G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
1 June 2022 
(22-4142) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION (IPPC)  
TO THE SPS COMMITTEE MEETING ON 22-24 JUNE  2022 
FOR THE P ERIOD : 15 FEBRUARY  – 30 MAY 2022  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE IPPC SECRETARIAT  
The followi ng communication, received on 30 May 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat  (IPPC).  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
1.1.  The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) sixtee nth session (CPM -16) took place 
virtually on 5, 7 and 21 April 2022. The CPM -16 working papers and the draft report is available at 
https://www.ippc.int/en/cpm -sessions/cpm -16/. 
1.2.  The WTO  SPS Secre tariat developed a paper to the CPM -16 and it is available here. 
1.3.  Nine draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), including Annexes, 
were adopted:1 
• ISPM 46 (Commodity -specific standards for phytosanitary measures) ; 
• ISPM 47 (Audit in the phytosanitary context) ; 
• Focused revision of ISPM 12 (Phytosanitary certificates) in relation to re -export and revoked 
the previously adopted version ; 
• 2019 and 2020 amendments to ISPM 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms) and revoked the 
previously adopted version ; 
• PT 40 (Irradiation treatment for Tortricidae on fruits) ; 
• PT 41 (Cold treatment for Bactrocera zonata  on Citrus sinensis ); 
• PT 42 (Irradiation treatment for Zeugodacus ta u); 
• PT 43 (Irradiation treatment for Sternochetus frigidus ); 
• PT 44 (Vapour heat –modified atmosphere treatment for Cydia pomonella  and 
Grapholita  molesta  on Malus pumila  and Prunus persica ). 
1.4.  The CPM -16 also noted that the Standards Committee adopted on beha lf of the CPM the 
following diagnostic protocols (DPs) as annexes to ISPM 27 (Diagnostic protocols for regulated 
pests):  
• DP 30 ( Striga  spp.); 
• DP 31 ( 'Candidatus Liberibacter ' spp. on Citrus  spp.). 
1.5.  The ISPMs will be available on the IPP at the adopted standard page . 
1.6.  The CPM -16 also adopted the CPM Recommendation R -10 on Reduction of the incidence of 
contaminating pests associated with regulated and unregulated articles to protect plant resources 
and facilitate safe trade . The purpose of this CPM recommendation is to reduce the incidence of 
 
1 See news item on the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP): https://www.ippc.int/en/news/cpm -16-
adopts -nine-new-plant-health -standards -to-enhance -plant-health -worldwide/ . G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
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  contaminating pests on and in regulated and unregulated articles and other pathway s in order to 
protect plant health, biodiversity and food security and to facilitate safe trade. In this 
recommendation, "unregulated articles " refers to plants, plant products, traded goods, storage 
places, packaging, conveyances, containers, soil, and an y other objects, organisms or materials 
capable of harbouring or spreading contaminating pests, that are not subject to phytosanitary 
measures.  
1.7.  A highlight of the CPM -16 was the adoption of the overarching standard ISPM 46 which applies 
to commodities bein g moved through international trade. As the IPPC takes on a new direction by 
putting greater focus on commodity - or pathway -specific topics, it was recognized that the 
international phytosanitary community might view this as a challenge. The CPM had agreed  on the 
principles around commodity standards and it highlighted the sovereign authority of contracting 
parties and that no additional obligations are imposed on importing countries by commodity 
standards, over and above the obligations already identified in the IPPC.  
1.8.  The ISPM 46 is designed to support the development of phytosanitary import requirements 
where measures are technically justified to facilitate safe trade. Contracting parties should thus 
consider available commodity standards when developing p hytosanitary import requirements, 
including pest lists and options for phytosanitary measures. The specific commodity standards, which 
will be annexes to ISPM 46, will be developed by the IPPC Technical Panel on Commodity Standards  
and the forecast is that in 2023 the first specific commodity standard for mango fruit will be 
submitted for consultation peri od with the aim to be adopted in 2025.  
2  IPPC OBSERVATORY2 
2.1.  Regarding implementation of the IPPC standards, another highlight from the CPM -16 was the 
approval of the transition of the IPPC 's Implementation Review and Support System (IRSS)  to the 
IPPC Observatory . The IPPC Observatory should be a sustainably funded system aimed at im proving 
contracting parties ' implementation of the IPPC, the ISPMs and CPM recommendations. The missions 
of the IPPC Observatory have been essentially focused to collect data through studies and surveys 
and provide recommendations. With an allocated base f unding from the IPPC secretariat and with 
dedicated full -time staff, the IPPC Observatory will function better under the IPPC secretariat while 
being guided by the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) Sub -group. 
A three -year work plan, a resource mobilization plan and a communications strategy adapted to 
target audiences will be in place to guide the IPPC Observatory 's work.  
2.1  Pest Outbreak Alert and Response Systems Focus Group  
2.2.  The CPM Focus group on Pest Outbreak Alert and Response Systems  met virtually in 2021 and 
delivered recommendations3, which summary was provided to CPM -16 in 2022. CPM -16 agreed that 
a steering group should be set to continue on this activity. The CPM Bureau further worked on the 
Terms of Reference for this Steering Group, and a call shall be launched soon.  
2.2  Sea Containers Focus Group  
2.3.  CPM-16 (2022) discussed the outcomes of the Sea Containers Task Force (SCTF ) and agreed 
to establish the CPM focus group (FG) on Sea Containers. The Call for nominations for this CPM FG 
has been launched with deadline of 10 June. For more information, please visit the "Calls for 
nominations for CPM Focus Groups " web page: https://www.ippc.int/ru/core -
activities/governance/cpm/cpm -focus-group -reports/calls -for-nominations -for-cpm-focus-groups/ . 
2.4.  The purpose of this Focus Group is to review all relevant materials and recommendations, 
develop viable options that will contribute to risk management, and provide CPM with 
recommendations, including the option of development of an ISPM.  
 
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/ . 
3 IPPC secretariat (2022) Recommendations for an Effective Pest Outbreak Alert and Response System 
https://assets.ippc.int/static/media/files/mediakitdocument/en/2022/03/POARS_All_Recommendations.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
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  2.5.  An international workshop is planned to take place in London, in hybrid format, on 
19-20 September 2022. More information at: https://www.ippc.int/en/events/event/1243/ . 
2.3  Focus Group on Food and Other Humanitarian Aid 
2.6.  The CPM -16 established a CPM Focus Group on Food and other Humanitarian Aid, with the 
purpose 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, als o highlighted in the CPM 
Recommendation R-09 Safe provision of food and other humanitarian aid to prevent the introduction 
of plant pests during an emergency situation . 
2.7.  The Focus Group will operat e until 2023 and the call for experts is open , with 10 June 2022 as 
deadline. For more information click here . The fi rst meeting is scheduled for July 2022.  
2.8.  One of the main tasks of this focus group is to propose solutions for the development of a 
standard, as well as other supplementary tools and material.  
2.4  Focus Group on Climate Change and Phytosanitary Issues  
2.9.  The CPM -16 also approved the 2022 –2025 action plan4 for the implementation of the 
development agenda item "Assessment and Management of Climate Change Impacts on Plant 
Health " of the IPPC Strategic Framework. The Focus Group is meeting remotely and it is expected 
that the group, together with the CPM Bureau, discuss the resource mobilization and implementation 
aspects of the work.  
2.5  International Day of Plant Health – 12 May  
2.10.   The United Nations designated 12 May the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH)  to raise 
global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect 
biodiversity and the  environment, and boost economic development. The Day is a key legacy of the 
International Year of Plant Health 2020.  
2.11.   At the first ever celebration of the IDPH 12 May 2022 , the Food and Agriculture Organization 
of the United Nations (FAO) has called for more investment in innovation in a field crucial for boosting 
food security and transforming how our food is produce d, delivered and consumed. "On this very 
first International Day of Plant Health, we will reflect on plant health innovations for food security, " 
said FAO Director -General QU Dongyu in his opening remarks, adding that investments are needed 
in research, ca pacity development and outreach. In the first celebration day it also had a one hour 
technical session chaired by Mr Osama EL -LISSY, the IPPC Secretary and had the participation of 
the CPM Chairperson Mr Lucien Konan KOUAMÉ highlighting the contribution of  the global plant 
health community to food security.  
3  STANDARDS COMMITTEE5 
3.1.  In a series of focused virtual meetings, the IPPC Standards Committee (SC) is progressing its 
work and developing international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs). The SC had one 
focused meeting in April, after the CPM , to revise and approve draft Specifications for consultation 
period.  
3.2.  The SC May 2022 meeting (9 -11 and 13 May 2022) was mainly for the revision and approval 
of draft ISPMs for first consultation period. The S C also elected its new Chairperson, Ms Sophie 
Peterson (Australia) and thanked Mr Ezequiel Ferro for his great work as chairperson of this 
committee for the last five years.  
 
4 IPPC Focus Group on Climate Change and Phytosanitary Issues work plan: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/90659/ . 
5 Standards Committee: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/standards -
committee/ . G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
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  3.3.  Following the SC May, the SC working group, or the SC -7, met the following week to  revise 
and approve four draft ISPMs for second consultation.  
3.4.  The SC is still revising draft phytosanitary treatments and draft diagnostic protocols for 
approval for the consultation period this year. In summary, the SC approved the following draft 
Specifi cations and ISPMs for the 2022 consultation period.  
Draft specifications consultation period (1 July – 30 August) : 
− Annex International movement of mango ( Mangifera indica ) fruit to ISPM 46 ( Commodity -
specific standards for phytosanitary measures)  (2021 -011); 
− Field inspection (including growing season inspection) (Annex to ISPM 23 ( Guidelines for 
inspection )) (2021 -018); 
− Revision of ISPM 26 ( Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies  (Tephritidae)) 
(2021 -010). 
First consultation on draft ISPM (1 July – 30 September) : 
− Criteria for determining host status of fruits to fruit flies based on available information 
(Annex to ISPM 37: determination fruit fly host status) (2018 -011); 
− 2022 Amendments to ISPM 5 . 
Second consul tation on draft ISPMs (1 July – 30 September) : 
− Revision of ISPM 4 ( Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas ) (2009 -002); 
− Use of specific import authorizations (Annex to ISPM 20: Guidelines for a phytosanitary 
import regulatory system ) (2008 -006); 
− Revision of ISPM 18 ( Guidelines for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure ) 
(2014 -007); 
− 2021 Amendments to ISPM 5 . 
3.5.  The next SC meeting is planned to be a focused meeting, virtually, in July 2022. For m ore 
information please check the IPP calendar here . 
4  IMPLEMENTATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IC)6 
4.1.  Since last update, two IC virtual meetings were held (VM19 on 16 March and the VM20 from 
16 to 19 May 2022). The IC VM19 was sc heduled to review the four following draft specifications for 
guides and training materials to go for the 2022 consultation (1 July – 30 August):  
• Authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions, Guide (2018 -040); 
• National Reporting Obligations ( NROs) Guide, revision (2021 -026); 
• Implementation of risk -based inspection for imported consignments, Guide (2018 -022); 
• Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) facilitator training materials (2014 -008). 
4.2.  During the IC VM20, the IC discussed the projects mana ged by the IPPC secretariat and held 
an open session (webinar) to discuss projects from partner's and international organizations to 
promote synergies and share experiences on implementation and capacity development activities. 
This VM20 was also the oppor tunity for the IPPC secretariat units and teams to provide updates to 
the IC.  
4.3.  Reports from these meetings will be posted soon on the IPP7. In addition, the detailed activities 
of the IC Sub -groups and Teams are also available on the IPP.8 
 
6 https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/capacity -development -committee/  
7 IC meeting reports: http://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/capacity -
development -committee/ . 
8 https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capa city-development/capacity -development -committee/ic -
sub-group/ . G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
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  4.4.  Moreover, following CPM -16 (2022), the SPS Committee should be informed of some decisions 
having an impact on the activities of the IC:  
• The revised IC Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure has been adopted and the number 
of committee members is now fou rteen and this revised version brings more clarifications 
on the missions and the process of member selection ; 
• The revised IPPC Dispute Settlement Procedures has been adopted and the oversight of the 
IPPC dispute settlement procedure is moved from the IC t o the CPM Bureau, but dispute 
avoidance is maintained within the IC mandate ; 
• The establishment of the CPM Sea Container Focus Group to replace the Sea Container Task 
Force (which were under the oversight of the IC). The CPM Bureau would have oversight of 
work of the Focus Group on Sea Containers.  
4.1  IPPC Guides and training materials  
4.5.  Work on the development of the IPPC guides and training materials has progressed 
considerably in early 2022. Three guides are under development and on track to be published in the  
second Quarter 2022:  
• Contingency planning guide: for outbreaks of quarantine pests (2019 -012); 
• e-Commerce guide (2017 -039); 
• Guide to support implementation of ISPM 15 (2017 -043). 
4.6.  In addition, two new e -learning courses have recently been published:  
• Pest r isk analysis . A tutored version of the course was delivered to participants from 
COMESA countries in May, the self -study version of the course is available in the COLEACP 
portal and has been followed by 39 participants from 15 countries ; 
• Surveillance and r eporting obligations (2020 -012) . This self -study course is currently 
available in the FAO eLearning academy portal.  
4.7.  Two other eLearning courses are expected very soon, all the technical content has been drafted 
and is at the final stages of conversion into  an eLearning format:  
• Phytosanitary export certification system e -learning course (2020) ; 
• Inspection e -learning course (2022 -012). 
4.8.  All these training materials will be promoted in an upcoming webinar in July 2022.  
4.9.  However, two new topics were added to the List of Implementation and Capacity Development 
Topics during the CPM -16 (2022):  
• Audits in the phytosanitary context, new guide (2021 -009); 
• National reporting obligations (NRO), revision to existing guide (2021 -026). 
4.10.   Further information on the List of Impl ementation and Capacity Development Topics is 
available on the IPP.9 
4.2  National Reporting Obligations  
4.11.   The IC Team on NROs  finalized the proposal for correspondence of values of pest status 
between the revoked (1998) and the new version (2021) of ISPM 8 (Determination of pest status in 
an area). Following this decision, the IPPC secretariat updated the relevant drop -down menu s on 
the IPP, replacing the values for the pest status categories with the ones listed in the revised ISPM  8. 
4.12.   The IC Team on NROs agreed that the NROs guide needed to be updated. The Team proposed 
a revision of the guide, along with a submission form and a  draft Specification to the IC and the IC 
agreed to proposing National Reporting Obligations Guide - Revision (2021 -026) to the CPM for 
 
9 https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/list -topics -ippc-implementation/list . G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
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  inclusion in the Implementation and Capacity Development List of Topics (ICD LOT), noting that the 
IC proposed to assign  a priority level of 1.  
4.13.   IC VM 17 discussed the four options presented to them by the IC Team on NROs for how to 
handle the removal of NROs documents and decided to allow IPPC contact points to delete their 
NROs documents on their country pages on the IPP a s they wish. While the record would no longer 
be visible, the data will be archived and be made available only to the generator of the record upon 
request.  
4.14.   The IPPC secretariat provides regular assistance to IPPC contact points and their IPP editors 
throug hout the year to facilitate reporting through the IPP. The Pest reports bulletin10 is being 
maintained and updated.  
4.15.   The CPM -16 added the revision of the Guide to national report ing obligations (2021 -026) to 
the List of implementation and capacity development topics and noted that the IC would assign a 
priority level of 1. The CMP noted the IC 's decision to allow IPPC contact points to delete any of their 
NROs documents on their c ountry page on the IPP, and that while the record would no longer be 
visible on the country page on the IPP, the data would be archived and be made available only to 
the generator of the record upon request; and noted that although NROs activities were unf unded, 
France will provide an in -kind staff contribution to work partly on advancing the NROs 2022 
workplan.  
4.3  Web-based information for Implementation and Capacity Development  
4.16.   A Phytosanitary Systems landing page11 has been developed and updated in collaboration 
with the IC. These webpages provide linkages to relevant ISPMs, CPM recommendations, Guides 
and training materials as well as contributed resources and are a useful one stop site for NPPOs to 
build better na tional phytosanitary systems.  
4.17.   SPS members are encouraged to visit these webpages and provide comments to support 
continual improvements to these pages ( ippc@fao.org ). 
4.4  Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation  
4.18.   Regarding the PCE, the following progress can be highlighted:  
• The PCE desk study Purchase Order being reviewed;  
• PCE in Nepal completed in March 2022, first PCE with direct donor (World Bank) 
participation;  
• FAO and the European Union have ratified project GCP/GLO/949/EU for f unding 9 PCEs in 
COMESA countries.  
5  EPHYTO  
5.1.  The IPPC ePhyto Solution continues to grow and provide user countries with the opportunity to 
exchange digital phytosanitary certificates with any country using the system. As of mid -May 2022, 
there were 110 countr ies registered, with 68 countries in full production. In addition, the ePhyto 
Solution has now surpassed over two million certificates exchanged and continues to grow. 
Additional  features have been added to the Generic ePhyto National System (GeNS – the we b-based 
application for countries without their own national systems) including eSignature and a French 
language version. Forthcoming this year will be an Arabic language version of the GeNS (developed 
with the support of the Global Alliance for Trade Faci litation) as well as an ePayment feature. 
With more and more countries coming onboard there are always requests to add additional features. 
When considering these requests, the IPPC secretariat always strives to ensure that any new features 
added to the sy stem will have applicability across the system for any country wishing to make use 
of the feature. Finally, as colleagues are aware, the system was built to handle up to one hundred 
thousand certificates per day, but at present it is averaging about one hu ndred thousand certificates 
 
10 Pest reports bulletin: https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/reportingsystem -summary/all/ . 
11 Phytosanitary System landing page is available at: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -
development/phytosanitary -system/ . G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
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  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.  
5.2.  More information can be found on the ePhyto webpage12 on the IPP.  
6  EMERGING PESTS  
6.1.  Banana Fusarium Wilt (TR4) : The IC Team on Fusarium TR4 progressed on preparing a draft 
of the prevention, preparedness, and response guidelines for Fusarium TR4, which is curren tly under 
review. In addition to that, the team agreed on the organization of a "Virtual workshop training 
series on Fusarium TR4 diagnostic, surveillance, inspection and simulation exercises", consisting of 
three sessions were held on 24 March, 19 April a nd 10 May and to be open to the IPPC Community. 
Further information and technical materials on these webinar sessions are available on the IPP.13 
7  IPPC COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY  
7.1.  The IPPC secretariat continue to produce communication and advocacy materials (2021 IPPC 
Annual report, released 26 headline news and 18 announcements) in 2022 as well as social media 
content that reached a wider audience with a steady increase in percentages compared to the s ame 
period in 2021. The Secretariat continues to maintain and update the IPPC website in six FAO 
languages. In coordination with FAO, the IPPC secretariat and United Kingdom are co -organizing the 
first International Plant Health Conference in London, from 21 to 23 September 2022 in a hybrid 
setting.  
7.2.  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.  
8  IPPC CALL FOR EXPERTS AND OTHER MATERIAL  
8.1.  For inf ormation on upcoming calls for various IPPC groups, please check the website: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/calls/category/deadline/ . 
9  UPCOMING IPPC EVENTS14 
• August/September 2022 : IPPC Regional Wor kshops on draft ISPMs and Capacity 
Development. Various locations ; 
• 19-20 September 2022 : International Workshop on reducing the introduction of pests 
through the Sea Container Pathway. London, United Kingdom;  
• 20 September 2022 : ePhyto Industry Advisory Gro up Meeting. London, United Kingdom;  
• 21 to 23 September 2022 : International Plant Health Conference (IPHC). London, 
United  Kingdom . The Conference will convene countries from around the world to discuss 
global scientific, technical and regulatory issues rel ated to plant health aiming to contribute 
to a number of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, amongst other objectives.  
10  IPPC VIDEOS AND OTHER TOOLS  
10.1.   The IPPC secretariat wishes to share with you the new tools available.  
− Video on the IPPC standard setting p rocedure: 
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  
 
12 ePhyto webpage: https://www. ephytoexchange.org/landing/ . 
13 https://www.ippc.int/en/news/workshops -events/webinars/workshop -series -fusarium -tr4-diagnostic -
surveillance -inspection -and-simulation -exercise/ . 
14 Please check the IPP calendar: https://www.ippc.int/en/year/calendar/ . G/SPS/GEN/2030  
 
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  − e-learning course on Surveillance and reporting obligations: 
http://elearning.fao.org/course/view.php?id=824  
− e-learning course on Pest Risk A nalysis (developed in collaboration with COLEACP): 
http://training.coleacp.org/course/index.php?categoryid=208  
 
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