G/SPS/GEN/2069/Rev.1  
 
3 November  2022 
(22-8269) 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 
Revision  
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 
A recent scientific review prepared  under the auspices of the Secretariat of the International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC)  estimate s losses of 10 to 28 percent in crop production due to pests 
globally.3 Plant pests' outbreaks can result in negative economic impacts , trade disruption  and be 
detrimental to food security. The IPPC aims to enhance global food security and increase sustain able 
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 
corroborate how these are reflected in their domestic phytosani tary regimes. Relying on the 
experiences of Members and industry representatives, as well as reference databases and pest 
identification data developed by international intergovernmental organizations, the thematic session 
aims to identify best practices a nd 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 IPPC Secretariat. 2021. Scientific review of the impact of climate change on plant pests – A global 
challenge to prevent and mitigate plant pest risks in agricultu re, forestry and ecosystems . Rome. FAO on 
behalf of the IPPC Secretariat : https://www.fao.org/3/cb4769en/cb4769en.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/2069/Rev.1  
 
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  Chairperson: Mr Tang-Kai Wang  
1  RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE SPS AGREEMENT AND WORK OF THE SPS COMM ITTEE  
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 secu rity. 
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 , Canada . Development and 
implementation of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) . 
▪ FAO [Speaker 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 benef its 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 requirements and procedures for the 
management of plant health risks in trade . 
▪ 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 of 
risk assessment methods in China.  
▪ Ms Helen Anderson , Pest Risk Analyst, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
(Defra), United Kingdom.  Identification of pests of phytosanitary concern.  
▪ Ms Lilian Daisy Ibáñez Olate , Head of the Pest Risk Analysis Section, Plant Quaran tine 
Sub-Department, Agricultural, Forestry and Seed Protection Division, Agriculture and 
Livestock Service, Chile.  Identification of best practices in pest risk assessment and 
management in Chile.  
▪ Dr David Dall , Principal Scientific Analyst, Biosecurity P lant and Science Services Division, 
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia . 
Maintaining a BMSB -free Australia: Assessments and practices.  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . G/SPS/GEN/2069/Rev.1  
 
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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 too ls developed by international intergovernmental organizations . 
Speakers:  
▪ Mr Philippe Binard , General  Delegate , Freshfel Europe. Practical problems with 
phytosanitary trade conditions.  
▪ Mr Wichar  Thitiprasert , Adviser, National Bureau of Agricultural Commodi ty 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 . 
▪ Dr MaryLucy Oronje , Scientist - SPS, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International 
(CABI). Databases and tools for pest risk assessment – Capacity development opportunities 
for countries.  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
5  PANEL DISCUSSION  - PEST RISK IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT , AND MANAGEMENT: 
CHALLENGES AN D 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:   
▪ Ms Lilian Daisy Ibáñez Olate , Head of the Pest Risk Analysis Section, Plant Quarantine 
Sub-Department, Agricultural, 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.  
▪ Mr Wichar  Thitiprasert , Adviser, National Bureau of Agricultur al Commodity and Food 
Standards (ACFS), Thailand.  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion.  
6  CLOSING REMARKS  
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