G/SPS/GEN/1225  
 
13 March 2013  
(13-1357)  Page: 1/4  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 IPPC IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND SUPPORT SYSTEM (IRSS) 
MEETING OF 21-22 MARCH 2013 
Agenda Item 10(b) - Monitoring of the Use of International Standards 
The following communication, received on 11 March 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat (IPPC). 
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION 
1.  This report provides an update on the acti vities of the IPPC's Implementation Review and 
Support System (IRSS). The IRSS concept emanated  from an IPPC Commission on Phytosanitary 
Measures (CPM) proposal for the establishment of a possible IPPC compliance mechanism. The 
compliance mechanism concept was reviewed and rejected in 2007 because there was a belief that 
a compliance (enforcement) mechanism was not specified in the IPPC and was contrary to the general philosophy of the IPPC's emphasis on cooperation, harmonization of science-based 
measures and exchange of information to prevent introduction and spread of pests. 
2.  Therefore the IRSS program was developed as a proactive means to identify the extent of  
implementation of the IPPC and its International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), diagnose challenges to implementation, and offer support to strengthen future implementation, all 
outside of the context of compliance. The IRSS programme was adopted by CPM in 2008, noting 
the importance of this programme in the implemen tation of both the IPPC and the implementation 
of ISPMs. The programme was initiated in 2011 thanks to generous financial contributions from 
the European Union. 
3.  The IRSS is a program unique to the IPPC, now in its second year of implementation, and 
revolutionising the way the IPPC approaches the provision of support to contracting parties to 
improve implementation of the IPPC and its standards. The IRSS utilizes a non-confrontational 
approach based on analysis of implementation status, challenges, and identification of opportunities for improvement. This takes place through a range of interventions including revisions of ISPMs for clarity, strengthening Secretariat information systems based on information 
gathered through IRSS analyses, and orienting global and national phytosanitary capacity 
development support to address the specific needs that have been identified.  
4.  This approach offers clear benefits to the contracting parties, IPPC Secretariat and donors. 
These benefits include the ability to: 
- establish baseline information on implementation of the IPPC and its ISPMs; 
- identify technical, policy and other limits to implementation at national, regional and global 
levels;  
- utilize this information on limits to implementation to strengthen capacity development 
activities directed to the specific challenges that contracting parties face; 
- monitor, encourage and support harmonised implementation of the IPPC and its ISPMs;  
- identify and address emerging and potential implementation problems; G/SPS/GEN/1225 
 
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  - identify strengths and gaps in adopted stan dards (ISPMs) and offer some recommendations 
for their improvement when they are up for revision. 
5.  The IRSS is a cross-cutting activity in the IPPC Secretariat and involves close collaboration 
between the three principal IPPC Secretariat units (Standard Setting, Capacity Development and 
Information Exchange), as well as with the principal structures of the IPPC (the CPM Bureau, 
Standards Committee, Subsidiary Body on Di spute Settlement and Capacity Development 
Committee). A Triennial Review Group has been established comprised of members from the 
above-named structures and the IPPC Secretariat to review the IRSS work each year and produce 
a final report at the conclusion of the initial three-year funding cycle. 
2  UPDATES OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION 6.  Funding for the three-year cycle of the IRSS was made possible by a total investment of EUR 
1.2 million from the European Union. The first tw o years of the cycle will conclude in March 2013. 
The European Union has indicated support for redu ced funding of the second three-year cycle. 
IPPC contracting parties, bilateral donors, part ners and others are invited to support the IRSS 
program with complementary funding to maintain its operations and momentum. Long term, 
sustained funding would benefit planning to be able to continue this highly successful initiative. 
7.  The project has received extensive positive f eedback based on its unique approach of analysing 
implementation and tailoring support solutions to fit contracting parties' identified needs. However, 
the utility of the IRSS studies face challenges in te rms of lack of funds for translation to make the 
products generated so far more widely accessible to all interested parties.  
8.  A summary of the major actions, review and support activities completed through the IRSS is 
included below: 
Implementation Review and Support System - Major actions through March 2013 
IRSS Project: Implementation Support Achievements 
Activity Outcome 
IRSS Webpage  on the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) has been 
developed as a test site and will launch in 2013. The site will include the 
following features: 
 Country Profiles Area including phytosanitary-related data on trade of 
plants and plant products; 
 Helpdesk and Tools  including a discussion area, answers to frequently 
asked questions, and access to useful databases such as a roster of 
consultants with phytosanitary expertise, a global database of phytosanitary-related activities, and repository of technical resources; 
 IRSS activities area  including IRSS analyses and a repository of other 
relevant documents. In 
development; 
to be 
launched 2013 
Proposed CPM Recommendations on aquatic plants– Based on the findings 
of the IRSS Study on Aquatic Plants , the IRSS team developed a proposed 
Recommendation for the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures to consider (at 
CPM-8, 2013). This recommendation would consolidate past CPM decisions on 
aquatic plants into an easily accessible format and location, facilitating the 
contracting parties' access to information on the CPM decisions taken on aquatic 
plants. This would not create additional obligations for contracting parties but 
would strengthen the ability of national plant protection organizations to clarify 
the role of aquatic plants in the IPPC framework and clarify the CPM's position 
for the IPPC Secretariat to be able to liaise with relevant partners. Published as 
CPM papers 
January 2013 
for 
presentation 
to CPM-8 in 
April 2013 
Proposed CPM Recommendation on internet trade of plants and plant 
products  - Based on the findings of the IRSS Study on internet trade, the IRSS 
team developed a proposed Reco mmendation for the Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures to consider (at CPM-8, 2013). This recommendation would stimulate discussion among contracting parties on how to address these 
emerging issues within the IPPC framework and provide a clear set of non-
binding considerations for national plant protection organizations to consider how to address this emerging issue in a way that is appropriate to their national 
level of risk.  Published as 
CPM papers 
January 2013 for presentation 
to CPM-8 in 
April 2013 G/SPS/GEN/1225 
 
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IRSS Project: Implementation Review Achievements 
Activity Outcome 
General Survey  on the Implementation of the IPPC and ISPMs: This is a survey 
conducted on the principal obligations of the Convention and a general review of 
contracting party interpretations of th e extent of implementation of the 
currently adopted standards. Input 
received 
September 
2012 – Feb. 2013; data 
currently 
under analysis 
ISPM 6:1997 ( Guidelines for surveillance ) Survey  prepared, released, 
results analysed and communicated to the Steward (responsible Standards 
Committee member) for review of the standard. Completed 
March 2012  
ISPM 04:1995 ( Requirements for the establishment of pest-free areas ) 
Survey  prepared, released, results analysed and communicated to the 
Standards Committee (SC), Capacity Development Committee, and Technical Consultation among Regional Plant Protection Organizations. Completed 
March 2012 
ISPM 08:1998 ( Determination of pest status in an area ) Survey  
prepared, released, results analysed and communicated to the Standards 
Committee (SC), Capacity Development Committee, and Technical Consultation 
among Regional Plant Protection Organizations. Completed 
March 2012 
IRSS Study: Implementation Challeng es and Best Practices of ISPM 6 
(Surveillance) – Results of ISPM 6 (Surveillance) Questionnaire above were 
analysed and consolidated with the outcomes of a global series of workshops 
held in five FAO regions – Workshops included: 
 Discussion on pest surveillance baseline information gathered from 
questionnaire on ISPM 6 mentioned above; 
 Collection of examples of best practices from a regional perspective; 
 Collection of information and examples on existing tools used in the 
regions to aid implementation of ISPM 6; 
 Recommendations to improve ISPM 6 as well as ISPM 4:1995 
(Requirements for the establishment of pest-free areas ) and ISPM 8:1998 
(Determination of pest status in an area ). Completed 
February 2012 
Symposium on Surveillance: The IRSS collaborated with the Asia Pacific Plant 
Protection Commission (APPPC) to host a symposium on surveillance. The 
symposium used analysis of the ISPM 6:1997 ( Guidelines for surveillance ) 
survey results as a basis for developing an outline for manuals on surveillance 
systems. The symposium included participation from experts within the Asia 
region and from several other FAO regions.  Workshop 
completed 
November 
2012 
Development of Manual on Surveillance : Based on the outline developed at 
the Symposium on Surveillance, the IPPC Secretariat is collaborating with the 
IPPC Capacity Development Committee to develop a technical resource (such as 
a manual) based on the needs identified by the IRSS survey and global symposium.  Outline 
presented to 
IPPC 
Capacity Development 
Committee 
December 2012 
IRSS Study: Internet Trade of Plants  – Study provides contracting parties 
with a synopsis of the type of trad e of plants and plant products being 
channelled through the internet. Conducted by the IPPC Secretariat with peer-
review support provided by the UK. Found here: 
https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1111059&L=0#irssactivities  Completed 
March 2012 
IRSS Study: Aquatic Plants  – Conducted with the objective to provide 
technical information that can be used as a reference by the IPPC on how it 
should address the issue of aquatic plants, in relation to the established 
mandate of the IPPC, and includes recommendations on how to address the issue. Found here: 
https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1111059&L=0#irssactivities  Completed 
March 2012 G/SPS/GEN/1225 
 
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  IRSS Project: Implementation Review Achievements 
Activity Outcome 
Contributions to STDF workshop on Invasive Alien Species - The findings 
of the IRSS studies on aquatic plants and internet trade of plants contributed to 
the discussions in a Seminar on International Trade and Invasive Alien Species 
hosted by the WTO in July 2012.  Completed 
July 2012 
ISPM 13:2001 ( Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and 
emergency action ) Survey - This survey was developed at the request of the 
IPPC Subsidiary Body on Dispute Settlem ent (SBDS) to analyse implementation 
challenges for ISPM 13:2001 (Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action). The results were analysed, transmitted to the SBDS for its March 2013 meeting, and a report of the results will be made available on 
the IRSS webpage of the IPP.  Completed 
March 2013 
ISPM 17:2002 ( Pest reporting ) and ISPM 19:2003 ( Guidelines on lists of 
regulated pests ) Surveys – These surveys were originally requested by the 
IPPC's expert working group on capacity  development (the predecessor to the 
Capacity Development Committee). Questionnaires have been drafted to gather 
information on the extent of implementation and challenges in implementation 
of these standards, which have implications for the reporting obligations under 
the IPPC. The draft is currently under consultation and is planned for release in 
June 2013.  In progress 
throughout 
2013 
Follow-up on IRSS analysis of challe nges in implementation of ISPMs - 
A consolidation of the challenges and best practices for contracting parties that 
had been identified by all IRSS activities undertaken through 2012 as well as suggested follow-up actions was presented as a paper for the Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-8, 2013). The information contributed to the 
IPPC's capacity development work program. Completed 
February 
2013 
 
3  ACTIVITIES IN THE THIRD YEAR: APRIL 2013-MARCH 2014 
9.  Future activities for the IRSS include: 
- Launch of the IRSS website and help desk; 
- Identification of donors for translation of existing IRSS analyses, tools and resources; 
- Identification of donors for the second 3-year cycle of the IRSS; 
- Further analyses of country implementation challenges with adopted standards; 
- Management of the helpdesk and related support tools; 
- Production of a triennial report, Implementation Review Response (IRR), covering the first 
2011-2014 IRSS cycle. The IRR will include conclusions from analyses of ISPMs, relevant 
data from the IPP, and studies such as those on aquatic plants and e-commerce. The IRSS 
Triennial Review Group (TRG) will provide guidance to develop the IRR. 
 
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