G/SPS/GEN/2039  
 
22 June 2022 
(22-4834) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
SUMMARY OF MARCH 2022 SEMINAR ON "RESPONDING TO FALL ARMYWORM: 
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND POLICY APPROACHES " 
SUBMISSION BY  PARAGUAY AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
The following communication, received on 21 June 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation s of Paraguay  and the United States of America.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1.  As part of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Committee) we ek, on 
26 March 2022, Uganda and the United States of America organized a virtual seminar entitled 
"Responding to Fall Armyworm: Integrated Pest Management and Policy Approaches".  
2.  Following reports about the invasive spread of fall armyworm in Africa and A sia, several Members 
recommended in 2018 using the pest as a case study to discuss facilitating access to tools and 
technologies to help address emerging pest outbreaks within the framework of the SPS Agreement.1 
Subsequently in 2019, a thematic session w as held where speakers shared information on available 
tools and technologies and regulatory systems in place to review these approaches.2 Following the 
session, a submission of compiled concepts to support voluntary regional and international 
collaborati on to enhance and streamline SPS regulatory processes was shared for the SPS Committee 
to consider in future discussions.3 
3.  Building upon the work from the Fifth Review of the operation and implementation of the 
SPS Agreement4, presenters from the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) New Partnership 
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center 
(CIMMYT) Global Maize Program, FAO, Kenya, Uganda, United States, and WTO SPS Secretariat, 
summarized previous engagement and history of the fall armyworm outbreak and shared challenges 
encountered, including coordination across borders for emergency use authorizations of crop 
protection tools and developing enabling environments to adopt agricu ltural biotechnology solutions, 
particularly in Members that do not have a history of using these products. Speakers also identified 
availability, affordability, adaptability, and timely approval processes for tools and technologies as 
some common challeng es to addressing pest outbreaks and developing robust integrated pest 
management programs to manage emerging pests, such as fall armyworm. Speakers shared 
methods and technologies that have helped respond to fall armyworm outbreaks, such as effective 
risk communication strategies, genetically engineered improved varieties of maize, and responsible 
pesticide use.  
4.  Speakers suggested various points to further leverage and explore, such as recommending that 
stakeholders:  
1) Engage in international platforms to sha re information and best practices;  
2) Develop and strengthen rapid alert systems for plant pests and diseases on local, national, 
regional, or continental levels;  
 
1 G/SPS/W/305 . 
2 Information on the SP S Committee Thematic Session on Fall Armyworm is available at 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/workshop19032019_e.htm . 
3 G/SPS/W/317 . 
4 G/SPS/64  and G/SPS/64/Add.1 . G/SPS/GEN/2039  
 
- 2 - 
 
  3) Establish flexible regulatory frameworks that allow for timely, transparent, and science -
based r eview and approval of innovative, science -based, and affordable tools and 
technologies to respond to emerging pests;  
4) Develop robust and affordable integrated pest management programs that consider host 
plant resistance, scouting and surveillance, safe pest icide use, biological control, and soil 
and plant health management to tackle pest outbreaks;  
5) Consider cost, efficacy, safety, accessibility, and scalability when developing and evaluating 
tools and technologies for integrated pest management approaches; a nd 
6) Enable and nurture an information sharing environment to encourage stakeholder 
receptiveness to sound policies which minimize risks.  
5.  Paraguay and the United States recognize that access and approval of tools and technologies is 
important but continues t o be a widespread challenge and invites all Members of the SPS Committee 
to continue discussions. All Members are encouraged to engage in the Working Group on Approval 
Procedures to help develop meaningful outcomes to aid Members in addressing current and emerging 
issues, such as recommendations which promote conducting outreach and capacity building, as well 
as simplification and streamlining regulatory assessments.  
6.  The seminar recordings are available online in English, Spanish, and French here: 
https://www.agrilinks.org/events/wto -sps-committee -week-virtual -side-event -responding -fall-
armyworm -integrated -pest. 
__________