regional Workshops outcomes. The IC discussed the 2023 activities 
of the IC Subgroup and IC Teams , and approved their 2024 workplans. The IC also agreed on the 
revision of the List of Implementation and Capacity Development Topics , reviewed and approved the 
Implementation and Facilitati on Unit ( IFU) 2024 workplan.  
5.2.  Three ad hoc IC Teams meetings (e -Commerce, Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation, and 
Regional Workshops guidelines) were organized as part of the November IC meeting and an 
interactive session was the occasion for the IC members to brainstorm on how to improve 
communication on IPPC guides and training materials.  
5.3.  The meeting report  and a news article  has been posted on the IPP.  
5.4.  The next meeting is scheduled fr om 13 -17 May 2024, at FAO HQ, Rome, Italy.  
6  IPPC GUIDES AND TRAINING MATERIALS  
6.1.  One of the key activities of the IC is to oversee the development of IPPC guides and training 
materials that support implementation of the IPPC and ISPMs.  
6.2.  Four new guides were pu blished in 2023 and posted on the International Phytosanitary Portal10 
(IPP):  
− Emergency Preparedness: A guide for developing contingency plans for outbreaks of 
quarantine pests ; 
− Prevention, preparedness and response guidelines for Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) of 
banana ; 
 
8 Standards Committee: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/standards -
committee/ . 
9 IC: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/capacity -development -committee/ . 
10 IPPC Guides and training materials: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -
development/guides -and-training -materials/ . G/SPS/GEN/2199  
 
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  − Guide to regulation of wood packaging material: Understanding the phytosanitary 
requirements for the movement of wood packaging material in international trade ; and  
− E-commerce – A guide to managing the pest risk posed by goods ordered online and 
distributed through postal and courier pathways . 
6.3.  The following I PPC Guides are under development and are expected to be published in 202411: 
− Participating in CPM meetings, Revision of existing manual and supporting materials  
(2023 -001) 
− Fusarium TR4 training courses and simulation exercises  (2023 -002) 
− Risk-based inspection of imported consignments  (2018 -022) 
− Wood Packaging Material Heat Treatment Manual  (2017 -043a)  
− Wood Packaging Material Fumigation Treatment Manual  (2017 -043b)  
7  IPPC EPHYTO  
7.1.  An increasing number of countries are progressively transitionin g from paper -based to 
digitalized phytosanitary certification system by using the IPPC ePhyto Solution that went live in 
early 2019. It has accelerated rapidly over the past years with 1 30 countries on board in 
February  2024 (116 in December 2022) includin g 86 countries actively exchanging approximately 
160,000 ePhytos monthly and 35 countries currently testing the system. Countries that have 
recently ( i.e. November 2023  - February 2024) registered to the ePhyto hub are Azerbaijan, 
El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic  and Nicaragua. As of February 20 24, about 5 .5 million 
ePhytos had been exchanged successfully since the inception of the IPPC ePhyto Hub.  
7.2.  A large part of the success can be attributed to the collaborative efforts between the secretariat 
and the many partners. These partners include first and foremost the ePhyto Steering Group and 
the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) who developed and continue to lead in 
developing the technical aspects and enhancements of the IPPC ePhyto  Solution. 
Implementation  has also been supported in some countries by Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation 
(GATF), the  Industry Advisory Group (IAG) and the World Bank.  
7.3.  As regards ePhyto promotion and implementation, support in 2023 from regional plant 
protection organizations or regional program mes (COSAVE12, AU-IAPSC13, OIRSA14 and CAREC15) 
was also instrumental in enabling new countries to join or implement the IPPC ePhyto Solution . 
7.4.  The main challenge is to ensure the sustainable funding of the IPPC ePhyto Solution as it has 
so far been funded through projects from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) , or 
through donations from countries. The current funding will run out in 2024, and without secure 
funding for 2025, the ePhyto Solution operation will not be able to continue. At CPM -17 (2023), 
the Focus Group (FG) on sustainable funding of the IPPC ePhyto Solution presented 
recommendations for a sustainable funding mechanism.  
7.5.  Since CPM -17, the FG has held seven virtual meetings and has explored multiple options to 
develop a funding model that reflects the feedback provided by CPM. By 2026, t he estimated annual 
cost will reach USD 1,263,000 to support, maintain, and enhance the core elements (IPPC ePhyto 
hub, the Generic ePhyto National System, programme management and support from the IPPC 
Secretariat). The funding model proposed for CPM -18 (15-19 April 2024) adoption has three 
components: (i) funding from FAO or other donors ; (ii) a base fee for participation in the ePhyto 
Solution ; and (iii) a usage fee (See CPM -18 paper on "Funding of the IPPC ePhyto Solution "). 
7.6.  The GeNS is currently available in English, French and Arabic , and translation in Spanish and 
Russian are under way. 
 
11 List of Implementation and Capacity Development Topics: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -
activities/capacity -development/list -topics-ippc-implementation/list . 
12 Comite de Sanidad Vegetal del Cono Sur . 
13 African Union Inter -African Phytosanitary Council . 
14 International Regional Organization for Animal and Plant Health ( Organismo  Internacional Regional de 
Sanidad Agropecuaria ). 
15 Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation . G/SPS/GEN/2199  
 
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  7.7.  Upon its leadership, the IPPC secretariat  will continue to further promote and implement the 
IPPC ePhyto Solution among countries.  
7.8.  More information can be found on the ePhyto webpage  on the IPP.16 
8  IPPC COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY  
8.1.  The IPPC secretariat  continued to produce communication and advocacy materials including 
the IPPC newslette r. Click here to know how to subscribe to it: 
https://www.ippc.int/es/news/subscribe -to-the-ippc-newsletter/ . 
8.2.  In 2023, the CPM-17 adopted the g lobal IPPC Communications Strategy 2023 -2030. The 2024 
IPPC secretariat  Communications Plan , developed in January 2024 , which is an operationalization of 
the strat egy, is now a more robust action plan aligned with the target milestones identified in the 
global IPPC Communications Strategy. The IPPC secretariat 's communication plan has achiev ed 
some core milestones, including a  revamp and development of new content o n the International 
Phytosanitary Portal (IPP). New content w as developed and posted on the IPP and on social media 
to raise awareness and jumpstart conversation on phytosanitary topics and IPPC 's work programme, 
such as blogs on standard setting  and implementation and capacity development . 
8.3.  In December, preparations for the International Day of Plant Health  (IDPH)  2024 began with 
the development of the concept note, key messages around the theme o f Plant Health and IT -
supported trade, and also exhibits at the FAO Atrium. The secretariat coordinated with the office of 
the FAO Deputy Director -General for guidance on the planned activities and the digital 
communication campaign on IDPH.  
8.4.  The IPPC secretariat  coordinated communications and recorded media coverage for some of 
the activities at the secretariat, including the train-the-trainer workshop of the Africa Phytosa nitary 
Programme (APP) in Cairo, Egypt in September, and the international workshop on pest risk 
mitigation of sea containers and their cargoes, in Australia. Social media cards were developed on 
common pests and news articles were recorded from at least 1 5 news outlets for the three activities. 
In addition, survey protocol guides were developed for publication, with technical content contributed 
by USDA -APHIS.  
8.5.  The IPPC secretariat  continued the groundwork to set up a Community of Practice (COP) in 
communic ation. Following further internal discussions, the secretariat decided to set up Regional 
Communication Networks (RCNs) instead to have a more focused approach to address the 
communication and information needs of each region, and for a more strategic coor dination with the 
IPPC secretariat. The secretariat proposed to establish the RCNs and a Steering Group that was 
proposed in the CPM -18 paper on communication updates. A concept note had been prepared that 
will be shared with RPPOs once CPM -18 approves est ablishing the RCNs. A Terms of Reference will 
then be developed and a process to establish the Steering Group will commence thereafter.  
9  IPPC CALL FOR TOPICS: STANDARDS AND IMPLEMENTATION MATERIAL  
9.1.  During the 2023 Call for Topics, the IPPC secretariat  receiv ed 28 complete topic submissions 
from nine IPPC contracting parties and three regional plant protection organizations (RPPOs):  
− Fourteen standards, including eight topics for specific commodity standards ; 
− Three implementation resources ; and  
− Eleven diagnosti c protocols (DPs) . 
9.2.  Following the conclusion of the 2023 Call for Topic submissions, the Task Force on Topics (TFT) 
thoroughly discussed and recommended these submitted topics. These recommendations are 
currently being presented to CPM -18 for adoption in Ap ril 2024.  
9.3.  More information can be found at: https://www.ippc.int/en/calls/call -for-topics -standards -and-
implementation/ . 
 
16 ePhyto webpage: https://www.ephytoexchange.org/landing/ . G/SPS/GEN/2199  
 
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  9.4.  NOTE: Pro posals for Phytosanitary Treatments (as annexes to ISPM 28: Phytosanitary 
treatments for regulated pests) are solicited separately in an ongoing call for treatments . 
10  UPCOMING IPPC EVENTS  
10.1.   For more information on upcoming meetings, please check the website: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/year/calendar/ . 
11  IPPC VIDEOS AND OTHER TOOLS  
11.1.   The IPPC secretariat  wishes to share with you some available tools: 
• New infographic video  - Managing the pest risk posed by e -commerce: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDEaNfAZ2sM&list=PLzp5NgJ2 -
dK4T7GE2fsGujftlxSX1rCTC&t=4s  
• Video on the IPPC standard set ting procedure: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8zciLFG --8 
• Video on Pest Risk Analysis  - Why we do it and why it is important?: 
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 COLEA D): 
https://training.colead.link/course/index.php?categoryid=208  
• IPPC Observatory Factsheet: https://www.fao.org/docum ents/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  
11.2.   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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