G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
5 July 2023 
(23-4560) Page: 1/11 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION (IPPC)  
TO THE SPS COMMITTEE MEETING ON 12-14 JULY  2023 
FOR THE P ERIOD : MARCH  – JUNE  2023 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE IPPC SECRETARIAT  
The followi ng communication, received on 4 July 2023, 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 
184 contracting part ies (as of May 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): SEVENTEENTH SESSION 
(CPM -17) 
1.1.  The seventeenth session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM -17) took place 
in person on 27 -31 March 2023. The CPM session was the first to be held in person since 2019, with 
the previous two sessions being held in virtual mode because of the COVID -19 pandemic. It had 
over 400 attendees from 118 contracting parties, 23 observer organizations and 3 observer countries 
including the Holy See, Palestine and Somalia. The CPM -17 meet ing papers are posted here, as well 
as the report.1 
1.2.  As of main decisions and discussions done:  
• The CPM agreed an implementation plan for the development agenda items of the IPPC 
Strategic Framework 2020 –2030 and adopted a communications strategy 
for 2023-2030 and a framework for establishing partnerships . 
• The CPM adopted four International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs): 
an amended ISPM 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms), a revision of ISPM 18 
(Requirements  for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure), an annex to 
ISPM 20 (Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system) on specific import 
authorizations, and  a new phytosanitary treatment (Irradiation treatment for 
Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi ). The CPM also agreed to submit a draft revision of the 
CPM Recommendation on Sea containers (R -06) to consultation period in July 2023.  
 
1 CPM-17 meeting report available: https://www.ippc.int/en/cpm -sessions/  (as of 4 July, English version 
available) . G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  • The CPM noted the various impleme ntation and capacity development activities carried 
out during the year, including the launch of four e -learning courses (on pest risk 
analysis, phytosanitary export certification, surveillance and reporting obligations, and 
inspection) and the translation  of some existing IPPC guides from English into other FAO 
languages. The CPM thanked donor countries for their support to the IPPC Observatory 
but encouraged other contracting parties and institutions to also provide funding.  
• The CPM discussed options for sustainably funding the electronic phytosanitary 
certificate (ePhyto) programme operated by the IPPC secretariat and agreed that a 
detailed final proposal would be developed for consideration by CPM -18 in 2024.  
• Further to the adoption of the new IPPC Dispu te Settlement Procedures the previous 
year, CPM -17 approved the corresponding institutional arrangements (The IPPC 
Secretary as the first intake point for dispute submission and three CPM Bureau acting 
as Dispute Settlement Oversight Body (DSOB) to support  the dispute process).  
• The CPM requested that the IPPC secretariat and the Implementation and Capacity 
Development Committee (IC) consider how best to undertake a study to better 
understand the nature and scope of the risks associated with antimicrobial re sistance 
in the phytosanitary context. They also agreed that a survey on the use of antimicrobials 
should be conducted by the secretariat utilizing the IPPC Observatory.  
• Contracting parties shared their concerns about the pest risk posed by Fusarium 
oxyspo rum f. sp. cubense  Tropical Race 4 and the damage to livelihoods and food 
security that this pest can cause. The CPM requested that the secretariat coordinate 
global action on this pest.  
• Oral presentations were made from observer organizations, including t he WTO SPS 
Secretariat, the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), the International 
Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the International 
Grain Trade Coallition.  
• Finally, the CPM elected the membership of the CPM Bu reau (including the CPM 
Chairperson, Greg WOLFF (North America) and the CPM Vice -Chairperson, Ahmed 
Kamal EL ATTAR (Near East)) and confirmed the membership of the Standards 
Committee and the IC.  
1.3.  The next session of the CPM (CPM -18, 2024) is tentatively sc hedule for 15 to 19 April 2024, at 
FAO Headquarter, Rome, Italy.  
2  COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (CPM) BUREAU2 
2.1.  Since November 2022, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Bureau convened 
one virtual meeting in December 2022 and two face to f ace meetings: one in March 2023 prior and 
during the CPM -17 and another one in June 2023. The CPM Bureau at these meetings discussed 
several topics, including:  
• Reviewing the documents and finalizing the arrangements for the seventeenth session 
of the CPM ( CPM-17). 
• Welcomed the new CPM Chairperson and the new Bureau members (see Bureau 
membership list here ). 
• Discussed the process of countries to become a contracting party to the IPPC.  
• Sought FAO legal advice on CPM Recommendations, IPPC guides and training materials, 
and on the legal status of the IPPC and ISPMs.  
 
2 CPM Bureau: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/bureau/ . G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  • Discussed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the Bureau Dispute Settlement Oversight Body 
(DSOB). T he CPM Bureau revised the draft ToRs of the DSOB which will be finalized 
during the next Bureau meeting as well as in the Strategic Planning Group in October 
and then to be presented to CPM -18 for approval.  
• Discussed ePhyto sustainable funding.  
• Discussed O ne Health and Antimicrobial Resistance (outcome of survey by the IPPC 
Observatory).  
• Discussed the IPPC secretariat Banana Fusarium oxysporium  TR4 global coordination.  
• Discuss the terms of reference for two new CPM Focus Groups on: 1) Global Research 
Coordi nation; 2) Laboratory Diagnostic Networking.  
2.2.  Considered arrangements and topics for October 2023 Bureau and the IPPC Strategic Planning 
Group (SPG) meetings as well as CPM -18. 
3  IPPC OBSERVATORY3 
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 recomme ndations to 
the IPPC governing and subsidiary bodies for follow -up actions.  
3.2.  In May 2023, the IPPC Observatory survey on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was launched to 
gather information from countries on the antimicrobial products used in plant production and 
protection, following the related CPM -17 (2023) decision. Considering the low response rate, the 
survey has been extended until 15th July 2023 to receive more responses from contracting parties.  
3.3.  The meeting of the IC Subgroup on the IPPC Observatory wa s held on Wednesday , 
26 April 2023 to discuss the outcomes of CPM -17 (2023), the call for IPPC Observatory topics for 
studies and surveys, the monitoring of the IPPC strategic framework and the development of the 
third IPPC general survey. During that meet ing, the WOAH Observatory was invited to present the 
annual report outcomes and share experiences on monitoring the implementation of standards.  
3.4.  The IC Subgroup on the IPPC Observatory recommended to keep open the opportunity for CPM 
Bureau, IC and SC to s ubmit anytime the proposal of topics for studies. The subgroup also supported 
the proposal to have a unique IPPC call for topics from 2025 including the call for standards, 
implementation and topics for studies for the IPPC Observatory.  
3.5.  The draft questionn aire for the third IPPC General Survey has been shared with the 
IPPC secretariat Units. This proposal will be discussed during the July meeting of the IC Subgroup 
on IPPC Observatory.  
3.6.  In addition, the preparation of the new e -Commerce study is ongoing, and  the survey is 
scheduled to be launched before the end of 2023.  
3.7.  The quarterly meeting of the three sisters working group on monitoring the implementation of 
standards was held on 14 May to discuss the ongoing activities and opportunity of collaboration 
between IPPC, WOAH and Codex Alimentarius.  
3.8.  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 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/2137  
 
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  4  STANDARDS COMMITTEE4 
4.1.  Since t he last update of from the IPPC secretariat to the SPS Committee, the IPPC Standards 
Committee (SC) met in May 2023 and the main focus was to revise and approve draft ISPMs for 
consultation period.  
4.2.  The Standards Committee Working Group (SC -7) met the week after and they revised and 
approved draft ISPMs for second consultation and proposed some adjustments to the IPPC standard 
setting process. More information about the IPPC SC can be found at https://www.ippc.int/en/core -
activities/standards -setting/standards -committee/ . Moreover, the SC also approved diagnostic 
protocols (DPs) and phytosanitary treatments (PTs) for consultation per iod and for adoption.  
4.3.  Below, the list of draft ISPMs that the SC approved:  
4.1  First Consultation (1 July – 30 September 2023)  
4.1.1   Draft ISPMs (English, French and Spanish)  
1. Reorganization and revision of pest risk analysis standards (2020 -001) 
2. Draft annex to ISPM 46 (Commodity -based standards for phytosanitary measures): 
International movement of Mangifera indica  fruit (2021 -011) 
3. Draft annex to ISPM 39 (International movement of wood): Use of systems approaches 
in managing the pest risks associa ted with the movement of wood (2015 -004) 
4.1.2   Draft Diagnostic Protocols (English only)  
1. Draft annex to ISPM 27: Revision of DP 09 - Genus Anastrepha  Schiner (2021 -002) 
2. Draft annex to ISPM 27: Revision of DP 27 - Ips spp. (2021 -004) 
3. Draft annex to ISPM 27: Revision of DP 25 - Xylella fastidiosa  (2021 -003) 
4.1.3   Draft Phytosanitary Treatments (English, French and Spanish)  
1. Draft annex to ISPM 28: Vapour heat treatment for Planococcus lilacinus  (2021 -028) 
4.2  Second Consultation (1 July – 30 Septe mber 2023)  
4.2.1   Draft ISPMs (English only)  
1. Draft 2022 Amendments to ISPM 5: (Glossary of phytosanitary terms) (1994 -001), 
Priority  1 
2. Draft Annex: Criteria for evaluation of available information for determining host status 
of fruit to fruit flies to ISPM 37 (De termination of host status of fruit to fruit flies 
(Tephritidae)) (2018 -011) 
4.2.2   Draft Phytosanitary Treatments (English only)  
1. Draft annex to ISPM 28: Cold treatment for Thaumatotibia leucotreta  on Citrus sinensis  
(2017 -029) 
 
4 Standards Committee: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/standards -
committee/ . G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  4.3  DP Notification period5 (01 July – 15 August 2023)  
1. Draft annex to ISPM 27: Genus Ceratitis (2016 -001) 
2. Draft annex to ISPM 27: Mononychel lus tanajoa  (2018 -006) 
4.4  Recommendation of draft ISPMs for adoption by CPM -18 (2024)  
4.4.  The SC in May 2023 revised one further draft ISPM – a draft revision of ISPM 4 (Requirements 
for the establishment of pest free areas) – and recommended it for adoption by the CPM in 2024.  
4.5  Other discussions by the SC  
4.5.  The SC discussed the progress that had been made with a draft annex to ISPM 38 (International 
movement of seeds) on systems approaches for seeds, but they recognized that there was still not 
a common understanding within the IPPC community about what systems approaches are and how 
they are deve loped. The SC therefore agreed that a small group of SC members would develop a 
paper on this for consideration by the IPPC Strategic Planning Group (SPG).  
4.6.  The SC received reports from the four technical panels (on the glossary, phytosanitary 
treatments, d iagnostic protocols, and commodity standards) and recommended some changes to 
the Standard Setting Procedure in relation to commodity standards for consideration by the CPM 
in 2024. Moreover, the SC agreed to an additional consultation period in 2024, for draft diagnostic 
protocols only, because of the increase in the number development of these documents being 
developed.  
4.7.  The next IPPC SC meeting is tentatively scheduled to be from 13 to 17 November 2023 at FAO 
Headquarter, in Rome, Italy. Besides the revis ion of draft ISPMs for recommendation to adoption, 
the SC will also discuss other strategic issues from its work programme.  
5  IMPLEMENTATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IC)6 
5.1.  The May 2023 IC meeting was held face -to-face from 15 to 19 May in Rome.  
5.2.  The meeting started welcoming new IC members with a short introduction. Outcomes and key 
issues affecting IC workplan after CPM -17 (2023) were discussed and analysed. The points touched 
were: NPPO orientation side session, CPM -17 agenda on the report from IC , IPPC Observatory, One 
health and Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. cubense  TR4. Successful activities conducted 
throughout  2023, which were highlighted, included improving the bi -monthly updates from the IPPC 
Implementation Facilitation Unit, publishing of new g uides, development of e -learning courses, 
assisting multiple countries in completing Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluations (PCEs) as well as 
updates from project managed by the IPPC secretariat, those for strengthening food control and 
phytosanitary capacitie s and governance (PCEs), COMESA and projects submitted by contracting 
parties and international organizations.  
5.3.  During the May meeting, the IC also agreed to establish three new IC Teams to deal with the 
revision of the CPM preparation guidelines, the revis ion of the IPPC Regional workshop guidelines 
and to support the development of guidance on the use of third -party entities.  
5.4.  The IC lead presented the Overarching Implementation Plan for the IPPC Strategic 
Framework  2020-2030 Development Agenda Items. The i mplementation plan proposes sequencing 
and budgets for each of the eight Development Agenda Items. The plan also summarizes the 
workplan for each DAI and suggests a timeframe, indicators, budget for monitoring and reviewing 
the implementation of each DAI.  
5.5.  The next IC meeting is tentatively planned from 6 to 10 November 2023, FAO HQ, Rome, Italy.  
 
5 DP Notification period: For draft Diagnostic Protocols (DPs), the CPM has delegated its authority to 
adopt DPs on its behalf to the Standards Committee (SC). More information at: https://www.ippc.int/en/c ore-
activities/standards -setting/notification -period -dps/. 
6 https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/capacity -development -committee/ . G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  5.6.  For more information about the last IC meeting please consult the report (to be uploaded on 
IPP, hyperlink ). 
6  EPHYTO  
6.1.  The ePhyto Solution continues to provide user countries with the opportunity to exchange 
digital phytosanitary certificates with any country using the system. As  of end of June 2023, there 
were 126 countries registered (Burkina Faso, Georgia, Mauritania, Namibia being the latest to 
register), with 78 countries in full production. In addition, the ePhyto Solution has exceeded 
3.9 million certificates exchanged. Add itional features have been added to the Generic ePhyto 
National System (GeNS – the web -based application for countries without their own national 
systems) including eSignature/eSeal, French and Arabic language versions as well as an ePayment 
feature. The A rabic language version of the GeNS was developed with the support of the Global 
Alliance for Trade Facilitation.  
6.2.  With more and more countries coming on board there are always requests to add additional 
features. As a reminder, when considering these reques ts, 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 from 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 produ cts 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 phytosanit ary certifications 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.  
6.3.  At the seventeenth Session of the Commission on Phytosanit ary Measures (CPM -17, 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 was provided and discussed. It is anticipated that 
when CPM adopts a sustainable funding m echanism selected from the set of options to be presented, 
it will take at least two years to implement. The discussion included consideration of  other funding 
possibilities for ePhyto, possibly  funding from FAO. Specific points considered by the Focus Gro up 
included the scope of the costs to be covered, how those costs would be shared between users, and 
the mechanism by which users would pay. A number of developing countries  expressed concern 
about their countries’ difficulty to cover expenses. As part of ePhyto funding mechanism, CPM agreed 
the Secretariat to provide an annual report with information about: past and future activities, costs 
for the reporting year, budget for coming year, total usage by country including sent and received 
transactions, reve nue received from all sources and the level of contribution expected and whether 
the contribution has been received into the IPPC Multidonor Trust Fund (MDTF).  
6.4.  In conclusion, to address the funding system issue, secretariat and CPM bureau will work 
togethe r to develop a detailed final proposal on the system for the funding mechanism, including a 
detailed overview of the expected financial contributions from individual contracting parties 
exchanging ePhytos through the Hub, to be adopted by CPM -18 (2024). Mo re information on the 
system for funding system can be found on CPM-17 (2023) report . 
6.5.  As a reminder for our colleague s the system was built to handle up to one hundred thousand 
certificates per day, but at present it is averaging about one hundred and eighty thousand certificates 
per month. The IPPC again invites our SPS sisters and any other international organization w ishing 
to exchange digital certificates to contact the Secretariat to discuss ways to facilitate those 
exchanges through the system.  
6.6.  More information can be found on the ePhyto webpage  on the IPP.7 
 
7 ePhyto webpage: https://www.ephytoexchange.org/landing/ . G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  7  INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PLANT HEALTH - IDPH  
7.1.  The second International Day of Plant Health8 was marked on 12 May with the theme 
"Plant Health for Environmental Protection " in line with the annual theme of the IPPC and 
complement ary to the NSP theme for 2023 "Promoting sustainable Plant Protection through 
optimization and minimization ". The IDPH campaign reached around 34 million online users, 
some  24,000 social media users were engaged, more than 40 countries commemorated the day  with 
various awareness -raising activities, and 100 people attended the high -level event at FAO 
headquarters (see the IDPH Impact Report here) and 400 virtually.  
7.2.  The first IDPH was marked in 2022, following its adoption at the United Nations General 
Assembly in March 2022 which affirmed the need to raise global awareness and action towards 
protecting plant health.  
7.3.  The observance of IDPH promotes a better understand ing of the importance of plant health 
among the general public, decision -makers and the media, support the engagement of stakeholders 
to foster partnerships for plant health, and call for further investments on plant health capacity 
building, research, out reach and new related initiatives.  
7.4.  The objectives of the IDHP 2023 campaign were:  
• increase awareness among donors, policy makers, the general public the media and 
other key stakeholders on how plant pests impact the environment and biodiversity and 
on the importance of keeping plants healthy to contribute to achieving the UN 2030 
Agenda, in particular SDG 2 (Zero Hunger);  
• raise public awareness of IPPC as the only international standards -setting entity that 
protects plants and plant resources to protect foo d security, the environment and safe 
trade, which is in line with the aim of FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022 -2031 in 
transforming agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment and better 
lives for all;  
• raise public awareness on the importan ce of plant health as a key component of the 
FAO One Health approach, underlining that plant health is interdependent and impacts 
human and animal health; and  
• advocate to governments and donors to invest in plant health initiatives, including 
research, out reach and building the capacity of national plant protection organizations 
to implement the Convention and standards.  
8  IPPC COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY  
8.1.  The IPPC secretariat continued to produce communication and advocacy materials including 
the 2022 IPPC An nual Report, three issues of the IPPC newsletter sent to around 5 ,000 recipients, 
17 headline news and 33 announcements) from March -June 2023. Social media content reached an 
audience of around 272,000 users, with a peak performance in May during the Inter national Day of 
Plant Health (IDPH) campaigns. 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 Communicati ons Flotilla group on Twitter.  
8.2.  The draft IPPC Communication Strategy 2023 -2030, developed by the CPM Focus Group on 
Communication and the secretariat, was adopted at CPM -17. The strategy will be posted on the IPP 
and disseminated to NPPOs, RPPOs, contracti ng parties and other IPPC stakeholders. The strategy 
is being operationalised at the secretariat through its 2023 communications work plan, with the 
same key objectives of informing, advocating and engaging stakeholders, as well as the same target 
mileston es. 
8.3.  The International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) is being updated, with the new structure and 
design approved by the CPM Bureau in June. Revamping the IPP will improve its functionality and 
 
8 IDPH webpage: https://www.fao.org/plant -health -day/en . G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  interface, making key IPPC products and resources such as ISPMs an d guides, more visible and 
easily accessible. New content are being developed and posted on the IPP, 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 . 
8.4.  The secretariat has been doing the preparatory work in setting up a Community of Practice 
(COP) in communication which will serve as a platform f or two -way flow among communication 
professionals in the secretariat, NPPOs, RPPOs and other key stakeholders. The COP in 
communication will be an online platform for creating and sharing knowledge, sharing best practices 
and exploring opportunities for co llaboration, for instance in amplifying campaigns on the 
International Day of Plant Health. A concept paper and Terms of Reference are currently under 
development.  
9  CPM FOCUS GROUP ON SEA CONTAINERS  
9.1.  The CPM Focus Group on Sea Containers (SCFG) is organizing  a workshop to provide an 
opportunity to review the progress made by different stakeholders and by the IPPC community and 
industry discussing how to reduce pest contamination of containers and their cargoes as a key step 
toward the CPM taking decisions on long term IPPC guidance in 2024.  
9.2.  While the IPPC is responsible for management of plant health risks for sea containers, it is 
evident that addressing plant health risks inherent in the sea container pathway may also address 
other contaminants. Therefore, i t will be important to engage with the World Organization for 
Animal  Health (WOAH) to ensure that any solutions proposed by the FGSC to CPM -18 (2024) for 
decision would be considered and accepted for animal health concerns for a streamlined, predictable 
and feasible approach to the issue . It will also be important to consider ways to arrange for more 
and better coordination among and between border agencies so that industry not be subjected to 
conflicting guidance and requirements. It is understood that Cod ex has already provided guidance 
related to chemical residues and cleanliness relating to food shipped in sea containers.  
9.3.  Once of the main objectives of the workshop are:  
• review and seek comments on the revised CPM recommendation 6 (Sea Containers 
R-06), the revised recommendation can be accessed at the following link: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/cpm/current -consul tations -for-
cpm-recommendations/ ; 
• discuss and better understand the data available in relation to pest risks posed by the 
international movement of sea containers and their cargoes;  
• identify common points for potential pe st and contaminant reduction measures with the 
minimal adverse impacts on logistics . 
9.4.  More information on the workshop programme can be found at the following link. 
9.5.  The draft CPM recommendation revision will be submitted for consultat ion period from 
1 July – 30 September 2023 . 
10  CPM FOCUS GROUP ON THE SAFE PROVISIONS OF FOOD AND OTHER HUMA NITARIAN 
AID 
10.1.  The Focus Group on Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid was established by 
the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM -16) in April 2022. The IPPC has an adopted global 
recommendation  to tackle pests in food aid to strengthen long -term food security and to combat 
humanitarian crisis. The provision of food and other humanitarian aid assists regions or countries 
that are at risk of food an d economic insecurity as a result of conflict, crop failures, and natural 
disasters. The recommendation applies the principle of phytosanitary preparedness and response to 
the provision of urgent disaster -relief assistance and encourages recipient and expo rting countries 
to develop adequate response plans and use guidance available in adopted standards.  G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  10.2.  Further work is needed - To support the objectives of the IPPC strategic framework 2030 to 
enhance global food security and protect the environment from the  impacts of plant pests and, 
where appropriate, environmental pests, the IPPC and the CPM established the focus group. The 
main objectives are to ensure international co -operation to prevent the global spread of plant pests, 
understand the concerns raised by the and propose solutions for development of the standard and 
other supplementary tools, and outline the key principles, requirements and other aspects that a 
global standard on "The Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid " should contain.  
10.3.  The focus group made a first report to the CPM -17 (2023), and sought feedback and 
discussions by the CPM Bureau in June, and it will be further discussed at the IPPC Strategic Planning 
Group meeting in October 2023. The final report will be presented to the CPM-18 (2024), along with 
the draft Specification for a standard on this topic, and potentially an action to explore collaboration 
on this topic with the other "sisters " under the WTO -SPS Agreement. More information about the 
focus group can be found at: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/cpm/cpm -focus-
group -reports/cpm -focus-group -on-safe-provision -of-food-and-other -humanitarian -aid/. 
11  IPPC CALL FOR EXPERTS AND OTHER MATERIAL  
11.1  IPPC Call for topics: Standards and implementation material  
11.1.  The biennial combined Call for Topics for Standards and Implementation resources for 
inclusion in the IPPC work programme is open until 15 September 2023. More information at: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -and-implementation/call -for-topics -standards -
and-implementation/ . 
11.2.  Topics may include the following:  
− Standards:  
o New topics  for International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs);  
o New components to existing ISPMs, such as supplements, annexes, appendices, 
or glossary terms;  
o Revisions or amendments to adopted ISPMs, supplements, annexes, appendices, 
or glossary terms;  
o Pests for which a new diagnostic protocol should be developed.  
− Implementation resources:  
o New implementation resources (e.g. guides, e -Learning courses, training kits, 
videos);  
o Revisions to existing IPPC implementation resources.  
NOTE: Proposals for Phytosan itary Treatments (as annexes to ISPM 28: Phytosanitary treatments 
for regulated pests) are solicited separately in an ongoing call for treatments . 
11.2  IPPC Call for Experts -Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols - Botanist, deadline 
7 July 2023  
11.3.  The IPPC secretariat is soliciting nominations for appropriately qualified experts:  expert in 
Botany.  
11.4.  Experts will be appoi nted for five -year terms beginning in 2023 and should be available to 
attend all annual face -to-face meetings as well as any virtual meeting of the TPDP throughout the 
year. G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  11.5.  The Standards Committee (SC) will select the experts based on how closely an exper t’s skills 
and experience match the specific expertise required.  
11.6.  More information at: IPPC TPDP Call for Topics - Botanist . 
12  UPCOMING IPPC EVENTS  
12.1.  For more information on upcoming meetings, please check the website: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/year/calendar/ . 
• 10–14 July 2023: Expert Working group (EWG) on the Revision of ISPM 26 
(Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae)) ; 
• 17-19 July 2023: International Workshop on Pest Risk Mitigation of the Sea Containers 
and their Cargoes and the Facilit ation of International Trade - Defining the Way Forward, 
Brisbane Queensland, Australia ; 
• 21-25 August 2023: IPPC Regional Workshop for Pacific Region, Cook Islands ; 
• 22-25 August 2023: IPPC Latin America Regional workshop, IICA HQ, Costa Rica ; 
• 4-8 September  2023: IPPC Regional Workshop for Africa region, Ethiopia ; 
• 4-8 September 2023: IPPC Regional Workshop for Asia region, Republic of Korea ; 
• 4-8 September 2023: IPPC Regional Workshop for Europe and Central Asia region, 
Montenegro ; 
• 4-8 September 2023: IPPC Re gional Workshop for Near East and North Africa, 
Saudi  Arabia ; 
• September 2023 (TBC): Webinar on the Guide for the assessment and management of 
climate change impacts on plant pests ; 
• 10-13 October 2023: Strategic Planning Group (SPG), FAO HQ, Rome, Italy . 
13  IPPC VIDEOS AND OTHER TOOLS  
13.1.  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 
• 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 cou rse 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?categoryid=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.ip pc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -
development/list -topics -ippc-irss/list  G/SPS/GEN/2137  
 
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  13.2.  The IPPC secretariat would like to take this opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to the 
WTO-SPS Secretariat for the strong support and cl ose cooperation.  
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