NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTO SANITARY MEASURES  
 
 
 
 
NSPM : 21 
 
 
 
 
Pest risk analysis for regulated non -quarantine pests  
2013  
 
 
 
 
 
 
(This standard is approved by (the NPPO and) the Quarantine Committee of Nepal, chaired by the 
secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Development on 1st December 2013 and, is submitted by National 
Plant Quarantine Program to the National Notification Authority to be notified to the WTO member states)  
  
Table of Contents  
1. Introduction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
1.1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  1 
1.3 Definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
1.4 Outline of req uirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
2.  Background  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  2 
2.1 Intended use and official control ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 3 
2.1.1 Intended use  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  3 
2.2 Official control ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 
3. Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  4 
3.1 Pest risk analysis for regulated non -quarantine pests  ................................ ...............................  4 
Stage -1 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  4 
4.  Initiation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
4.1 Initiation point  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 4 
4.1.1 PRA of plants for planting that could act as a pathway for RNQPs ................................ .. 4 
4.1.2 PRA initiated by a pest  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  4 
4.1.3 PRA initiated when Phytosanitary policy is revised  ................................ ............................  5 
4.2 Identification of the PRA area  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
4.3 Information  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  5 
4.4 Review of previous PRAs  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
4.5 Co nclusion of initiation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  5 
Stage - II ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  6 
5. Pest risk assessments  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  6 
5.1 Pest categorization  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  6 
5.1.1 Elements for categorization  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
5.2.2 Determination of the relative economic impact of the sources of pest infestation  .........  8 
5.2.3 Conclusion of the assessment of the plants for planting as the main source of pest 
infestation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  9 
5.3 Assessment of economic impacts on the intended use of the plants for planting  .................  9 
5.3.1 Pest effects  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  9 5.3.2 Infestation and damage thresholds in relation to the intended use  ................................  10 
5.3.3 Analysis of economic consequences  ................................ ................................ ..................  10 
5.3.3.1 Analytical techniques  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  10 
5.3.4 Conclusion of the assessment of economic consequences  ................................ ............  10 
5.4 Degree of uncertainty  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  11 
5.5 Conclusion of the pest risk assessment stage  ................................ ................................ ..........  11 
Stage 3  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  11 
6. Pest Risk Management  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  11 
6.1 Technical information required  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 11 
6.2 Level and acceptability of risk  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 12 
6.3 Factors to be considered in the identification and selection of appropriate risk 
management options  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  12 
6.3.1 Non -discrimination ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  12 
6.4 Tolerances  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 13 
6.4.1 Zero tolerance  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  14 
6.4.2 Selection of an appropriate tolerance level  ................................ ................................ ........  14 
6.5 Options to achieve the required tolerance levels  ................................ ................................ ...... 14 
6.5.1 Area of production  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  14 
6.5.2 Place of production  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  15 
6.5.3 Parent stock  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  15 
6.5.4 Consignm ent of plants for planting  ................................ ................................ ......................  15 
6.6 Verification of the tolerance levels  ................................ ................................ ..............................  15 
6.7 Conclusion of pest risk management  ................................ ................................ ....................  15 
7. Monitoring and review of phytosanitary measures  ................................ ................................ ...... 16 
8. Documentation of pest risk analysis  ................................ ................................ ..............................  16 
  
 1. Introduction  
1.1 Scope  
Pests that are not of quarantine value but require phytosanitary measures because of 
their ability to cause economically  unacceptable damage are known as regulated non -
quarantine pests (RNQPs). This standard  describes procedures for   evaluating  
biological  and other  relevant  scientific  and economic  features for  RNQPS ,  so as  to 
determine   whether the pest under observation  should  be  regulated .  Based  on the 
result of this initiation , evaluation of  appropriateness of available  integrated  
phytosanitary measure  for the selection of appropriate risk  management options  for 
RNQPs  should be done . NSPM preparation based on guidelines and recommendations 
developed within the framework of the IPPC. This standard also adopted th e principles, 
recommendations and format of ISPM to achieve international harmonization of phytosanitary 
measures with the aim to facilitate trade.  
1.2 References  
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures , 1994 World 
Trade Organization, Geneva  
Glossary of phytosanitary terms , 2004. ISPM No. 5, FAO, Rome  
Glossary supplements  No. 1: Guidelines on the interpretation and application of the 
concept of official control for regulated pests , 2002. ISPM No. 5, FAO, Rome.  
Glossary sup plements  No. 2: Guidelines on the interpretation and application of 
potential economic importance and related terms including reference to environmental 
considerations , 2003. ISPM No. 5, FAO, Rome.  
Guidelines for pest risk analysis , 1996. ISPM No. 2, FAO, Rome.  
Guidelines for surveillance , 1997. ISPM No. 6, FAO, Rome.  
International Plant Protection Convention , 1997,  FAO, Rome.  
Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests, including analysis of environmental risks and 
living modified organisms , 2004. ISPM No. 11,  FAO, Rome.  
Principles of plant quarantine as related to international trade , 1995. ISPM No. 1, FAO, 
Rome.  
Regulated non -quarantine pests: concept and application , 2002. ISPM No. 16, FAO, 
Rome.  Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas , 1996. I SPM No. 4, FAO, Rome.  
Requirements for the establishment of pest free places of production and pest free 
production sites , 1999. ISPM No. 10, FAO, Rome.  
The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk management , 
2002. ISPM No. 14, FAO, Rome.                                                                                                                                                                                
 Plant protection Act 2007  Government  of Nepal , 2008                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Pest risk analysis for regulated non -quarantine pests ISPM No. 2 1, 1999,  
1.3 D efinitions  
Definitions of phytosanitary terms used in this standard are as defined in ISPM No. 5 
(Glossary of phytosanitary terms ) 
1.4 Outline  of requirements  
The PRA for RNQP will not be same as in quarantine pest. PRA for regulated non -quarantine 
pests (RNQPs) should be  done either on specified area or specified pest . The PRA design 
should  especially focus on , identification of pests associated  with plants for planting, followed by 
risk assessment and identification of appropriate risk management  options (Ref ISPM 16 and 
NSPM: pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks an d 
living modified organisms ) and  process need  to be applied along with the Identification  and 
categorization of individual pests to find out if the pest infestation is above the  
economically acceptable level .  
2.  Background  
In general , studies  done in the past show that the loss due to pest and diseases in 
agriculture both in pre and post harvest  operations is in the range of 25 -30 percentages 
in Nepal.  Certain pests though are not  of quarantine  value but their presence in plants 
for planting can results in economically unacceptable impacts on those  plants and often 
are widespread in the country, and so their  economic impact need to be assessed .    
The objectives of PRA for RNQPs are, to identify pests associated with plants for 
planting, to e valuate their risk and, identify appropriate, risk management options to 
achieve a tolerance level.  Phytosanitary measures for RNQPs should be technically 
justified (IPPC 1997). The classification of a pest as an RNQP and any restrictions 
placed on the import of the plant species with which it is associated should be justified 
by PRA . 
In this context, it is necessary to clarify that plants for planting are a pathway for the 
pest and also the main source of infestation (transmission pathway) of the pest t hat 
results in an economically unacceptable impact. It is not necessary to evaluate the probability of establishment or the long -term economic impact of an RNQP. ISPM No. 5 
Glossary of phytosanitary terms, Supplement No. 1 ( Guidelines on the interpretation  
and application of the concept of official control for regulated pests ), and the ISPM No. 
16 (Regulated non -quarantine pests: concept and application ); should be taken into 
account  while carrying out PRA. Market access (i.e. access to export markets) and 
environmental effects are not considered relevant for RNQPs, since RNQPs are already 
present.   
Further understanding of certain terms in the definition of RNQP may be important for 
the application of this standard . 
2.1 Intended use and official control  
2.1.1 Intended use  
The intended use of plants for planting may be:  
 growing for direct production (e.g. fruits, cut flowers, wood, grain)  
 multiplication of  plants for planting (e.g. tubers, cuttings, seeds, rhizomes)  
 plants planted for  amenity, aesthetic or other use (e.g. ornamentals);  
Multiplication of  plants for planting  may include the production of different classes of 
plants for planting within a certification scheme,  (e.g. plant breeding or for further 
propagation ). In PRA  for RNQPs, such a differentia tion may be especially relevant in 
determining damage thresholds and pest risk management options.  
2.2 Official  control  
In case of RNQP the word “Regulated ” refers to official control. RNQPs are subject to 
official control in the form of phytosanitary measures for their suppression in the 
specified plants for planting.   Principles and criteria of official control for regulated pests 
include:  
 non-discriminatio n 
 transparence  
 techni cal  justification  
 en forcement  
 Mandatory nature  
 area of application  
 NPPO authority and involvement.  3. Requirements  
3.1 Pest  risk analysis for regulated non-quarantine pests 
Pest risk assessment in case of RNQPS needs to be made as simple as is technically 
justified by the circumstances adopting the   principles of necessity, minimal impact, 
transparency, equivalence, risk analysis, managed risk and non -discrimination (ISPM  
No 1).  
 
                                         Stage -1 
4.  Initiation  
Initiation stage is to identify the pests of specified plants that need to be   regulated and 
that should be considered for risk analysis in relation to the intended use of the plants 
for planting in the identified PRA area . 
4.1 Initiation point  
The PRA process for RNQPs may be initiated when the following situation occurs:   
 identification of plants for planting that could act as a pathway for potential 
RNQPs  
 the identification of a pe st that could qualify as an RNQP  
 the review or revision of phytosanitary policies and priorities, including 
phytosanitary elements of official certification schemes  
4.1.1 PRA of plants for planting that could act as a pathway for RNQPs  
A new or revised PRA for plants for planting may be done when:  
 new species of plants for planting are considered for regulation  
 a change in susceptibility or resistance of plants for planting to a pest is 
identified  
Pests list should be prepared using  information from official sources, databases, 
scientific and other literature or expert consultation. It may be preferable to prioritize the 
list based on expert judgment. If no potential RNQPs are identified as likely to be 
associated with the plants for plant ing, the PRA may stop at this point . 
4.1.2 PRA initiated by a pest  
A new or revised PRA on a pest associated with plants for planting may arise when : 
 Identification , through scientific research, of a new risk posed by a pest (e.g. 
there is a change in pest  virulence, or an organism is demonstrated to be a pest 
vector)  
 change in the prevalence or incidence of a pest   change in pest status (e.g. a quarantine pest has become widely distributed, or is 
no longer regulated as a quarantine pest)  
 presence of a new p est, not appropriate for regulation as a quarantine pest  
4.1.3 PRA initiated when P hytosanitary policy  is revised   
A new or revised PRA should be carried out when : 
 official control program (e.g. certification scheme, governments directives in 
import /expo rt process ) to avoid unacceptable economic impact of specified 
RNQP(s) in plants for planting in the specified area is changed  
 phytosanitary requirements to import of plants for planting that are already 
regulated in the PRA area  is amended  
  there is the availability of a new system, process, plant protection procedure, or 
new information that could influence a previous decision (e.g. a new treatment or 
loss of a treatment, or a new diagnostic method)  
 a decision is taken to review phytosanitary regulation s, requirements or 
operations (e.g. a decision is made to reclassify a quarantine pest as an RNQP)  
 a proposal made by another country, by a regional organization (RPPO) or by an 
international organization (FAO) is assessed  
 a dispute arises on phytosanitary  measures.  
4.2 Identification of the PRA area  
The PRA area should be identified in order to define the area to which official control is 
or is intended to be applied.  
4.3 Information  
Information on the identity  of the pest, its distribution, economic impact and association 
with the plants for planting  including information as required to reach necessary 
decisions in PRA  process should be collected. The information sources can be (Annual 
reports/ journals/ procee dings of seminars, individual reporting / IPM farmers’ group  
Agro Eco System Analysis  (AESA ) report  and reports of various relevant institutions in 
plant Protection)  
4.4 Review of previous PRAs  
If there is a previous PRA for an RNQP, its validity should be  verified taking into account 
that the circumstances  may have changed . 
 4.5 Conclusion of initiation  
At the end of the initiation phase    recommendation for next phase of the PRA process  
should be made if the Pest identified are defined as potential RNQP s.              Stage - II 
5. Pest risk assessments  
The three interrelated steps  include:  
 pest categorization  
 assessment of the plants for planting as the main source of pest 
infestation  
 assessment of economic impacts associated with the intended use of the 
plants for planting  
5.1 Pest categorization  
 After the identification of the pest, individual pest categorization as RNQPs should be 
done adopting the categorization process for PRA .  Pest categorization helps to 
eliminate pest not requiring PRA. An advantage of pest categorization is that it can be 
done with little evidence. However, the evidence should be sufficient to carry out the 
categorization adequately . 
5.1.1 Elements for categorization  
The elements for categorization of a pest include  the following:  
 identity of the pest, host plant, part of plant under consideration and the 
intended use  
 association of the pest with the plants for planting and the effect on their 
intended use  
 pest presence and regulatory status  
 Indication  of economic im pact(s) of the pest on the intended use of the plants 
for planting.  
5.1.1.1 Identity of the pest, host plant, part of plant under consideration and the intended 
use  
The following should be clearly defined:  
 the identity of the pest  
 the host plant that is r egulated or potentially to be regulated  
 the plant part(s) under consideration (cuttings, bulbs, seeds, plants in 
tissue culture, rhizomes etc.)  
 the intended use  
For the pest  as well as for the host,  the taxonomic unit is generally the species. The use 
of a higher or lower taxonomic level  should be supported by a scientifically sound 
rationale. In the case of levels below the species (e.g. race), this should include 
evidence demonstrating that factors such as difference in virulence, host range or vector rel ationships are significant enough to affect the phytosanitary status . Similarly, 
in the case of levels below the species e.g. variety, there should be evidence 
demonstrating that factors such as difference in host susceptibility or resistance are 
significant enough to affect the phytosanitary status. Taxa for plants for planting above 
the species level (genera) or unidentified species of known genera should not be used 
unless all species in the genus are being evaluated for the same intended use . 
5.1.1.2  Association of the pest with the plants for planting and the effect on their 
intended use  
Pest should be categorized taking into account its association with the plants for 
planting and the effect on the intended use. Where a PRA is initiated by a p est, more 
than one host may have been identified. Each host species and the plant part under 
consideration for official control should be assessed separately . 
If from the categorization it is found that the pest is not associated with the plants for 
planting or the plant part under consideration or does not affect the intended use of 
those plants, the PRA may stop at this point.  
5.1.1.3 Pest  presence and regulatory status  
If the pest is present and if it is under official control (or being considered for official 
control) in the PRA area, the pest may meet the criteria for an RNQP and the PRA 
process may continue . 
 If the pest is not present in the PRA area or is not under official control in the PRA area 
or not expected to be under official control in  the near future, the PRA process may stop 
at this point including if there is  Indication of economic impact(s) of the pest on the 
intended use of the plants for planting . 
5.1.2 Conclusion of pest categorization  
If the pest has the potential to be an RNQP , and meets all the criteria to be RNQPS   
causing  unacceptable economic impact and also plants for planting are a pathway, and  
it is present in the PRA area. Further , it is expected to be under official control with 
respect to the specified plants for planting the  PRA process should continue. If a pest 
does not fulfill all the criteria for an RNQP, the PRA process may stop.  
5.2 Assessment of the plants for planting  
Because the potential RNQP is present in the PRA area, it is necessary to determine if  
plants for planting are the main source of pest infestation of those plants. In order to do 
this, all sources of infestation should be evaluated and the results presented in the PRA  
The evaluation of all the sources of infestation is based on the:  
 life cy cle of the pest and host, pest epidemiology and sources of pest infestation  
 determination of the relative economic impact of the sources of pest infestation  5.2.1 Life cycle of the pest and the host, pest epidemiology and sources of pest 
infestation  
The id entification of all the other sources of infestation is performed through the analysis 
of the pest and host life cycles. Different sources or pathways of pest infestation may 
include:  
 soil 
 water  
 air 
 other plants or plant products  
 vectors of the pest  
 Contaminated  machinery or modes of transport  
 By-products  or waste.  
Pest infestation and spread may occur as a result of natural movement (including wind, 
vectors and waterways), human action or other means from these sources of 
infestation. The characteris tics of the pathways should be examined  
5.2.2 Determination of the relative economic impact of the sources of pest infestation  
The evaluation  process should  address the  importance of the pest infestation in the 
plants for planting on the epidemiology of the pest. The evaluation also should address 
the contribution of other sources of infestation to the development of the pest and its 
effect on the intended use  as the importance  of all these sources may be influenced by 
factors such as:  
 the number of pest life cycles on the plants for planting (e.g. monocyclic or 
polycyclic pests)  
 reproductive biology of the pest  
 pathway efficiency, including mechanisms of dispersal and di spersal rate  
 secondary infestation and transmission from the plants for planting to other 
plants  
 climatological factors  
 cultural practices, pre - and post -harvest  
 soil types  
 the susceptibility of the plants (e.g. young plant stages could be more or less 
susceptible to different pests; host resistance/susceptibility)  
 presence of vectors  
 presence of natural enemies and/or antagonists  
 presence of other susceptible hosts  
 pest prevalence in the PRA area  
 impact or potential impact of the official control applied i n the PRA area.  The different types and rates of pest transmission from the initial infestation in the plants 
for planting (seed to seed, seed to plant, plant to plant, within plant) may be important 
factors to consider. Their importance may depend on the intended use of the plants for 
planting and should be assessed accordingly. For example the same initial pest 
infestation may have significantly different impacts in/on seed for further propagation or 
plants for planting intended to remain planted. Other  factors include pest survival and 
controls during production, transport or storage of the plants . 
5.2.3 Conclusion of the assessment of the plants for planting as the main source of pest 
infestation  
Pests that are mainly transmitted by the plants for planting and which affect the 
intended use of those plants are subjected to the next stage of the risk assessment to 
establish when there is  unacceptable economic impacts . Where plants for planting are 
found not to be the main source of infestation, the PRA may stop at this point.  
5.3 Assessment of economic impacts on the intended use of the plants for 
planting  
The information required to conduct an analysis is to determine if there are 
unacceptable eco nomic impacts. Economic impacts may have previously been 
analyzed  for the development of official control programs for the pest on plants for 
planting with the same intended use. The validity of any data should be checked as  per   
the circumstances and available information  existing scenario . 
Wherever appropriate, quantitative data that will provide monetary values should be 
obtained. Qualitative data such as relative production or quality levels before and after 
infestation by the pest may also be used.  The economic impact resulting from the pest 
may vary depending on the intended use of the plants for planting and this should 
therefore be taken into account.  In cases where there is more than one source of 
infestation, the economic impact resulting from the pest on the plants for planting should 
be demonstrated to be the main source of the unacceptable economic impact . 
5.3.1 Pest effects  
 Detailed  information on s cientific data, regulatory and other information from the 
national and international literatu re should be consulted and documented as 
appropriate. Most of the effects considered during the economic analysis will be direct 
effects on the plants for planting and their intended use . 
Relevant factors in determining economic impacts include:  
 reduction  of quantity of marketable yield (e.g. reduction in yield)  
 reduction of quality (e.g. reduced sugar content in grapes for wine, 
downgrading of marketed product)  
 extra costs of pest control (e.g. roguing, pesticide application)   extra costs of harvesting and  grading (e.g. culling)  
 costs of replanting (e.g. due to loss of longevity of plants)  
 loss due to the necessity of growing substitute crops (e.g. due to need to 
plant lower yielding resistant varieties of the same crop or different crops)  
5.3.2 Infestation  and damage thresholds in relation to the intended use  
Both quantitative and  qualitative  data should be gathered regarding  the level of damage 
of the pest on the intended use of the plants for planting for all relevant sources of 
infestation in the PRA are a. Determination of infestation thresholds will assist in the 
identification of appropriate tolerance levels at the pest risk management stage . 
In cases where there is a lack of quantitative information on pest damage caused by the 
initial level of pest in festation in the plants for planting, expert judgment  could be used 
on the basis of information obtained.  
5.3.3 Analysis of economic consequences  
Most of the effects of a pest, e.g. damage, will be of a commercial nature within the 
country. These effects should be identified and quantified. It may be useful to consider 
the negative effect of pest -induced changes to producer profits that result from changes 
in production costs, yields or prices.  
5.3.3.1 Analytical techniques  
There are analytical techniques that can be used in consultation with expert economist  
to make a more detailed analysis of the economic effects of an RNQP. These should 
incorporate all of the effects that have been identified.  (See , NSPM  on Pest risk 
analysis for quarantine pests, including analysis of environmental risks and living 
modified organisms ). 
Data on the economic impact of the pest on the intended use of the plants for planting 
should be available and an economic analysis should be done. For some effects of the 
pests there may be uncertainties or variability in the data and/or only qualitative 
information may be available. Areas of uncertainty and variability should be explained in 
the PRA . 
5.3.4 Conclusion of the assessment of economic consequences  
The output of the assessment of economic consequences described in this step should 
normally be expressed in  monetary value. The economic consequences can also be 
expressed qualitatively (such as relative profit before and after infestation) o r using 
quantitative measures without monetary terms (such as productivity ). Sources of 
information, assumptions and methods of analysis should be clearly specified. An 
assessment will need to be made as to whether the economic consequences are 
acceptable or unacceptable. If the economic consequences are considered acceptable 
then the PRA may stop . 5.4 Degree of uncertainty   
Estimation of economic impact and the relative importance of sources of infestation may 
involve uncertainties. It is important to docu ment the areas of uncertainty and the 
degree of uncertainty in the assessment, and to indicate where an expert judgment has  
been used. This is necessary for transparency and may also be useful for identifying 
and prioritizing research needs . (Referred NSPM  Frame  work for PRA  unpublished ) 
5.5 Conclusion of the pest risk assessment stage  
As a result of the pest risk assessment, a quantitative or qualitative evaluation of the 
plants for planting being the main source of infestation of the pest and a corresponding 
quantitative or qualitative estimate of the economic consequences should be ob tained  
and documented .  
Measures are not justified if the risk is considered acceptable or should be accepted 
because it is not manageable through official control (for example, natural spread from 
other sources of infestation). An appropriate level of mon itoring or audit is needed to 
maintain to ensure that future changes in the pest risk. 
Where plants for planting have been identified as the main source of infestation for a 
pest and an unacceptable economic impact on the intended use of these plants has 
been demonstrated, pest risk management may be considered as appropriate (stage 3). 
These evaluations, together with associated uncertainties, are utilized in the pest risk 
management stage .  
Stage 3  
6. Pest Risk Management  
The conclusions from pest risk assessment should be used  to decide whether risk 
management is required  or not . If the plants for planting are assessed as being the main 
source of infestation of the pests and the economic impact on the intended use of those  
plants is found to be unacceptable (stage 2), then risk management (stage 3) is used to 
identify possible phytosanitary measures   with the aim of suppression or reduce  the risk 
below, an acceptable level . 
The most commonly used option for pest risk manage ment for an RNQP is the 
establishment of measures to achieve an appropriate pest tolerance level. The same 
tolerance level should be applied for domestic production and import requirements ( see 
section 6.3 of ISPM No. 16: Regulated non -quarantine pests: co ncept and application ) 
6.1 Technical information required  
The decisions to be made in the pest risk management process will be based on the 
information particularly the biological information. This information will be comprised of:   reasons for initiating t he process  
 importance of the plants for planting as a source of the RNQP  
 evaluation of the economic consequences in the PRA area  
6.2 Level and acceptability of risk  
In implementing the principle of managed risk, the acceptable level of risk may be 
expressed as:  
 reference to the existing acceptable level of risk for domestic production  
 indexed to estimated economic losses  
 expressed on a scale of risk tolerance  
 compare d with the level of risk accepted by other countries.  
6.3 Factors  to be considered in the identification and selection of 
appropriate risk management options  
Appropriate measures should be chosen based on their effectiveness in limiting the 
economic impact  of the pest on the intended use of the plants for planting. The choice 
should be based on the following considerations, which are related  to international 
trade : 
 Phytosanitary measures shown to be cost -effective and feasible  and so  the  
measure should n ot be more costly than the economic impact.  
 Principle of "minimal impact" i.e. the m easures should not be more trade 
restrictive than necessary.  
 Assessment of existing phytosanitary requirements and so n o additional 
measures should be imposed if existing  measures are effective.  
 Principle of "equivalence" i.e.  If different phytosanitary measures with the same 
effect are identified, they should be accepted as alternatives.  
 Principle of "non -discrimination ” and  so phytosanitary  measures in relation to 
impor t should not be more stringent than those applied within the PRA area  and 
also  the  phytosanitary measures should not discriminate between exporting 
countries of the same phytosanitary status  
6.3.1 Non-discrimination  
There should be consistency between im port and domestic requirements for a defined 
pest (see ISPM No. 5 Glossary of phytosanitary terms, Supplement No.  1: Guidelines 
on the interpretation and application of the concept of official control for regulated 
pests ): 
 import requirements should not be  more stringent than domestic requirements  
 domestic requirements should enter into force before or at the same time as 
import requirements   domestic and import requirements should be the same or have an equivalent 
effect  
 mandatory elements of domestic and import requirements should be the 
same  
 the intensity of inspection of imported consignments should be the same as 
equivalent processes in domestic control program  
 in the case of non -compliance, the same or equivalent actions should be 
taken on imported con signments as are taken domestically  
 tolerance level applied within a national program,  and the  level  applied to 
equivalent imported material  should be same .  At entry  point , compliance 
with import tolerance may be determined by inspection or testing  
6.4 Tolerances  
For RNQPs, the establishment of appropriate tolerances can be used to reduce the risk 
to an acceptable level. These tolerances should be based on the level of pest 
infestation (the infestation threshold) in plants for planting that result in an  unacceptable 
economic impact. If infestation thresholds have been determined during the risk 
assessment stage, these should be considered in establishing appropriate tolerances. 
Tolerance levels should take into account appropriate scientific information including:  
 intended use of the plants for planting  
 biology, in particular epidemiological characteristics, of the pest  
 susceptibility of the host  
 sampling procedures (including confidence intervals), detection methods (with 
estimates of the precision), re liability of identification  
 relationship between the pest level and the economic losses  
 climate and cultural practices in PRA area.  
The above information may be derived through reliable research and also through the 
following:  
 experience with official cont rol programs within the country  
 experience from certification schemes  
 history of imports  
 data regarding interactions between the plant, the pest and the growing 
conditions.  
 6.4.1 Zero tolerance  
Tolerances are  indicators that, if exceeded, are likely to result in unacceptable impacts 
on plants for planting.  Zero tolerance is not likely to be a general requirement. A zero 
tolerance may be technically justified in situations or combination of situations such as:  
 where plants for planting are the only sou rce of pest infestation in relation to the 
intended use of those plants and any level of pest infestation would result in an 
unacceptable economic impact (e.g. nuclear stock for further propagation, or a 
virulent degenerative disease where the intended use  is further propagation)  
  if the pest fulfils the defin ed criteria of an RNQP and an official control program   
is in place requiring zero tolerance  for the same intended use for all domestic 
places of production or production sites. Similar requirements co uld b e used as 
described in ISPM No. 10 (Requirements for the establishment of pest free places 
of production and pest -free production sites ). 
 
6.4.2 Selection of an appropriate tolerance level  
Based on the above analysis, a tolerance level should be selected  to avoid the 
unacceptable economical impact.  
6.5 Options to achieve the required tolerance levels  
There are a number of options that may achieve the required tolerance. Certification 
schemes are often useful for attaining the required tolerance a nd may include elements 
that may be relevant for all of the management options. Mutual recognition of 
certification schemes may facilitate trade of healthy plan t material. However some 
aspects of certification schemes (e.g. varietal purity) are not relevan t (see ISPM No. 16: 
Regulated non -quarantine pests: concept and application ) 
Management options may consist of a combinati on of two or more options (see NSPM  
on The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk management ). 
Sampling, test ing and inspection for the required tolerance may be relevant  for all the 
management options. These options may be applied to:  
 area of production  
 place of production  
 parent stock  
 consignment of plants for planting.  
6.5.1 Area of production  
The following options may be applied to the area of production of the plants for planting:  
 treatment   area of low pest prevalence  
 area where the pest is absent  
 buffer zones (e.g. rivers, mountain ranges, urban areas  ) 
 monitoring survey.  
6.5.2 Place of production  
The following options may be considered:  
 isolation (place or time)  
 pest free place of production or pest free production site . 
 integrated pest management  
 cultural practices (e.g. roguing, pest and vector control, hygiene, preceding crop, 
previous treatme nt) 
 treatments.  
6.5.3 Parent stock  
The following options may be considered : 
 treatment  
 use of resistant varieties  
 use of healthy planting material  
 sorting and roguing  
 selection of propagating material.  
6.5.4 Consignment of plants for planting  
The following options may be applied :  
 treatment  
 conditions of preparation and handling (e.g. storage, packaging and transport 
conditions)  
 sorting, roguing, reclassification.  
6.6 Verification of the tolerance levels  
Maybe inspection, sampling and testing ought  to be done to  confirm that the plants for 
planting meet the tolerance level.  
6.7 Conclusion of pest risk management  
The conclusion of the risk management stage should be the identification of a n 
appropriate tolerance level  and Management  options to achieve that tolerance level . If 
there are risk management options that are acceptable, these options form the basis of 
phytosanitary regulations or requirements.  7. Monitoring and review of phytosanitary measures  
The principle of “modification” states: “As conditions change, and as new facts become 
available, phytosanitary measures shall be modified promptly, either by inclusion of 
prohibitions, restrictions or requirements necessary for their success, or by removal o f 
those found to be unnecessary . 
The implementation of particular phytosanitary measures should not be considered to 
be permanent. The information supporting the pest risk analysis should be periodically 
reviewed to ensure that any new information that becomes available  does not invalidate 
the decision taken.  
8. Documentation of pest risk analysis  
The whole process from initiation to pest risk management should be sufficiently 
documented so that when a request for the rationale for measures is received, or a 
dispute aris es, or when measures are reviewed, the sources of information and 
rationale used in reaching the management decision can be clearly demonstrated.  
The main elements of documentation are:  
 purpose for the PRA  
 pest, host, plants and/or parts or class of plants  under consideration, pest list (if 
appropriate), sources of infestation, the intended use, PRA area  
 sources of information  
 categorized pest list  
 conclusions of risk assessment  
 risk management  
 options identified