G/SPS/GEN/1996  
 
4 March 2022 
(22-2004) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION (IPPC)  
TO THE SPS COMMITTEE MEETING ON 23-25 MARCH  2022 
FOR THE P ERIOD : 1 OCTOBER  2021 – 15 FEBRUARY  2022 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE IPPC SECRETARIAT  
The followi ng communication, received on 2 March  2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat  (IPPC).  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  THE COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
1.1.  The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) s ixteenth session (CPM -16) is confirmed to 
take place virtually on 5, 7 and 21 April 2022. Working papers for the CPM -16 are available at 
https://www.ippc.int/en/cpm -sessions/cpm -16/. 
1.2.  Nine draft I nternational Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), including Annexes, are 
being recommended for adoption:  
1) Draft ISPM: Commodity -specific standards for phytosanitary measures (2019 -008);  
2) Draft ISPM: Audit in the phytosanitary context (2015 -014);  
3) Draft ISPM: Focused revision of ISPM 12 ( Phytosanitary certificates ) in relation to re -export 
(2015 -011);  
4) Draft 2019 and 2020 amendments to ISPM 5 ( Glossary of phytosanitary terms ) (1994 -001);  
5) Draft Annex to ISPM 28: Irradiation treatment for T ortricidae on fruits (2017 -011);  
6) Draft Annex to ISPM 28: Cold treatment for Bactrocera zonata  on Citrus sinensis  (2017 -
013);  
7) Draft Annex to ISPM 28: Irradiation treatment for Zeugodacus tau  (2017 -025);  
8) Draft Annex to ISPM 28: Irradiation treatment for Sternochetus frigidus  (2017 -036);  
9) Draft Annex to ISPM 28: Vapour heat - modified atmosphere treatment for Cydia pomonella  
and Grapholita molesta  on Malus pumila  and Prunus persica  (2017 -037 and 2017 -038).  
1.3.  Two diagnostic protocols, annexes to ISPM 27 ( Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests ) are 
being presented for noting, as they were adopted by the IPPC Standards Committee on behalf of the 
CPM:  
1) DP 30: Striga spp. (2008 -009);  
2) DP 31: 'Candidatus  Liberibact er' spp. on Citrus  spp. (2004 -010) 
1.1  CPM Bureau1 
1.4.  The CPM Bureau held seven virtual meetings from October 2021 up to 15 February 2022 to 
advance the IPPC work plan of the IPPC community.  
1.5.  The CPM Bureau provided guidance for the three newly established CPM Fo cus Groups (FGs) 
on Implementation of the IPPC Strategic Framework development agenda; Climate change and 
phytosanitary issues; and Communication. It also discussed some International Year of Plant Health 
 
1 CPM Bureau: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/bureau/ . G/SPS/GEN/1996  
 
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  (IYPH) Legacies, including some IYPH Webinars pavin g the way to the first International Plant Health 
Conference (IPHC).  
1.6.  The CPM Bureau also discussed and approved the 2022 IPPC secretariat Work Plan and Budget 
and the details for the CPM -16 preparation, including its provisional agenda. As it is under the CPM 
Bureau remit, they also approved the CPM Recommendation on "Reduction of the incidence of 
contaminating pests associated with regulated and unregulated articles to protect plant resources 
and facilitate safe trade (2019 -002)" with recommendation to the  CPM-16 for adoption.  
1.2  IPPC Dispute Settlement Procedure  
1.7.  Two sets of dispute settlement procedures (DSPs) under the IPPC were developed and adopted 
by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM).  The first version of the DSPs (1999) 
was adopted  by the ICPM at its 2nd Session in 1999. At that Session, the ICPM also mandated the 
further elaboration of certain aspects of the 1999 DSPs. As a result, at its 3rd Session in 2001, the 
ICPM adopted specific procedures (2001 DSPs) set forth in Section F t o N of Appendix XI to the 
Report of the 3rd Session of the ICPM.  
1.8.  In 2019, the Strategic Planning Group  (SPG) , a subsidiary body of the Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), reviewed a document outlining the difficulties with the 1999 and 
2001 DSPs an d agreed that the inconsistencies found in the 1999 and 2001 DSPs should be worked 
on, but this work was postponed until the end of the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) in 
June 2021. In  July 2021 the CPM Bureau approved resources for this review a nd a revised version 
of the IPPC DSPs was presented to the SPG at the October 2021 meeting.  The SPG recommended 
to send the revised IPPC DSPs for adoption by CPM -16(2022) and assign  the role of the Dispute 
Settlement Oversight Body to the CPM Bureau . 
2  STRAT EGIC PLANNING GROUP (SPG)2 
2.1.  The Strategic Planning Group (SPG) virtual meeting was held on 19 and 21 October 2021 in 
two sessions per day (AM 10 to 12 and PM 14 to 16 Rome time). The main topics discussed were 
discussion items from CPM focus groups (FGs ), emerging topics such as IPPC and one health, 
partnership strategy and IYPH legacies as well as framework for Standards and implementation and 
revised Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) terms of reference and rules of 
procedure, as we ll as for the IPPC Dispute Settlement Procedure.  
3  STANDARDS COMMITTEE3 
3.1.  In a series of focused virtual meetings, the IPPC Standards Committee (SC) is progressing its 
work in developing international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs) and having st rategic 
discussions related to the implementation of the new IPPC Strategic Framework.  
3.2.  The SC also approved the Specification 72 on the Reorganization and revision of pest risk 
analysis standards and the work will commence in 2022.  
3.3.  The SC also approved nin e ISPMs, including annexes, to be presented to the CPM -16 for 
adoption. The SC also discussed several other point s that are being presented for the CPM -16, such 
as the Adoption of the List of topics for IPPC standards, adjustments to the Standard Setting P rocess 
to facilitate the development of phytosanitary treatments, and discussions on the topic "Food and 
other humanitarian aid in phytosanitary context" and a proposal for the establishment of a CPM 
Focus Group.  
3.4.  In February 2022, the SC on behalf of the C PM adopted the thirtieth first Annex to ISPM 27 
(Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests ) for 'Candidatus  Liberibacter' spp. on Citrus  spp. 
 
2 Strategic Planning Group: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/strategic -planning -
group/ . 
3 Standards Committee: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/stan dards -
committee/ . G/SPS/GEN/1996  
 
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  (2004 -010), the causal agent responsible for the citrus greening or Huanglongbing (HLB), one of 
the most destructiv e citrus diseases.  
3.5.  Currently, there are four Technical Panels under the oversight of the SC and updates on the 
following are provided:  
− The Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP)  met six times and worked via electronic 
forums (e -decisions) to select  DP authors and to discuss various DPs to advance their work 
programme. During the year, there was the DP Notification Period  and subsequent adoption 
of DP 30 Striga  spp., one draft DP on Candidatus  Liberibacter spp. on Citrus  spp. went to 
country consultation in July and another draft DP on "Genus Ceratitis " was submitted to the 
IPPC Expert Consultation Period . 
− The Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments (TPPT)  met six times virtually in 2022. 
They discussed their work plan and the remaining phytosanitary treatments on the ir work 
programme. They addressed comments from contracting parties and recommended five PTs 
for adoption by CPM -16 (2022). The TPPT recommended to streamline the process for the 
development of phytosanitary treatments by making the need for a second consu ltation 
dependent on whether substantial comments are submitted. The TPPT also evaluated four 
new treatment proposals and recommended adding them to the work programme.  
− The Technical Panel for the Glossary (TPG)  had a virtual meeting in December 2021 to re view 
its work programme and address comments raised during consultation period draft ISPMs. 
The TPG discussed the proposals for new and revised terms/definitions, which will be 
compiled into new draft Amendments to the Glossary to be submitted to the Stand ards 
Committee in May 2022. The TPG also worked on the proposals for amendments to "General 
recommendations on use of terms in ISPMs " and introductory wording in the IPPC Style 
Guide (2019) . 
− The Tec hnical Panel on Commodity Standards (TPCS) : already established by the CPM and 
with its Specification approved ( Specification TP 6 ), this technical panel is yet to be formed. 
The SC is to select i ts members that will serve for a 5 -year term, following the IPPC Standard 
Setting Procedure.  
4  IMPLEMENTATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (IC)  
4.1.  Since June 2021, the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) has held two 
virtual meetings, the VM15 on 9 July and the VM16 on 29 September 2021.  
4.2.  During these meetings, the IC discussed different options to streamline the review process of 
Contributing Resources and revised criteria related to this process. The IC established an IC Team 
to deal w ith Banana Fusarium  Wilt (TR4), see below section on emerging pests. They also discussed 
and adjusted the Framework for standards and implementation.  
4.3.  In the framework of the collaboration between the IC and SC, an update was provided to the 
IC on the activ ities and main decisions of the SC. The IC was also updated on the ongoing process 
of transition to a sustainable IPPC Implementation Review and Support System (IRSS).  
4.4.  Reports from these meetings will be posted soon on the IPP.4 
4.1  IPPC Guides and training m aterials  
4.5.  A new database for the List of Implementation and Capacity Development Topics5 was 
developed and published on the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) in October 2021. This 
database is readily searchable and identifies the Implementation and Capacity Development topics 
that have been adopted by the CPM, along with their priority, stage, and status.  
 
4 IC meeting reports: http://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/capacity -
development -committee/ . 
5 https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/list -topics -ippc-implementation/list . G/SPS/GEN/1996  
 
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  4.6.  In January 2022, a new webpage for published IPPC Guides and training materials6 was 
published on the IPP. The webpage includes a searchable list and clearly indicates the FAO languages 
versions available for each product.  
4.7.  The following IPPC Guide was revised to align with the revision to ISPM 6 ( Surveillance ) and to 
include case stud ies and published on the International Phytosanitary Portal in October 2021:  
− Plant Pest Surveillance Guide . Rome7. Published by FAO on behalf of the Secretariat of the 
International Plant Protection Convention.  
4.8.  Three new e -learning courses are being devel oped under the framework of a new MoU between 
the Comité de Liaison Europe -Afrique -Caraïbe -Pacifique  (COLEACP) and the IPPC secretariat that 
was signed in November 2021. This collaboration with COLEACP  combines the IPPC Secretariat's 
expertise on phytosanitary issues with COLEACP's expertise in developing e -learning courses and 
delivering training courses in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.  The following e -learning courses 
are expected to be avail able by May 2022 : 
− Pest risk analysis  (2020 -002) 
− Export certification  (2020 -003) 
− Inspection  (2020 -011) 
4.9.  In November, the IC approved three draft specifications for guides and training materials and 
work on these guides is expected to be initiated later in 20 22 or in 2023:  
− Knowing and understanding the IPPC - plant health officer training curricula  (2017 -054) 
− Development and implementation of regulations and legislation to manage phytosanitary 
risks on regulated articles for NPPOs , guide (2018 -008) 
− Developing phytosanitary procedures to maintain phytosanitary security of consignments for 
export , guide (2018 -028) 
4.10.   The IC also agreed that draft Specifications for the following IPPC Guides and training 
materials should be prepared for consultation in 2022:  
− Phytosan itary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) facilitator training , training kit (2014 -008) 
− Risk based inspection of imported consignments , guide (2018 -022) 
− Authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions , guide (2018 -040) 
4.2  National Reporting Obligations  
4.11.   IC Te am on National Reporting Obligations (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). The Team considered how best to visual ize pest reports 
and organized a meeting with the CPM Focus Group on Pest Outbreak Alert and Response Systems, 
it is hoped to advance this work in 2022. The IPPC secretariat updated the relevant drop -down 
menus 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 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 menus on 
the IPP, replacing the values for the pest status categories with the ones listed in the revised ISPM  8. 
4.13.   The IC Team on NROs drafted the Terms of Reference for the IC Su b-group on NROs and 
presented them to the IC in November 2021. As several things have changed in relation to how 
contracting parties meet their NROs obligations, the IC Team on NROs agreed that the NROs guide 
needed to be updated. The Team proposed a revis ion of the guide, along with a submission form 
and a draft Specification to the IC and the IC agreed to proposing National Reporting Obligations 
 
6 https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/guides -and-training -materials/ . 
7 https: //doi.org/10.4060/cb7139en . G/SPS/GEN/1996  
 
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  Guide - Revision (2021 -026) to the CPM for inclusion in the Implementation and Capacity 
Development List of Top ics (ICD LOT), noting that the IC proposed to assign a priority level of 1.  
4.14.   The IPPC secretariat received a request from one IPPC Contact Point to delete the NROs 
documents they had posted on the IPP as they considered there was no legal reasons for a 
Contracting Party not to retain full control of their information provided.  
4.15.   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 as 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.  
4.16.   IPPC secretariat provides regular assistance to IPPC  contact points and their IPP editors 
throughout the year to facilitate reporting through the IPP. The Pest reports bulletin8 is being 
maintained and updated. The IST continues  to collaborate with FAO Intelligence and Coordination 
Unit of the Food Chain Crisis Management Framework (FCC -ICU) to streamline pest reports.  
4.3  Sea Containers Task Force  
4.17.   The IPPC Sea Container Task Force has successfully completed its mandate. The Sea 
Container  Task Force (SCTF) , a subgroup of the Implementation and Capacity Development 
Committee (IC), was established in 2017 to guide the IPPC's work on sea containers and associated 
phytosanitary risks.  
4.18.   The original tasks of the SCTF included measuring the impac t of the Code of Practice for 
Packing of Cargo Transport Units Code (CTU Code) ; facilitating the efficient implementation of th e 
Complementary Action Plan for Assessing and Managing the Pest Threats Associated with Sea 
Containers; exploring the use of the Authorized Economic Operators concept within the World 
Customs Organization (WCO)'s SAFE Framework of Standards and the data mo del for sea container 
cleanliness purposes; and increasing the awareness of pest risks in the sea container pathway.  
4.19.   The final report of the SCTF will be submitted to the sixteenth session of the  Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures . The report will include possible ways forward and a number of targeted 
measures to address specific issues related to pest contamination of sea containers. Furthermore, 
thanks to strong collaboration between national plant protection organizations and industry 
representatives, the SCTF put forward a number of recommendations for action to reduce 
phytosanitary risk in the sea container pathway.  
4.4  Web-based information for Implementation and Capacity Development  
4.20.   A Phytosa nitary Systems landing page9 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 national phytosanitary systems.  
4.21.   SPS members are encouraged to visit these webpages and provide comments to support 
continual improvements to these pages ( ippc@fao.org ). 
4.5  Phytosanitary Capacity E valuation  
4.22.   The IC Team on PCE met to follow up on discussions regarding the agreed PCE desk study. 
The members advanced the content of the proposed purchase order. Though, this activity is put on 
hold until IFU is fully staffed.  
 
8 Pest reports bulletin: https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/reportingsystem -summary/all/ . 
9 Phytosanitary System landing page is available at: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -
development/phytosanitary -system/ . G/SPS/GEN/1996  
 
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  4.23.   The IC Team members also rev iewed the proposed content of the new PCE factsheet, which 
is to replace the existing two factsheets on the IPP to be made available for CPM -16 (2022).  
4.24.   The virtual PCEs in Sri Lanka, Fiji and Mongolia were further advanced.  
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 the end of 
December 2021, there were 103 countries registered, with 65 countries in full production. 
In addition, in 2021, the ePhyto Solution surpassed over one million certificates exchanged and is 
quickly on its way to the next million. There is room for growth, however. The system was built to 
handle up to one hundred thousand certificates per day, but  at present it is averaging about one 
hundred thousand certificates per month. The IPPC 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 webpage10 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 currently under 
review. In addition to that, the team agreed on the organization of a "Virtual workshop traini ng 
series on Fusarium  TR4 diagnostic, surveillance, inspection and simulation exercises", consisting of 
three sessions to be held on 24 March, 19 April and 10 May and to be open to the IPPC Community. 
Another pertinent point is that the team agreed on a sp ecific questionnaire to assess the countries' 
capacities to respond to Fusarium TR4 outbreaks that the IPPC secretariat will launch.  
6.2.  Fall armyworm (FAW) : FAO/IPPC FAW Technical Working Group "Quarantine and Phytosanitary 
Measures fully completed their resp onsibilities according to the terms of references and decided to 
monitor and evaluate the impact of the work done on prevention, preparedness and response and 
promote the prevention, preparedness and response guidelines for adaptation at the regional and 
national levels.  
7  IPPC COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY  
7.1.  The IPPC secretariat is monitoring the process to establish the International Day of Plant Health 
and Zambia has been holding informal consultations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York 
City on 24 February, 1 and 4 March 2022. The draft resolution establishing the IDPH is expected to 
be endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations at its 76th Session by March 2022.  
The United Kingdom confirmed its availability to host the first Internation al 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.  
7.1  IPPC webinar series  
7.3.  The IPPC secretariat hosted a series of webinars between October and December 2021. The 
webinars were held in English with simultaneous interpretation into French and Arabic. Additional 
information is available on the IPP:11 
− Fall Armyworm Training (Part 1: 22 October; Part 2: 19 November; Part 3: 10 December)  
− Pest Status, Surveillance and Systems Approaches: webinar on the new IPPC guides (22 
October)  
− Remote Sensing in Plant Health (2 November 2021)  
 
10 ePhyto webpage: https: //www.ephytoexchange.org/landing/ . 
11 IPP Webinar Page: https://www.ippc.int/en/news/workshops -events/webinars/ . G/SPS/GEN/1996  
 
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  − Export certification and Pest Ri sk Analysis: webinar on the new IPPC e -learning materials 
(19 November)  
• 16 February 2022 : The Standard Setting Unit (SSU) organized an IPPC webinar on "IPPC 
commodity standards: a new time for the IPPC community" on the 16 February 2022. In an 
interview -style format, the webinar had over 140 participants from over 40 countries from all 
FAO regions. It addressed the concept around the IPPC commodity standards and its key 
principles, the development process and the main points of the commodity -based "over -arching" 
draft ISPM (this draft ISPM is being presented to the CPM -16 (2022) for adoption), the approved 
Specification TP 6 of the Technical Panel on Commodity Standards (TPCS), soon to start 
operating, potential benefits and challenges in implementing the IP PC commodity standards, 
with a focus for developing countries and least developed countries (LDC), and some examples 
and lessons learned of the development of regional commodity -based standards for 
phytosanitary measures the webinar provided. More informat ion at: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/news/workshops -events/webinars/ippc -commodity -standards/ . 
 
• 24 March 2022 : A next webinar is planned for 24 March 2022 on "How t o Strengthen National 
Legislation to Support Electronic Phytosanitary Certification in COMESA Countries". The webinar 
will present the results of the study on the legal aspects of introducing ePhyto, conducted as 
part of the FAO support to Common Market fo r Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) trade 
facilitation programme. The webinar will be held in English. More information is available at: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/news/workshops -events/webinars/how -to-strengthen -national -
legislation -to-support -electronic -phytosanitary -certification -in-comesa -countries -march -2022/ . 
 
• 24 March, 19 April, and 10 May 2022 : A series of workshops on " Fusarium  TR4 Diagnostic, 
Surveillance, Inspection and Simulation Exercises" are planned to take place on 24 March, 
19 April, and 10 May 2022. Session 1 will cover Diagnostic , Session 2 Surveillan ce, and Session  3 
Inspection and Simulation Exercises  of Fusarium  TR4. All workshop sessions will be held in 
English, sessions in April and May will have simultaneous interpretation in French and Arabic. 
More information is available at: https://www.ippc.int/en/news/workshops -
events/webinars/workshop -series -fusarium -tr4-diagnostics -surveillance -inspection -and-
simulation -exercise/ . 
 
• 31 March 2022 : A webinar is pla nned for 31 March 2022 on "The IPPC Standards Setting 
Process: an overview". More information at: https://www.ippc.int/en/news/workshops -
events/webinars/ippc -webinar -on-the-standard -setting -process/ . There will be two sessions 
with interpretation available into all UN official languages.  
 
 
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