G/SPS/GEN/2069  
 
21 October  2022 
(22-7894) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
SPS COMMITTEE THEMATIC SESSION ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND  
BEST  PRACTICES IN PEST RISK IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT  
TUESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER  2022  
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME1 
The SPS Committee agreed, at its November 2021 meeting, to hold a thematic session on 
international standards and best practices in pest risk identification, assessment and management  
in the margins of its November  2022 Committee meeting, based on proposal s submitted by the 
European Union .2 
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)  and the International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC)  estimate losses of 10 to 28 percent in crop production due to pests 
globally.3 Plant pests' out breaks can result in negative economic impacts , trade disruption  and be 
detrimental to food security. The IPPC aims to enhance global food security and increase sustainable 
agricultural productivity ; protect the environment  from the impacts of plant pests ; and facilitate safe 
trade and economic development . 
The thematic session will provide an opportunity for Members to increase their awareness about the 
relevant IPPC International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) and to elaborate and 
corrobora te how these are reflected in their domestic phytosanitary regimes. Relying on the 
experiences of Members and industry representatives, as well as reference databases and pest 
identification data developed by international organizations, the thematic sessi on aims to identify 
best practices  and discuss the challenges associated with issues such as: (i) identification of pests 
of phytosanitary concern; (ii) performance of pest risk analyses; (iii) risk mitigation measures; 
(iv) phytosanitary certification and /or import conditions ; and (v)  IPPC standards on risk 
management.  
The thematic session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 8 November 2022 , beginning 
at 10:00  (CET), and continuing in the afternoon at 15:00  (CET) . The thematic session can be 
attended in person or virtually through Zoom . Interpretation will be provided in English, French , and 
Spanish.  
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1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 G/SPS/GEN/1951  and revisions . 
3 Scientific review  of the impact of climate change on plant pests, FAO  and IPPC : 
https://www.fao.org/3/cb4769en/cb4769en.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/2069  
 
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  Chairperson: Mr Tang-Kai Wang  
1  RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE SPS AGREEMENT AND WORK OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
Speaker:  
▪ Mr Rolando Alcalá , WTO Secretariat . 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
2  PLANT HEALTH, TRADE AND THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS  
This session will provide insights on the relevant standards developed by the IPPC, and will explore 
the use of pest risk analysis as a tool to enable trade whilst ensuring plant health  protection . 
The session will also  highlight the importance of plant health and trade in supporting food security . 
Speakers:  
▪ Ms Sophie Peterson , IPPC Standards Committee Chairperson and Director, Pacific 
Engagement and International Plant Health, Australian Chief Plant Protection Office, 
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia; and Mr Dominique Pelletier , 
IPPC Implementation and Capacity Development Committee Chairperson and National 
Manager, Forestry Section, Canadian Food Inspection Agency . 
▪ FAO [TBC]  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
3  BEST PRACTICES IN PEST RISK IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT  
Members will present case studies regarding  best practices in pest risk identification, assessment 
and management, offering the opportunity to discuss benefit s and challenges in practice.  
Speakers:  
▪ Dr Antarjo Dikin , Senior Expert - Plant Quarantine Analyst, Indonesian Agriculture 
Quarantine Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia. Risk analysis practice for plant 
quarantine in Indonesia.  
▪ Mr Harry Arijs , Deputy Head, Plant Health Unit, European Commission Directorate General 
for Health and Food Safety, European Union. EU legal requirements and administrative 
procedures related to the management of pest risks in trade with plants and plant products.  
▪ Ms Jing  Huang , Senior Agronomist , Research Center of GACC for International Inspection 
and Quarantine Standards and Technical Regulations; and  Mr Ruosi Liu , Senior Agronomist, 
Science and Technology Research  Center of China Customs, China. Research and practice o f 
risk assessment methods in China.  
▪ Ms Helen Anderson , Pest Risk Analyst, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
(Defra), United Kingdom.  
▪ Ms Lilian Daisy Ibáñez Olate , Head of the Pest Risk Analysis Section, Plant Quarantine 
Sub-Department, Agr icultural, Forestry and Seed Protection Division, Agriculture and 
Livestock Service, Chile.  
▪ Dr David Dall , Principal Scientific Analyst, Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division, 
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia . 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . G/SPS/GEN/2069  
 
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  4  PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES IN THE APPLICATION OF PEST RISK MANAGEMENT IN TRADE  
Members and industry representatives will exchange practical experiences  and case studies  in the 
application of pest risk management in trade . The session will also explore the  use of reference 
databases and tools  developed by international organizations . 
Speakers:  
▪ Mr Wichar  Thitiprasert , Adviser , National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food 
Standards (ACFS) , Thailand . Thailand Experiences on Pest Risk Management to 
Facilitate  Trade . 
▪ Mr Jose Hernandez , Senior Risk Manager , Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service  Plant 
Protection and Quarantine program  (APHIS/PPQ), United States. The PPQ Risk Management 
Process . 
▪ Mr Abdoulaye Ndiaye , Head of the Phytosanitary Legislation Division  and Plant Quarantine , 
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, Senegal . Evaluation and best practices in 
phytosanitary risk management applied to the mango sector  – constraints in Senegal and in 
Africa . 
▪ Mr Peter Thomson , Director Animal and Plant Health, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for 
Primary Industries , New Zealand . Toward more responsive plant health risk analysis in 
practice . 
▪ Ms MaryLucy Oronje , Scientist - SPS, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International 
(CABI). Databases and tools for pest risk assessment – capacity development opportunities 
for countries.  
▪ Mr Philippe Binard , Secretary General, Freshfel Europe. Practical problems with 
phytosanitary trade  conditions.  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
5  PANEL DISCUSSION  - PEST RISK IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT: 
CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES  
Panellists will exchange experiences and discuss  the challenges, opportunities and best practices 
related to pest risk identification, assessment and management. The need for further IPPC guidance 
could  also be explored . 
Moderator : Dr Osama El -Lissy , IPPC Secretary.  
Panellists:  [TBC]  (speakers from previous sessions will be included in the panel)  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion.  
6  CLOSING REMARKS  
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