G/SPS/GEN/1320  
 
20 March 2014  
(14-1741)  Page: 1/6  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
INTER-AGENCY LIAISON GROUP ON INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES 
RECENT ACTIVITIES OF GROUP MEMBERS 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  The WTO Secretariat is participating as a member in the Inter-Agency Liaison Group on 
Invasive Alien Species. This document is intended to inform the SPS Committee of some recent 
relevant activities of the members of the Grou p, in particular regarding progress in the 
development of guidance on pathways and in the implementation of the international regulatory framework relevant to invasive alien species. 
2  BACKGROUND 
2.1.  Pursuant to decision VIII/ 27 of the Conference of the Part ies (COP) to the Convention on 
Biological Diversity (CBD) on Gaps and Inconsistencies in International Regulatory Framework Relevant to Invasive Alien Species, the Executive Secretary of the CBD has been requested to 
continue to collaborate with the secretariats of the International Plant Protection Convention 
(IPPC), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CIT ES) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), as 
well as other international organizations, such as United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization 
(FAO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with a view to filling gaps and promoting coherence in the regulatory framework, reducing 
duplication, promoting other actions to address invasive alien species at the national level and 
facilitating support to parties including through capacity-building (decision IX/4A). 
2.2.  In response to this decision the Exec utive Secretary of the CBD invited the relevant 
international organizations to establish the Inter-agency Liaison Group on Invasive Alien Species 
(the Liaison Group). Since 2010 the Group has met five times and the reports of its meetings are 
accessible at http://cbd.int/invasive/lg/ . The Group updated its Terms of Reference and Modus 
Operandi in 2013. The updated version is available at http://www.cbd.int/invasive/doc/tor-mo-
ialg-2013-02-028-en.pdf . The general purpose of the Liaison Group is to facilitate cooperation 
among relevant organizations to support measures to prevent the introduction and mitigate the 
impacts of invasive alien species. The Group faci litates the exchange of information on relevant 
policies and activities to ensure that they are co mplementary so as to optimize efficiency, build 
synergies and avoid any unnecessary duplication. In  the period up to 2020, the Strategic Plan for 
Biodiversity 2011-2020, and in particular Aichi Target 9 on invasive alien species, provides the main focus of the work of the Group. 
2.3.  This document summarizes the progress ma de by members of the Liaison Group in the 
development of guidance for the management of the pathways and causes of introduction of alien species that were identified by the COP to the CBD, and activities undertaken to facilitate the 
implementation of this guidance. The summary contained in this document may not be exhaustive. 
                                               
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights or obligations under the WTO. G/SPS/GEN/1320 
 
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  3  DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDANCE 
3.1.  The COP to the CBD reaffirmed the need to address the gaps and inconsistencies in the 
international regulatory framework relevant to invasive alien species, and therefore encouraged parties to make use of the risk assessment guidance and other procedures and standards 
developed by the IPPC, the OIE, and other relevant organizations. The COP to the CBD further 
invited the relevant international organizations to address the identified gaps and inconsistencies of the international regulatory framework related to invasive alien species. Members of the Liaison 
Group have continued their efforts and have undertaken a number of activities which contribute to 
the follow up of these decisions (decisions V III/27, IX/4 A and XI/28 of the COP to the CBD). 
3.2.  The IPPC included aquatic plants and invasive plants in its international standard for 
phytosanitary measures (ISPM) no. 11 - Pest Risk Analysis for Quarantine Pests (ISPM 11:2013). 
Under the IPPC, within its mandate, a clarification is being discussed that "protection of plants" 
also covers the protection of algae and fungi, consistent with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. As a consequence, ISPM 5 (Glossary of Phytosanitary 
Terms) will be updated, which is the basis for terminology in all ISPMs. 
3.3.  The OIE developed and published Guidelines  for assessing the risks of non-native animals 
becoming invasive. The OIE also listed diseases that can infect wild animals and threaten 
biodiversity: Ranavirus and Batrachochytrium dentrobatitis ; and updated OIE standards on these 
diseases. 
3.4.  The FAO developed and published guidance relevant to invasive alien species: 
a. Guide to the implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry; 
b. Understanding and applying risk analysis in aquaculture. 
3.5.  With regard to specific guidance on pathways or cause of introduction of alien species the 
following activities have been conducted by the members. 
3.1  Aquaculture 
3.6.  FAO published the following guidance: 
 Understanding and applying risk analysis in aquaculture; 
 FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fi sheries. No. 13. Recreational Fisheries; 
 Aquaculture development 6. Use of wild fish ery resources for capture-based aquaculture; 
 Aquaculture development. 5. Use of wi ld fish as feed in aquaculture; 
 Aquaculture development. 4. Ecosystem approach to aquaculture; 
 A brochure on Introduced species in fisheries. Responsible use and control
2. 
3.2  Conveyance 3.7.  The IPPC initiated the development of new ISPMs on Minimizing pest movement by sea 
containers (2008-001), and Safe handling and disposal of waste with potential pest risk generated 
during international voyages (2008-004), to help address the potential risks of spreading pests and invasive alien species. 
3 . 8 .   I n  r e s p o n s e  t o  t h e  w o r k  o n  t h e  I P P C  d r a f t  I S P M  o n  M i n i m i z i n g  p e s t  m o v e m e n t  b y  s e a  
containers (2008-001), the IMO, International Labor Organization and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe have prepared an updated ve rsion of their Code of Practice for Packing of 
Cargo Transport Units to include advice on how to help ensure that sea containers (cargo transport 
units, CTUs) do not act as conveyance for the spreading of pests and invasive alien species. This 
code will be used by those responsible for the packing and securing of the cargo and by those whose task it is to train people to pack such units. This updated Code is expected to be approved 
in due course. 
                                               
2 ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/brochure/alien/y4710e.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/1320 
 
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  3.9.  In 2013, the Conference of the Parties to CITES adopted the CITES guidelines for the non-air 
transport of live wild animals and plants, which are accessible on the CITES website at http://www.cites.org/eng/reso urces/transport/index.php . The Conference of the Parties also 
adopted Resolution Conf. 10.21 (Rev. CoP16) on Transport of live specimens, which was updated 
inter alia  to include references to the new CITES guidelines. 
3.3  Ballast water 3.10.  The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and 
Sediments (BWM Convention) was adopted in 2004,  but has yet to enter into force. IMO has 
developed and adopted a number of Guidelines relating to the uniform implementation of the BWM Convention since the 53
rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in 
2005: 
 Guidelines for sediment reception facilities (G1) (resolution MEPC.152(55)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water sampling (G2) (resolution MEPC.173(58)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water management equivalent compliance (G3) (resolution 
MEPC.123(53)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water management and development of ballast water management 
plans (G4) (resolution MEPC.127(53)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water reception facilities (G5) (resolution MEPC.153(55)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water exchange (G6) (resolution MEPC.124(53)); 
 Guidelines for risk assessment under regulation A-4 of the BWM Convention (G7) 
(resolution MEPC.162(56)); 
 Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) (resolution 
MEPC.174(58)); 
 Procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of Active 
Substances (G9) (resolution MEPC.169(57)); 
 Guidelines for approval and oversight of pr ototype ballast water treatment technology 
programmes (G10) (resolution MEPC.140(54)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water exchange design and construction standards (G11) 
(resolution MEPC.149(55)); 
 Guidelines on design and construction to facilitate sediment control on ships (G12) 
(resolution MEPC.209(63)); 
 Guidelines for additional measures regarding ballast water management including 
emergency situations (G13) (resolution MEPC.161(56)); 
 Guidelines on designation of areas for ballast water exchange (G14) (resolution 
MEPC.151(55)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water exchange in the Antarctic treaty area (resolution 
MEPC.163(56)); 
 Information reporting on type approved ballast water management systems (resolution 
MEPC.228(65)); 
 Procedure for approving other methods of ballast water management in accordance with 
regulation B-3.7 of the BWM Convention (resolution MEPC.206(62)); 
 Installation of ballast water management systems on new ships in accordance with the 
application dates contained in the ballast water management convention (BWM Convention) (resolution MEPC.188(60)); 
 Guidelines for ballast water exchange in the Antarctic treaty area (resolution 
MEPC.163(56)). G/SPS/GEN/1320 
 
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  3.4   Marine bio-fouling 
3.11.  IMO developed the 2011 Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships' Biofouling to 
Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic specie s, resolution MEPC.207(62), and the Guidance for 
minimizing the transfer of invasive aquatic species as biofouling (hull fouling) for recreational craft 
(circular MEPC.1/Circ.792). MEPC 65 also adopted Gu idance for evaluating the 2011 Guidelines for 
the control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species (circular MEPC.1/Circ.811). 
3.5  Civil air transport 
3.12.  The ICAO in collaboration with the Global  Invasive Species Programme drafted Guidelines 
for preventing the transport and introduction of invasive alien species by air  in 2007. Formalization 
of these guidelines is still pending. 
3.13.  The IPPC List of Topics for standards includes air containers as one topic, which will be 
further developed once the ISPM Minimizing pest movement by sea containers has been adopted. 
3.14.  In 2013, the Conference of the Parties to  CITES adopted the CITES guidelines for the non-
air transport of live wild animals and plants which are accessible on the CITES website at 
http://www.cites.org/eng/reso urces/transport/index.php . The Conference of the Parties also 
adopted Resolution Conf. 10.21 (Rev. CoP16) on Transport of live specimens, which was updated 
inter alia  to include references to the new CITES guidelines. The CITES guidelines have been 
included as an annex to the International Air Transport Association's Live Animals Regulations. 
3.6   Pets, aquarium and terrarium species, and live bait and live food 3.15.  The CBD Secretariat drafted guidance to be considered by Subsidiary Body on Scientific, 
Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its 18
th meeting in June 2014. (See also transport 
of live species by civil air transport and ex-situ animal breeding programme). 
3.7  Biocontrol agents 
3.16.  Several years ago, the IPPC has produced ISPM 3 (Guidelines for the export, shipment, 
import and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms). 
3.8  Ex situ animal breeding programmes 
3.17.  In Resolution Conf. 12.10 (Rev.CoP15), the Co nference of the Parties to CITES urged Parties 
to undertake an assessment of ecological risks prior to the establishment of captive-breeding 
operations for exotic species in order to safeguard against any negative effects on local ecosystems and native species. 
3.18.  In the same Resolution, the CoP to the CI TES urged CITES Management Authorities to work 
closely with captive-breeding operations to prepare the information required to be provided to the CITES Secretariat by the Management Authority on op erations to be registered by the Secretariat, 
or to establish a support group with members representing breeders and government to facilitate 
the procedure. 
3.9  International web-based market places 
3.19.  In 2012, the IPPC prepared a document on Internet Trade (e-Commerce) in Plants - 
Potential Phytosanitary Risks to present preliminar y findings of a desk study that explored the 
range of products being offered for sale through the internet and highlighted potential risks on 
plant health and the environment. 
3.20.  The CITES Secretariat is developing an Internet portal as part of the CITES website to 
compile, publish and disseminate information submitted by Parties and stakeholders related to e-commerce of CITES-listed species ( http://www.cites.org/eng/ prog/e-commerce.php ) in accordance 
with Decisions 15.57, 16.62 and Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP15) on e-commerce. G/SPS/GEN/1320 
 
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  3.10  Other pathways 
3.21.  Guidance for management of the following pathways or causes of introduction of alien 
species are planned to be addressed by the appropriate organizations or bodies: 
 Military activities; 
 Emergency relief, aid and response; 
 International development assistance; 
 Scientific research; 
 Tourism; 
 Inter-basin water transfer and navigation channels; 
 Action or lack of action to address spread of invasive alien species; 
 Inconsistency in terminology. 
3.11  Facilitation of implementation 
3.22.  The Standards and Trade Development Facility,  in collaboration with the IPPC and the OIE, 
organized a Seminar on International Trade and Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Geneva, 
Switzerland from 12 to 13 July 2012 and published a study titled International Trade and Invasive 
Alien Species and a one-page briefing on the same subject. The study is available at http://www.standardsfacility.o rg/Files/IAS/STDF_IAS_EN.pdf ; the briefing at 
http://www.standardsfacility.org/Files/Br iefings/STDF_Briefing_No9_EN_web.pdf . 
3.23.  The CBD organized regional capacity bu ilding workshops for Parties to achieve Aichi 
Biodiversity Target 9: 
 Group of Latin American Countries, 12-13 November 2011, Montreal, Canada in 
collaboration with the FAO; 
 African sub-region (Eastern Africa), 7-9 December 2011, Nairobi, Kenya in collaboration 
with IUCN and the OIE; 
 East and South East Asia, 30 July-1 August 2012, Bangkok, Thailand in collaboration with 
the United Nations Environment Programme and others; 
 Arab region, 11-14 February 2013, Dubai, United  Arab Emirates in collaboration with the 
IPPC, CABI and UNEP; 
 West and Central Africa, 4-7 March 2013, Dakar, Senegal; 
 Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 9-12 December 2013, Sarajevo, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina in collaboration with the IPPC, IUCN and UNEP. 
3.24.  The CBD in collaboration with invasive alien species database providers initiated activities on 
the Global Invasive Alien Species Information Partnership. 
3.25.  The IMO, the United Nations Developmen t Programme and the Global Environment Facility 
provided an opportunity for capacity development on ballast water management (GloBallast 
Programme in 2000-2007). The second phase of the GloBallast Programme, referred to as GloBallast Partnerships, was initiated in late 2007 and is intended to build on the progress made in 
the original project. It is focussed on national policy, legal and institutional reforms in targeted 
developing countries with an emphasis on integrated management. GloBallast Partnerships has been extended to the end of September 2016. 
3.26.  The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in collaboration with the Ramsar Regional Center – 
East Asia, held a capacity building workshop, 7-10 October 2014, Changwon, Republic of Korea, 
for National Focal Points and Scientific and Technical Review Panel National Focal Points, which included a session on wetlands and invasive species to identify guidance used in Asia for the 
prevention, eradication, control and management of invasive alien species. G/SPS/GEN/1320 
 
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  3.27.  The Ramsar Scientific and Technical Review Panel is working, as part of its work on the 
2013-2015 work plan, on developing a guide to available guidance on wetlands and invasive 
species, targeted at policy makers, wetland managers and local communities. 
3.28.  Guidance on the use of electronic permit s and certificates under CITES is provided in 
Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP16) on permits an d certificates as well as a CITES electronic 
permitting toolkit which can be accessed at http://www.cites.org/eng/ prog/e/e-permitting-
toolkit.php . The use of electronic permits can facilitate the tracking of live specimens in CITES 
trade and the detection of trade in violation of the Convention or related national legislation. 
 
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