NATIONAL STANDARD FOR PHYTOSANITORY MEASURES  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015  
  
 
This standard was endorsed by NPPO –Nepal on  
December 19, 2014 and approved   
from Plant Quarantine Committee of Nepal on 14 July 2015.   TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
 
1. INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
1.1. Scope ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  1 
1.2. References  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 1 
1.3 Outline of References  ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
2. PHYTOSANITARY TER MS AND DEFINITIONS  ................................ ... 4 
 
 1 
 1. INTRODUCTION  
1.1. Scope  
This standard consists of terms and definitions with specific meaning for phytosanitary 
systems. It has been develop ed to provide a harmonized nationally agreed vocabulary 
associated with the implementation of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and 
Internatio nal Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). The standard is adoption of 
ISPM 5 with minor modification and addition of some terms and definitions considering 
national requirements.  The proposed amendment of ISPM 5 is  also considered.  Within the 
conte xt of the IPPC and its ISPMs, all references to plants should be understood to continue 
to include algae and fungi, consistent with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, 
fungi, and plants.   
 
1.2. References  
CBD. 2000. Cartagena Protocol on Bios afety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. 
Montreal,  
CBD. CEPM. 1996. Report of the Third Meeting of the FAO Committee of Experts on 
Phytosanitary  
Measures, Rome, 13 –17 May 1996. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  1999. Report of the Sixth Meeting of 
the Committee of Experts on Phytosanitary Measures,  
Rome, Italy: 17 –21 May 1999. Rome, IPPC, FAO. CPM. 2007. Report of the Second Session 
of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 26 – 
30 March 2007. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  2008.  Report of the Third Session of the Commiss ion on 
Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 7 –11 
April 2008. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  2009.   Report of the Fourth Session of the Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 30  
March–3 April 2009. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  2010. Report of the Fifth Session of the Commission 
on Phy tosanitary Measures, Rome, 22 –26 
March 2010. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  2012.   Report of the Seventh Session of the Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 19 – 2 
 23 March 2012. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  FAO. 1990. FAO Glossary of phytosanitary terms. 
FAO Plant Protection B ulletin, 38(1): 5–23. 
[current equivalent: ISPM 5]  
ICPM. 1998. Report of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 3 –6 
November 1998. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
——  2001. Report of the Third Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 2 –6 
April 2001. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
——  2002. Report of the Fourth Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 11 –
15 March 2002. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
——  2003. Report of the Fifth Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 07 –11 
April 2003. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
——  2004. Report of the Sixth Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 29 
March–02 April 2004. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
——  2005. Report of the Seventh Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, Rome, 4 –
7 April 2005. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
IPPC. 1997. Intern ational Plant Protection Convention. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISO/IEC. 1991. ISO/IEC Guide 2:1991, General terms and their definitions concerning 
standardization and related activities. Geneva, International Organization for 
Standardization, International Electrot echnical Commission.  
ISPM 2. 1995. Guidelines for pest risk analysis. Rome, IPPC, FAO. [published 1996] 
[revised; now ISPM 2: 2007]  
ISPM 2. 2007. Framework for pest risk analysis. Rome, IPPC,  
ISPM 3. 2005. Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and r elease of biological control 
agents  and other beneficial organisms. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 4. 1995. Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 5. 1995. Glossary of phytosanitary terms. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 6. 1997. Guide lines for surveillance. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 7. 1997. Export certification system. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 8. 1998. Determination of pest status in an area. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  3 
 ISPM 9. 1998. Guidelines for pest eradication programmes. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 10.  1999. Requirements for the establishment of pest free places of production and 
pest free production sites. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM11. 2001. Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests. Rome, IPPC, FAO. [revised; now 
ISPM 11:2004]  
ISPM 11. 2004. Pest risk analys is for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental 
risks and living modified organisms. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 12. 2001. Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  ISPM 13. 
2001. Guidelines for the notification of non -compliance an d emergency action. Rome,  
IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 14. 2002. The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk 
management. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 15. 2002. Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade. 
Rome, IPPC, FAO. [r evised; now ISPM 15:2009]  
ISPM 16. 2002. Regulated non -quarantine pests: concept and application. Rome, IPPC, 
FAO.  
ISPM 18. 2003. Guidelines for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure. Rome, 
IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 20. 2004. Guidelines for a phytosanita ry import regulatory system. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 22. 2005. Requirements for the establishment of areas of low pest prevalence. Rome, 
IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 23. 2005. Guidelines for inspection. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  ISPM 24. 2005. Guidelines 
for the determination and  recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary  measures. Rome, 
IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 25. 2006. Consignments in transit. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 27. 2006. Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 28. 2007. Phytosanitary treatments for regulated  pests. Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
Plant Protection Act 2007 . Government of Nepal. An Act Made to Provide for Protection of 
Plants.  4 
 Plant Protection Regulation 2010 . Government of Nepal. An Act Made to Provide for 
Protection of Plants  
WTO. 1994. Agreement on the App lication of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. 
Geneva, World Trade Organization.  
 
1.3 Outline of Reference s 
The purpose of this standard is to assist national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) and 
others in information exchange and the harmonization  of vocabulary used in official 
communications and legislation pertaining to phytosanitary measures.  
This NSPM contains  terms and definitions of ISPM 5 with minor modification in some of the 
terms and addition of some terms as per national requirement.  References in square brackets 
refer to the previous appro val of the term and definition.  
 
2. Phytosanitary Terms and Definitions  
Absorbed dose  Quantity of radiating energy absorbed per unit of mass of a 
specified target  [ISPM 18:2003, revised CPM, 2012]  
Additional declaration  
A statement that is required by an importing country to be 
entered on a phytosanitary certificate and which provides 
specific additional information on a consignment in relation to 
regulated pests or regulated articles . 
Agro-ecology  a scientific discipline that uses ecological theory to study, 
design, manage and evaluate agricultural systems that are not 
only productive but also resource conserving.   
Agro-ecosystem  a conceptual model of an agricultural system (crop, farm or 
whole economy ), relating its functions to its inputs, outputs and 
environment.  
Area An officially defined country, part of a country or all or parts of 
several countries [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; CEPM, 5 
 1999; based on the World Trade Organization Agreement on 
the A pplication of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO, 
1994)]  
Area endangered   See endangered area  
Area of low pest prevalence   
An area, whether all of a country, part of a country, or all or 
parts of several countries, as identified by the competent 
authorities, in which a specific pest occurs at low levels and 
which is subject to effective surveillance, control or 
eradication measures [IPPC, 1997]  
Bark The layer of a woody trunk, branch or root outside the 
cambium [CPM, 2008]  
Bark (as commodity) Bark sep arated from wood    
Bark-free wood  Wood from which all bark, except ingrown bark around knots 
and bark pockets between rings of annual growth, has been 
removed [ISPM 15:2002; revised CPM, 2008]  
Beneficial  insect   Any insect such as bee, silkworm, lac  and in sects, such  as 
trichogramma or  others which are directly beneficial to people 
or use as bio -control  agent.   
Biological control agent  
Any agent such as parasite , parasitoid, predator , pathogen or 
competitor  which may be used to control pests through 
biolog ical method; and this term includes viruses, bacteria, 
fungi  and others.   
Buffer zone  An area surrounding or adjacent to an area officially delimited 
for phytosanitary purposes in order to minimize the probability 
of spread of the target pest into or out o f the delimited area, 
and subject to phytosanitary or other control measures, if 
appropriate [ISPM 10:1999; revised ISPM 22:2005; CPM, 
2007]  6 
 Bulbs and tubers  A commodity class for dormant underground parts of plants 
intended for planting (includes corms an d rhizomes) [FAO, 
1990; revised ICPM, 2001]  
Chemical pressure impregnation   
Treatment of wood with a chemical preservative through a 
process of pressure in accordance with an official technical 
specification [ISPM 15:2002; revised ICPM, 2005]  
Clearance (of  a consignment)   
Verification of compliance with phytosanitary regulations 
[FAO, 1995]  
Commodity  A type of plant, plant product, or other article being moved 
for trade or other purpose [FAO, 1990; revised ICPM, 2001]  
Commodity class  A category of similar commodities that can be considered 
together in phytosanitary regulations [FAO, 1990]  
Commodity pest list  A list of pests present in an area which may be associated with 
a specific commodity [CEPM, 1996]  
Compliance procedure  (for a consignment)   
Official procedure used to verify that a consignment complies 
with phytosanitary import requirements or phytosanitary 
measures related to transit [CEPM, 1999; revised CPM, 2009]  
 Confinement (of a regulated article)   
Application of phytosanitary measures to a regul ated article 
to prevent the escape of pests [CPM, 2012]  
Consignment  A quantity of plants, plant products or other articles being 
moved from one country to another and covered, when 
required, by a single phytosanitary certificate (a consignment 
may be comp osed of one or more commodities or lots) [FAO, 
1990; revised ICPM, 2001]  
Consignment in transit  A consignment which passes through a country without  being 
imported, and that may be subject to phytosanitary measures 7 
 [FAO, 1990; revised CEPM, 1996; CEPM 1999 ; ICPM, 2002; 
ISPM 25:2006; formerly country of transit]  
Container  A box, bag or similar other good used to transport plants, p lant 
products or other articles.   
Containment  Application of phytosanitary measures in and around an 
infested area to prevent spread of a pest [FAO, 1995]  
Contaminating  pest A pest that is carried by a commodity and, in the case of 
plants and plant products, does not infest those plants or 
plant products [CEPM, 1996; revised CEPM, 1999]  
Contamination  Presence in a commodity, stora ge place, conveyance or 
container, of pests or other regulated articles, not constituting 
an infestation (see infestation) [CEPM, 1997; revised CEPM, 
1999]  
Control (of a pest)  Suppression, containment or eradication of a pest population 
[FAO, 1995]  
Conve yance  Any transportation  means such as an aircraft, rail, truck, cart, 
horse, donkey and other means used to transport plants, pl ant 
products or other articles.  
Corrective action plan (in an area)  
 Documented plan of phytosanitary actions to be implemented  
in an area officially delimited for phytosanitary purposes if a 
pest is detected or a tolerance level is exceeded or in the case 
of faulty implementation of officially established procedures 
[CPM, 2009]  
country of origin (of a consignment of plant product s)  
Country where the plants from which the plant products are 
derived were grown [FAO, 1990; revised CEPM, 1996; CEPM, 
1999]  
Country  of origin (of a consignment of plants)   
Country where the plants were grown [FAO, 1990; revised 8 
 CEPM, 1996; CEPM, 1999] (? ??) 
Country  of origin (of regulated articles other than plants and plant products)   
Country where the regulated articles were first 
exposed to contamination by pests [FAO, 1990; 
revised CEPM, 1996; CEPM, 1999]  
Cut flowers and branches  A commodity class for fresh parts of plants intended 
for decorative use and not for regeneration   
Ecosystem:   A community of living organisms (plants, animals 
and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving 
components of their environment (like air, water and 
mineral soil), interacting as a system.  
Endangered area  Any area where ecological factors favor the 
establishment of pests whose presence in the area 
results in economic loss to plants or plant products .  
Establishment (of a pest)  Perpetuation, for the foreseeable futu re, of a pest within 
an area after entry [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; 
IPPC, 1997; formerly established]  
Field A plot of land with defined boundaries within a place of 
production on which a commodity is grown [FAO, 
1990]  
Find free  To inspect a consignment , field or place of 
production and consider it to be free from a specific 
pest [FAO, 1990]  
Free from (of a consignment, field or place of production)  pest 
  Without pests (or a specific pest) that can be detected 
by the application of phytosanitary procedu res [FAO, 
1990; revised FAO, 1995; CEPM, 1999]  
Fresh Living; not dried, deep -frozen or otherwise conserved 
[FAO, 1990]  
Fruits and vegetables  A commodity class for fresh parts of plants intended 9 
 for consumption or processing and not for regeneration  
Fumig ation  Treatment with a chemical agent that reaches the 
commodity primarily in a gaseous state  
Germplasm  Plants intended for use in breeding or conservation 
programmes [FAO, 1990]  
Grain Seeds (in the botanical sense) for processing or 
consumption, but not for regeneration .  
Growing medium  Any material in which plant or its part is grown or 
intende d for that purpose.   
Growing period (of a plant species)   
Time period of active growth during a growing season 
[ICPM, 2003]  
Growing season  Period or periods of the  year when plants actively grow 
in an area, place of production or production site 
[FAO, 1990; revised ICPM, 2003]  
Habitat  Part of an ecosystem with conditions in which an 
organism is naturally present or can establish [ICPM, 
2005]  
Harmonization  The estab lishment, recognition and application by 
different countries of phytosanitary measures based 
on common standards [FAO, 1995; revised CEPM, 
1999; based on the World Trade Organization 
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures (WTO,  1994)]  
Harmonized phytosanitary measures  
Phytosanitary measures established by contracting 
parties to the IPPC, based on international standards 
[IPPC, 1997]  
Heat treatment  The process in which a commodity is heated until it 
reaches a minimum temperature for a minimum period 10 
 of time according to an official technical specification 
[ISPM 15:2002; revised ICPM, 2005]  
Host pest list  A list of pests that infest a plant species, globally or in 
an area [CEPM, 1996; revised CEPM, 1999]  
Host range  Species capable , under natural conditions, of sustaining 
a specific pest or other organism [FAO, 1990; revised 
ISPM 3:2005]  
Import permit  Official document authorizing importation of a 
commodity in accordance with specified 
phytosanitary import requirements [FAO, 1990; 
revised FAO, 1995; ICPM, 2005]  
Inactivation  Rendering micro -organisms incapable of development 
[ISPM 18:2003]  
Incidence (of a pest)  Proportion or number of units in which a pest is present 
in a sample, consignment, field or other defined 
population [CPM, 2 009] 
Incursion  An isolated population of a pest recently detected in an 
area, not known to be established, but expected to 
survive for the immediate future [ICPM, 2003]  
Infestation (of a commodity)  Presence in a commodity of a living pest of the plant 
or plant product concerned. Infestation includes 
infection [CEPM, 1997; revised CEPM, 1999]  
Inspection  Official examination of plants, plant products or 
other regulated articles to determine if pests are 
present or to determine compliance with phytosanitary 
regulations [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; formerly 
inspect]  
Inspector  Person authorized by a national plant protection 
organization to discharge its  Phytosanitary related 
inspection functions .  
Integrity (of a consignment)  Composition of a consignment as described by its 11 
 phytosanitary certificate or other officially acceptable 
document, maintained without , deduction, addition or 
substitution [CPM, 2007]  
Intended use  Declared purpose for which plants, plant products or 
other articles are imported, produce d or used [ISPM 
16:2002; revised CPM, 2009]  
Interception (of a consignment)  The refusal or controlled entry of an imported 
consignment due to failure to comply with 
phytosanitary regulations [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 
1995]  
Interception (of a pest)  The dete ction of a pest during inspection or testing of 
an imported consignment [FAO, 1990; revised CEPM, 
1996]  
Intermediate quarantine  Quarantine in a country other than the country of 
origin or destination [CEPM, 1996]  
International Plant Protection Convention  
International Plant Protection Convention, as deposited 
with FAO in Rome in 1951 and as subsequently 
amended [FAO, 1990]  
International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures  
An international standard adopted by the Conference 
of FAO, the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary 
Measures or the Commission on Phytosanitary 
Measures, established under the IPPC [CEPM, 1996; 
revised CEPM, 1999]  
International standards  International standards established in accordance with 
Article X paragraphs 1 and 2 of the IPPC [IPPC, 1997]  
Introduction (of a pest)  The entry of a pest resulting in its establishment 
[FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; IPPC, 1997]  
Inundate  release  The release of large numbers of mass -produced 12 
 biological control agents or beneficial organisms with 
the expectati on of achieving a rapid effect [ISPM 
3:1995; revised ISPM 3:2005]  
Irradiation  Treatment with any type of ionizing radiation [ISPM 
18:2003]  
ISPM  International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 
[CEPM, 1996; revised ICPM, 2001]  
Kiln-drying  A process in whi ch any plant product is dried in a 
closed chamber using heat and/or humidity control to 
achieve a required moisture content  
Living modified organism  (LMO)  
Any living organism that possesses a novel combination 
of genetic material obtained through the use of modern 
biotechnology [Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the 
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 2000)]  This 
includes Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)  
Lot A number of units of a single commodity, identifiable 
by its homogeneity of composition,  origin etc., forming 
part of a consignment [FAO, 1990]  
Mark An official stamp or brand, internationally recognized, 
applied to a regulated article to attest its phytosanitary 
status that certain phytosanitary procedures have been 
applied.  
Minimum absorbed  dose (Dmin)  
The localized minimum absorbed dose within the 
process load [ISPM 18:2003]  
Modern biotechnology   The application of:  
a. in vitro nucleic acid techniques, including 
recombinant  deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and  direct 
injection of nucleic acid i nto cells or organelles; or  13 
 b. fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family,  that 
overcome natural physiological reproductive or 
recombination barriers and that are not techniques used 
in traditional breeding and selection. [Cartagena 
Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological 
Diversity (CBD, 2000)]  
Monitoring  An official ongoing process to verify phytosanitary 
situations [CEPM, 1996]  
Monitoring survey  Ongoing  survey to verify the characteristics of a pest 
population [FAO, 1995]  
National plant pr otection organization  
Official service established by a government to 
discharge the functions specified by the IPPC [FAO, 
1990; formerly plant protection organization (national)]  
Natural enemy  An organism which lives at the expense of another 
organism in its area of origin and which may help to 
limit the population of that organism. This includes 
parasitoids, parasites, predators, phytophagous 
organisms and pathogens [ISPM 3:1995; revised ISPM 
3:2005]  
Non-quarantine pest  Pest that is not a quarantine pest for an area [FAO, 
1995]  
NPPO  National plant protection organization [FAO, 1990; 
ICPM, 2001]  
Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs)  
Any product of  biological origin other than timber or 
fuel wood  derived from forests, other wooden land and 
trees outside forest (FAO, 1999)   
Official  Established, authorized or performed by a national 
plant protection organization [FAO, 1990]  14 
 Official control  The active enforcement of mandatory phytosanitary 
regulations and the application of mandatory 
phytosanitary procedures with the objective of 
eradication or containment of quarantine pests or for 
the management of regulated non -quarantine pests 
[ICPM, 200  
Outbreak  A recently detected pest population, including an 
incursion, or a sudden significant increase of an 
established pest population in an area [FAO, 1995; 
revised ICPM, 2003]   
Packaging  Material used in supporting, protecting or carrying a 
commodity [ISPM 20:2004]  
Parasite  An organism which lives on or in a n organism, feeding 
upon it [ISPM 3:1995]  
Parasitoid  An insect para sitic only in its immature stages, killing 
its host in the process of its development, and free 
living as an adult [ISPM 3:1995]  
Pathogen  Any agent  causing disease . This includes fungi, 
bacteri a, viruses, nematodes, mycoplasma, viroid and 
others  
Pathway  Any means that allows the entry or spread of a pest 
[FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995]  
Pest Any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or 
pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products  
or beneficial organisms .  Plant pest is sometimes used 
for the  term pest .  
Pest categorization  The process for determining whether a pest has or has 
not the characteristics of a quarantine pest or those of 
a regulated non - quarantine pest [ISPM 11:2001]  
Pest diagnosis  The process of detection and identification of a pest 
[ISPM 27:2006]  15 
 Pest free area  An area in which a specific pest is absent as 
demonstrated by scientific evidence and in which, 
where appropriate, this condition is being officially 
maintained [FAO, 1995]  
Pest free place of production  Place of productio n in which a specific pest is absent 
as demonstrated by scientific evidence and in which, 
where appropriate, this condition is being officially 
maintained for a defined period [ISPM 10:1999]  
Pest free production site  
A defined portion of a place of product ion in which a 
specific pest does not occur as demonstrated by 
scientific evidence and in which, where appropriate, this 
condition is being officially maintained for a defined 
period and that is managed as a separate unit in the 
same way as a pest free pla ce of production [ISPM 
10:1999]  
Pest record  A document providing information concerning the 
presence or absence of a specific pest at a particular 
location at a certain time, within an area (usually a 
country) under described circumstances [CEPM, 1997]  
Pest risk (for quarantine pests)  The probability of introduction and spread of a pest 
and the magnitude of the associated potential economic 
consequences [ISPM 2:2007]  
Pest risk  (for regulated non -quarantine pests)  
The probability that a pest in plants for pl anting 
affects the intended use of those plants with an 
economically unacceptable impact [ISPM 2:2007]  
Pest risk analysis  The process of evaluating biological or other scientific 
and economic evidence to determine whether an 
organism is a pest, whether it  should be regulated, and 
the strength of any phytosanitary measures to be taken 16 
 against it [FAO, 1995; revised IPPC, 1997; ISPM 
2:2007]  
Pest risk assessment (for quarantine pests)   
Evaluation of the probability of the introduction and 
spread of a pest and the magnitude of the associated 
potential economic consequences [FAO, 1995; revised 
ISPM 11:2001; ISPM 2:2007]  
Pest risk assessment (for regulated non - quarantine pests)  
Evaluation of the probability that a pest in plants for 
planting affects the intended  use of those plants with 
an economically unacceptable impact [ICPM, 2005]  
Pest risk management (for quarantine pests)  
Evaluation and selection of options to reduce the risk of 
introduction and spread of a pest [FAO, 1995; revised 
ISPM 11:2001]  
Pest risk m anagement (for regulated non - quarantine pests)  
Evaluation and selection of options to reduce the risk 
that a pest in plants for planting causes an 
economically unacceptable impact on the intended use 
of those plants [ICPM, 2005]  
Pest status (in an area)  Presence or absence, at the present time, of a pest in an 
area, including where appropriate its distribution, as 
officially determined using expert judgment  on the 
basis of current and historical pest records and other 
information [CEPM, 1997; revised ICPM,  1998]  
Phytosanitary action  An official operation, such as inspection, testing, 
surveillance or treatment, undertaken to implement 
phytosanitary measures [ICPM, 2001; revised ICPM, 
2005]  
Phytosanitary certificate  An official paper document or its official electronic 17 
 equivalent, consistent with the model certificates of the 
IPPC, attesting that a consignment meets 
phytosanitary import requirements  [FAO, 1990; 
revised CPM, 2012]  
Phytosanitary certification  Use of phytosanitary procedures leading to the issue 
of a phytosanitary certificate [FAO, 1990]  
Phytosanitary import requirements  
Specific phytosanitary measures established by an 
importing country concerning consignments moving 
into that country [ICPM, 2005]  
Phytosanitary legislation  Basic laws granting leg al authority to a national plant 
protection organization from which phytosanitary 
regulations may be drafted [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 
1995]  
Phytosanitary measure  (Agreed  interpretation)   
Any legislation, regulation or official procedure 
having the purpose to prevent the introduction or 
spread of quarantine pests, or to limit the economic 
impact of regulated non -quarantine pests [FAO, 
1995; revised IPPC, 1997; ICPM, 2002]  
Phytosanitary procedure  Any official method for implementing phytosanitary 
measures including the performance of inspections, 
tests, surveillance or treatments in connection with 
regulated pests [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; 
CEPM, 1999; ICPM, 2001; ICPM, 2005]  
Phytosanitary regulation  Official rule to prevent the introduction or spread of 
quarantine pests, or to limit the economic impact of 
regulated non -quarantine pests, including 
establishment of procedures for phytosanitary 
certification [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; CEPM, 
1999; ICPM, 2001]  18 
 Phytosanitary security (of a consignment)  
Maint enance of the integrity of a consignment and 
prevention of its infestation and contamination by 
regulated pests, through the application of appropriate 
phytosanitary measures [CPM, 2009]  
Place of production  Any premises or collection of fields operated as a single 
production or farming unit. This may include 
production sites, which are separately managed for 
phytosanitary purposes [FAO, 1990; revised CEPM, 
1999]  
Plant product  Any plant product not manufactured for use (including 
feeds) or any manufactured p roduct that may, by the 
reason of nature of their processing or otherwise, create 
a risk for the introduction, est ablishment and spread of 
pests.  (NG)  
Plant quarantine  All activities designed to prevent the introduction or 
spread of quarantine pests or to ensure their official 
control [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995]  
Planting (including replanting)  Any operation for the placing of plants in a growing 
medium, or by grafting or similar operations, to ensure 
their subsequent growth, reproduction or propagation 
[FAO, 1990; revised CEPM,1999]  
Plants  Living plants and parts thereof, including seeds and 
germplasm [FAO, 1990; revised IPPC, 1997]  
Plants for planting  Plants intended to remain planted, to be planted or 
replanted [FAO, 1990]  
Plants in vitro  A commodity c lass for plants growing in an aseptic 
medium in a closed container [FAO, 1990; revised 
CEPM, 1999; ICPM, 2002; formerly plants in tissue 
culture]   
Point of entry  Airport, seaport, border point or any other location 19 
 officially designated for the import of c onsignment s or 
the entrance of p ersons . 
Post-entry quarantine  Quarantine applied to a consignment after entry 
[FAO, 1995]  
PRA   Pest risk analysis [FAO, 1995; revised ICPM, 2001]  
PRA area  Area in relation to which a pest risk analysis is 
conducted [FAO, 19 95] 
Practically free  Of a consignment, field, or place of production, 
without pests (or a specific pest) in numbers or 
quantities in excess of those that can be expected to 
result from, and be consistent with good cultural and 
handling practices employed i n the production and 
marketing of the commodity [FAO, 1990; revised 
FAO, 1995]  
Pre-clearance  Phytosanitary certification and/or clearance in the 
country of origin, performed by or under the regular 
supervision of the national plant protection 
organization of the country of destination [FAO, 1990; 
revised FAO, 1995]  
Predator  A natural enemy that preys and feeds on other animal 
organisms, more than one of which are killed during its 
lifetime [ISPM 3:1995]  
Process load  A volume of material with a specified loa ding 
configuration and treated as a single entity [ISPM 
18:2003]  
Processed wood material  Products that are a composite of wood constructed 
using glue, heat and pressure, or any combination 
thereof [ISPM 15:2002]  
Production site  A defined part of a place o f production, that is managed 
as separate for phytosanitory purpose  
Prohibition  A phytosanitary regulation forbidding the importation 20 
 or movement of specified pests or commodities [FAO, 
1990; revised FAO, 1995]  
Provisional measure  A phytosanitary regulatio n or procedure established 
without full technical justification owing to current 
lack of adequate information. A provisional measure is 
subjected to periodic review and full technical 
justification as soon as possible [ICPM, 2001]  
Quarantine  Official confi nement of  any plants, plant p roducts or 
other articles in the  specified place prescribed by the 
inspector for the purpose of observing, testing, 
investigating, inspecting and examining to know 
whether such plants, plant products or other articles 
contain a ny pest or if they are healthy or not and 
treating them if th ey are found not  to be healthy  
Quarantine area   An area  set aside f or plant quarantine procedures   
Quarantine pest  A pest of potential economic importance to the area 
endangered thereby and not yet present there, or 
present but not widely distributed and being officially 
controlled [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; IPPC 
1997]  
Quarantine station  Official station for holding plants, plants products or 
other regulated articles, including beneficial 
organisms, in quarantine . 
Raw wood  Wood which has not undergone processing or 
treatment [ISPM 15:2002]  
Re-exported consignment  Consignment that has been imported into a country 
from which it is then exported. The consignment may 
be stored, split up, combined with other consignments 
or have its packaging changed [FAO, 1990; revised 
CEPM, 1996; CEPM, 1999; ICPM, 2001; ICPM, 2002; 
formerly country of re -export]  21 
 Reference specimen  Specimen, from a population of a specific organism, 
conserved and accessible for the  purpose of 
identification, verification or comparison. [ISPM 
3:2005; revised CPM, 2009]  
Refusal  Forbidding entry of a consignment or other regulated 
article when it fails to comply with phytosanitary 
regulations [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995]  
Regional pla nt protection organization  
An intergovernmental organization with the functions 
laid down by Article IX of the IPPC [FAO, 1990; 
revised FAO, 1995; CEPM, 1999; formerly plant 
protection organization (regional)]  
Regional standards  Standards established by a  regional plant protection 
organization for the guidance of the members of that 
organization [IPPC, 1997]  
Regulated area  An area into which, within which or from which 
plants, plant products and other regulated articles are 
subjected to phytosanitary measu res [CEPM, 1996; 
revised CEPM, 1999; ICPM, 2001]  
Regulated article  Any plant, plant product, storage place, packaging, 
conveyance, container, soil and any other organism, 
object or material capable of harbouring or spreading 
pests, deemed to require phytos anitary measures, 
particularly where international transportation is 
involved [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; IPPC, 1997]  
Regulated non - quarantine pest  
A non-quarantine pest whose presence in plants for 
planting affects the intended use of those plants with 
an economically unacceptable impact and which is 
therefore regulated within the territory of the importing 
contracting party [IPPC, 1997]  22 
 Regulated pest  A quarantine pest or a regulated non -quarantine 
pest [IPPC, 1997]  
Release (into the environment)  Intentional liberation of an organism into the 
environment [ISPM 3:1995]  
Release (of a consignment)  Authorization for entry after clearance [FAO, 1995]  
Required response                 A specified level of effect for a treatment [ISPM 
18:2003]  
Round wood   Woo d not sawn longitudinally, carrying its natural r
 ounded surface,  with or without bark [FAO, 1990]  
Sawn wood  Wood sawn longitudinally, with or without its natural 
rounded surface  with or without bark [FAO, 1990]  
Seeds (as a commodity class)  Seeds (in the  botanical sense) for regeneration , but  not 
for processing or consumption  
Spread (of a pest)  Expansion of the geographical distribution of a pest 
within an area  [FAO, 1995]  
Standard  Document established by consensus and approved by a 
recognized body, that  provides, for common and 
repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for 
activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of 
the optimum degree of order in a given context [FAO, 
1995; ISO/IEC Guide 2:1991 definition]  
Sterile insect  An insect t hat, as a result of a specific treatment, is 
unable to reproduce [ISPM 3:2005]  
Sterile insect technique  Method of pest control using area -wide inundative 
release of sterile insects to reduce reproduction in a 
field population of the same species [ISPM 3:20 05] 
Stored product  Unmanufactured plant product intended for 
consumption or processing, stored in a dried form (this 
includes in particular grain and dried fruits and 
vegetables) [FAO, 1990]  23 
 Suppression  The application of phytosanitary measures in an 
infested area to reduce pest populations [FAO, 1995; 
revised C  
Surveillance  An official process which collects and records data on 
pest presence or absence by survey, monitoring or 
other procedures [CEPM, 1996]  
Survey  An official procedure conducted over a de fined period 
of time to determine the characteristics of a pest 
population or to determine which species are present in 
an area [FAO, 1990; revised CEPM, 1996]  
Systems approach  A pest risk management option that integrates 
different measures, at least two of which act 
independently, with cumulative effect  
Technically justified  Justified on the basis of conclusions reached by using 
an appropriate pest risk analysis or, where applicable, 
another comparable examination and evaluation of 
available scientific i nformation [IPPC, 1997]  
Test Official examination, other than visual, to determine if 
pests are present or to identify pests [FAO, 1990]  
Tolerance level (of a pest)  Incidence of a pest specified as a threshold for action to 
control that pest or to prevent its spread or 
introduction [CPM, 2009]  
Transience  Presence of a pest that is not expected to lead to 
establishment [ISPM 8:1998]  
Transit     See consignment in transit  
Transparency  The principle of making available, at the international 
level, phytosanitar y measures and their rationale 
[FAO, 1995; revised CEPM, 1999; based on the World 
Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO, 1994)]  
Treatment  Official procedure for the killing, inactivation or 24 
 removal of pests, or for rendering pests infertile or for 
devitalization [FAO, 1990, revised FAO, 1995; ISPM 
15:2002; ISPM 18:2003; ICPM, 2005]  
Treatment schedule  The critical parameters of a treatment which need to be 
met to achieve the intended outcome (i.e. the killing, 
inactivation or removal of pests, or rendering pests 
infertile, or devitalization) at a stated efficacy [ISPM 
28:2007]  
Visual examination  The physical examination of plants, plant prod ucts, or 
other regulated articles using the unaided eye, lens, 
stereoscope or microscope, without testing . 
Wood (as commodity class)  Commodities such as round wood, sawn wood, and 
wood waste, with or without bark, excluding wood 
packaging material and pro cessed wood material.  
Wood packaging material  Wood or wood products (excluding paper products) 
used in supporting, protecting or carrying a commodity 
(includes dunnage) [ISPM 15:2002]