G/SPS/GEN/1657  
 
22 October 2018  
(18-6613) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
REPORT OF INTERNATIO NAL PLANT PROTECTION  
CONVENTION (IPPC)  
The followi ng communication, received on 20 October  2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat  (IPPC).  
 
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This report provides an overview of the main activities of the IPPC secretariat since the last SPS 
Committee meeting in July 2018.  
1  GOVERNANCE AND STRAT EGIES  
1.1  IPPC Strategic Framework (2020 -2030)  
1.1.  Based on the thirteenth meeting of the Commission on Phytosa nitary Measures (CPM -13, 2018) 
decision, the IPPC Strategic Framework (2020 -2030) was shared with contracting parties  (CPs), 
Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs) and other interested stakeholders to collect 
comments through the IPPC Online Comme nt System , resulting in 850 comments received.  These 
comments were considered by the IPPC Strategic Planning Group (SPG) meeting 
(9-11 October  2018) and the Framework was revised.  The Framework will now be presented to CPM -
14 (April 2019) for the endorseme nt.  
1.2  Strategic Planning Group  
1.2.  The IPPC Strategic Planning Group (SPG)1 meeting was held at FAO -HQ in Rome, Italy, from 
09-11 October 2018. The main strategic topics discuss ed were the IPPC Strategic Framework and 
complementary investment plan, safe trade facilitation action pl an, ePhyto five -year plan and 
e-commerce, emergencies/emerging pests.  The SPG also considered to what extend the IPPC 
community should be involved in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and agreed to forward 
this issue to CPM -14 (2019) for discussion.  Updates were also given on the new call for topics and 
the discussions of the Focus Group on commodity and pathway standards.  The SPG were also 
updated on progress on  the International Year of Plant Health  (IYPH) 2020 proclamation t hat is 
expected to be done by the UNGA 2nd Committee by end of November 2018.  
1.3  Commission on Phytosanitary Measures Bureau  
1.3.  The CPM Bureau2 met on the 8th and 12th of October  2018 in Rome, Italy to discuss and agree 
upon important administrative, strategic and financial budgetary matters. Among key financial 
budgetary matters, the Bureau not ed the IPPC Financial Committee  (FC) meeting report, 
recommended the 2020 work plan and budget of the IPPC secretariat to CPM -14 (2019). In 
preparation for CPM -14 (2019),  the Bureau reviewed the agenda, the outline of the special topics 
session on Plant Health and the Environment (also the 2019 them e) and the list of side sessions.  
                                              
1 Link to report of SPG meeting: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/strategic -planning -
group/ . 
2 Link to report of CPM Bureau meeting:  https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/bureau/ . G/SPS/GEN/1657  
 
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  1.4  Task force on topics  
1.4.  In response to the Call for Topics: Standards and Implementation, the first to call for 
implementation  topics, 36 top ics were submitted, including 10  for diagnostic protocols for regulated 
pests, 13 for standards or revisions of standards and 13 for impl ementation resources3.  
1.5.  The CPM Bureau had established a Task Force on T opics (TFT)4, which combined members of 
the Standards Committee (SC), the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) and 
the CPM Bureau, to review the topic submissions and develop recommendations to the SC, IC and 
CPM. The TFT met (1 -3 October ) to review these submissions. The TFT emphasized the need to 
prioritize topics within the context of the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020 -2030, especially in view 
of other ongoing discussi ons within the IPPC community, such as those on commodity and pathway 
standards, and e -commerce.  
1.6.  They identified synergies between topics, highlighting the value of regional coordination when 
submitting topics, and the need for collaboration between standards setting and implementation 
activities. For some topics, the TFT re commended a different way of addressing the problem from 
that originally proposed in the submission. The TFT recommendations to the CPM will be presented 
for input from both the Standards Committee and the Implementation and Capacity Development 
Committee and then the TFT, considering this input , will make recommendations to CPM -14 (2019).  
2  IPPC NETWORKS  
2.1  IPPC Regional Workshops for 2018  
2.1.  Seven IPPC Regional workshops (RW) have been delivered over the last few months.  
222 participants from 141 countries atten ded these workshop s held in: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, 
Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Latin Amer ica, Near East and North Africa,  and the 
Pacific. These workshop s were delivered in collaboration with FAO regional and sub -regional offices, 
regional plant protection organizations and different international organizations.  
2.2.  From the draft ISPM s sent for first consultation,  "Authorization of entities to perform 
phytosanitary actions " (2014 -002) generated the most discussion and diverse opinions expr essed.  
3  STANDARD SETTING  
3.1.  The Standard Setting Unit (SSU)5 of the IPPC s ecretariat facilitates the standard setting 
procedure6 that is overseen by the Standards Com mittee (SC)7. The standard setting work 
program me8 is available on the IPPC website.  
3.1  November  SC meeting  
3.2.  The SC will convene in FAO HQ from 19 -23 November. They will discuss draft standards that 
are currently under development or have come from a second round of consultations and will also 
consider the recently submitted proposals for new standard s. The agenda of the meeting i s available 
on the IPPC website9. 
3.2  Consultations on draft Specifications and draft ISPMs  
3.3.  The standard setting procedure includes periods of consultation, when contracting parties can 
review and provide suggestions on draft stan dards. The 2018 consultation period on draft 
                                              
3 All topic submissions are publicly available at: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -and-
implementation/call -for-topics -standards -and-implementation/ . 
4 Link to TFT meeting report: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -and-
implementation/call -for-topics -standards -and-implementation/ . 
5 IPPC s ecretariat Standard Setting Unit (SSU): https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/2463/ . 
6 Introduction to the standard setting proc ess: https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/83835/ . 
7 SC: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/stand ards-setting/standards -committee/ . 
8 List of topics for IPPC standards: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/list -topics -
ippc-standards/list . 
9 Agenda of the 2018 November SC meeting: https://www.ippc.int/en/events/event/626/ . G/SPS/GEN/1657  
 
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  Specifications and ISPMs started on 2 July and closed on 31 August and 30 September, respectively. 
The following Specification and ISPMs were reviewed:  
• Draft 2018 and 2017 Amendments to ISPM 5: Glossa ry of phyto sanitary 
terms  (1994 -001); 
• Draft Revision of ISPM 8: Determination of pest status in an area (2009 -005); 
• Draft ISPM: Authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions (2014 -002); 
• Draft ISPM: Requirements for the use of modified atmosphere treatmen ts as 
phytosanitary  measures (2014 -006); 
• Draft ISPM: Requirements for the use of fumigation a s a phytosanitary 
measure  (2014 -004); 
• Draft Specification: Use of systems approaches in managing the pest risks associated with 
the movement of wood commodities (2 015-004). 
3.4.  The draft ISPMs, the draft Specification and the compiled comments  are posted on the 
IPPC website10. 
3.3  Adopted Diagnostic Protocols  
3.5.  The following diagnostic protocols (DPs) were adopted by the SC on behalf of the CPM and 
accepted by IPPC contracting parties during the notification period11 from 1 July - 15 August 2018:  
• DP 25: Xylella  fastidiosa ; 
• DP 26: Austropuccinia  psidii; 
• DP 27: Ips spp; 
• DP 28: Conotrachelus  nenuphar ; 
• Revision of DP2: Plum pox virus. 
3.6.  The draft DP for Bactrocera  dorsalis  complex (2006 -026) received an objection and further 
steps will be discussed by the Technical Panel of Diagnostic Protocols and the SC.  
3.4  CPM Recommend ation on Next Generation Sequencing  
3.7.  The consultation period fo r CPM recommendations last for three  months, from 15  May to 
15 August  2018. The following CPM recommendation  was submitted for consultation12: 
• Next Generation Sequencing technologies as a diagnostic tool for phytosanitary purposes.  
3.8.  The draft CPM Recommendation will be presented to the CPM Bureau and it will be presented 
to the CPM -14 (2019) for adoption.  
3.5  Commodity and pathway standards  
3.9.  The Focus Group (FG) on Commodity and Pathway Standard s met from 3 -5 October in FAO 
HQ13 to discuss the concept of commodity and pathways standards that is anticipated to expedite 
market access negotiations, enhance phytosanitary security and achieve strategic goals of the IPPC 
and FAO. The FG met with the obj ective to provide guidance to the CPM on how to progress with the 
                                              
10 Consultations for draft ISPMs : https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/member -
consultation -draft-ispms/  and draft Specifications: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -
setting/member -consultation -draft-specifications -ispms/ . 
11 DP notification period: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/notification -period -
dps/. 
12 Consultations for CPM Recommendations:  https://www.ippc.int/en/core -
activities/governance/cpm/current -consultations -for-cpm-recommendations/  
13 FG on Commodity and Pathway standards: https://www.ippc.int/en/news/safe -trade -facilitation -of-
plants -and-plant-products -by-harmonized -phytosanitary -measures -in-commodities -standards/ . G/SPS/GEN/1657  
 
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  development of such standards. The main outcomes of the meeting were presented to the IPPC 
Strategic Planning Group14 and the full recommendations will be presented to the CPM -14 (2019).  
4  IMPLEMENTATION AND CAPA CITY DEVELOPMENT  
4.1  November IC meeting  
4.1.  The Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) will be meeting in 
November  2018 (a genda posted on the IPP calendar15) and will be discussing strategies for 
Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluatio n (PCE), guides and training materials, sharing web based 
information and projects.   A special review of implementation and capacity development projects on 
plant health will take place;  for this, partner organizations will also be invited to share their p rojects.  
4.2  IPPC Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE)  
4.2.  The IPPC s ecretariat continues supporting contracting parties ' capacity development through 
the application of the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) tool in three countries (Palestine, 
Tunisia an d Uzbekistan) through different projects to develop national capacity development 
strategies and action plans and review phytosanitary legislation in place in accordance with the 
project goals. The Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) is currently in the 
process of developing a strategy for the PCE.  
4.3  IPPC Guides and training material  
4.3.  The IPPC s ecretariat is in the final stages of the production of guides on Pest Free Areas and 
Pest Risk Communication with the involvement of phytosanitary experts from several FAO regions. 
The development of these technical resources is driven by gaps identified through the IP PC IRSS 
General Surveys of 2012 -2013 and 2016, as well as the IPPC Framework for Standards and 
Implementation. These guides should be ready by the end of 2018.  Future plans include the 
development of the IPPC guide on pest status, implementation of ISPM 15 and pest management 
among others.  
4.4  IC Sub -group on Implementation and Review Support System  
4.4.  The IC Sub -group on Implementation and Re view Support System (IRSS) oversees the IRSS 
activities and functions under the guidance of the IC. The group met virtually in September and 
discussed the IRSS Triennial Implementation Review Report (2014 -2017). The Sub -group 
commented on the recommendatio ns of the second cycle Report to be further discussed by the CPM 
Bureau. The IC Sub -group also considered proposals for the IRSS third cycle to become part of the 
IRSS third cycle work programme. The IC will make the final decision on the topics.  
4.5  Web base d phytosanitary resources  
4.5.  The implementation and capacity development resources, formerly available on  the 
Phytosanitary Resource Page have now been moved to the IPP ( https:// www.ippc.int ). The 
secretariat is currently working on reorganization of the IPP to help ensure easy access to the 
resources.  Guides and training material can now be found on the following page: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/guides -and-training -materials/   
4.6  IPPC National Reporting Obligations Year: Regulated Pests Lists  
4.6.  The focus of National Reporting Obligations (NRO) activities by IPPC contracting parties in 2018  
has been on regulated pests lists. The NRO update newsletter for July -September 2018 has been 
published in August 2018. Third NRO Workshop was held back to back with the Regional IPPC 
Workshop for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA) in Mos cow, Russian Federation 
from 7 to 8 September 2018. Participants learned about the latest developments and received 
                                              
14 IPPC Stra tegic Planning Group - Document 18_SPG_2018_Oct : 
https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/86544/  
15 IC November 2018 provisional agenda: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/strategic -
planning -group/ . G/SPS/GEN/1657  
 
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  practical advice about NROs; practiced uploading national reports; shared experiences about the 
obstacles they faced when reporting and esta blished good practices at the national level. The 
participants also gave a valuable feedback to improve NRO mechanism.  
5  TRADE FACILITATION  
5.1  ePhyto  
5.1.  The IPPC 's ePhyto project focuses on the development and deployment of an ePhyto Solution 
to facilitate the e xchange of electronic phytosanitary certificates (ePhytos). The Solution consists of 
an electronic server system referred to as a hub to facilitate th e exchange of ePhytos and a 
web-based system, referred to as the GeNS, that allows countries without natio nal systems to 
create, send and receive ePhytos through the hub. The hub development was completed in 
June 2018, following testing of the system by ten pilot countries. Currently 20 countries are at 
various stages of implementing use of the hub. The United  States, Argentina,  Chile, the Netherlands 
and New  Zealand are actively exchanging electronic certificates for plant products moving in 
international trade.  
5.2.  The GeNS design development is nearing completion. Three pilot countries (Ghana, Samoa and 
Sri Lan ka) are expected to begin testing some of the functionality of the system in October 2018 , 
with full testing expected to commence in late November.  The hub and GeNS has been designed by 
the ePhyto Steering Group (ESG), an expert working group of the IPPC , and has been developed 
and is being operated by the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) under 
contracts established between the UNICC and the IPPC secretariat (through the Fo od and Agriculture 
Organization's  Information  Technology Division). Key mapping of the paper phytosanitary certificate 
to the electronic certificate message was completed by the ESG in early 2018.  
5.3.  The IPPC secretariat has also been working closely with the ESG and an industry working group 
and a work ing group composed of international organizations undertaking similar electronic 
initiatives to validate the operation of the ePhyto Solution and to develop a strategy for supporting 
capacity development and country implementation.  A strategic implementati on plan has been 
developed for the operation and national implementation of ePhyto for the medium -term period 
of 2019-2023. Key elements of the plan include:  
• Funding of the operation of the Solution will be based upon donor funds (at an estimated 
minimum requirement of about $750,000 annually);  
• Donor support for capacity development of countries to implement ePhyto will also be 
sought in cooperation with the World Bank;  
• Governance of the hub and GeNS is proposed to be provided by a dedicated staff within 
the IPPC secretariat which is intended to also provide support to other trade facilitation 
projects;  
• Undertaking of a cost -benefit analysis to document the value proposition of the Solution 
to countries, the IPPC  and to the trading community so that a fair long-term cost recovery 
approach can be developed;  
• Further efforts to work with other international and regional organizations to harmonize 
electronic certificate approaches to facilitate trade.  
5.2  eCommerce  
5.4.  The IPPC secretariat  is collaborating with the Worl d Customs Organization (WCO) on activities 
related to e -Commerce and a representative from the IPPC secretariat attended the 4th meeting of 
the WCO Working Group on e -Commerce (WGEC) in October 2018 during which the WCO Standards 
on e-Commerce were discuss ed. The CPM 's Strategic Planning Group considered the project proposal 
(still unfunded) and recommended it to be presented to CPM -14 (2019) for approval.  
5.3  Sea Containers Task Force (SCTF)  
5.5.  The Sea Containers Task Force (SCTF) is implementing their multi -year and 2018 work plans 
to guide implementation of the Sea Container Complementary Action Plan for Assessing and G/SPS/GEN/1657  
 
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  Managing the Pest Threats Associated with Sea Containers. The SCTF and Complementary Action 
Plan aim to reduce the pest risks associated with sea containers and measure the impact of the 
IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) during the next 
five years, as well as to increase awareness of pest risks of sea containers and information to assist 
NPPOs better mana ge these risks.  
5.6.  The SCTF second meeting will convene on 5 -9 November 2018, in Shenzhen , China. The group 
will finalize the Guidelines on Sea Container Cleanliness Survey and Inspection for NPPOs and 
questionnaire for monitoring sea containers cleanliness.  Both documents and associated actions will 
assist in monitoring the uptake and efficiency of the CTU code.  
6  INTERNATIONAL YEAR O F PLANT HEALTH (2020 ) 
6.1.  CPM-13 (2018) agreed to a skeleton list of International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) programme 
events and  their associated estimated costs as developed by th e IYPH Steering Committee 
(IYPH  StC). It also urged CPs to provide extra -budgetary contributions to enable promotional 
activities to support the IYPH proclamation process. They were also urged to propose potential IYPH 
events and activities. IPPC activities to promote the proclamation of the IYPH at the UN General 
Assembly have primarily focused on creating awareness amongst stakeholders about the IYPH 
proposal. Presentations were given at a number of occa sions, including the IPPC regional workshops, 
and other relevant regional events and international conferences such as the International Congress 
of Plant Pathology in Boston. In addition to the public relations activities carried out, the Government 
of Finland has prepared a draft resolution, which has been tabled to the UN General Assembly Second 
Committee. In order to promote the proposal, the Embassy of Finland to the UN in cooperation with 
the IPPC secretariat are planning to hold a reception for UN am bassadors at the end of October  2018.  
6.2.  In order to solicit support for the proposal at the UN General Assembly, the Chair of the IYPH 
Steering Committee contacted CPs ' official contact points and sent an information package 
developed by the IPPC secretaria t and the IYPH StC. The purpose of this communication was to 
request National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) to contact their foreign ministries and UN 
permanent r epresentations and urge them to support the IYPH proposal once it has been discussed 
at the UNGA. The endorsement decision by the UNGA is expected to be taken by the end of 
November  2018.  
7  INTERNATIONAL COOPER ATION  
7.1.  The IPPC secretariat collaborated with the International Seed Federation (ISF) to facilitate the 
implementation of ISPM 38  on international movement of seeds. A joint session was delivered  during 
the IPPC regional workshops to identify gaps of the implementation and provide a venue for the 
exchange of  opinions among different stakeholders.  
 
 
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