G/SPS/GEN/1226  
 
13 March 2013  
(13-1359)  Page: 1/4  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 REPORT OF THE INTERNAT IONAL PLANT PROTECTION 
CONVENTION SECRETARIAT (IPPC) 
COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES – 21-22 MARCH 2013 
Agenda Item 2(b) – Information from Relevant SPS Standard-Setting Bodies 
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 covers the period October 2012 - March 2013. 2.  The activities of Capacity Development an d the Implementation Review and Support System 
(IRSS) are presented in separate documents. 
3.  The Committee is invited to note that as of March 2013, there are 178 contracting parties to 
the IPPC, with the most recent addition of Zimbabwe. 
2  STANDARD SETTING 
4.  The IPPC Secretariat continues to phase in the new Standard Setting Process adopted by CPM-
7 (2012) with some minor adjustments. A full report on the impacts of this new process will be reported to CPM-9 (2014). 
2.1  Member consultation on draft ISPMs 
5.  The commenting period on draft ISPMs closed on 20 October 2012 and member comments 
were posted on the IPP ( https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=207803 ). These comments will be 
considered by stewards and a revised version of the draft ISPMs will be presented to the Standards 
Committee Working Group (SC-7) meeting in May 2013. 
2.2  Other meetings since th e last SPS Committee meeting 
6.  In November 2012, the Standards Committee (SC) met and the report of this meeting is 
available on the IPP ( https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=13355 ). 
7.  Ongoing work for the development of phytosanitary terms, diagnostic protocols and 
phytosanitary treatments progresses:  
- the Technical Panel for the Glossary met in late October 2012 (see report: 
https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1110712 ) 
- the Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols met in November 2012 (see report: 
https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1110710 ); and G/SPS/GEN/1226 
 
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  - the Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments met in December 2012 (see report: 
https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1110739 ). 
8.  In addition, the IPPC Secretariat continue s to use web based technology to hold virtual 
meetings. 
2.3  Standard Setting documents going to CPM- 8 (2013) 
9.  The following two draft ISPMs will be presented: 
- Draft revision of Annex 1 ( Approved treatments associated with wood packaging 
material ) to ISPM 15:2009 Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade  
(2006-011), Priority 1; 
- Draft Annex 4 ( Pest risk analysis for plants as quarantine pests ) to ISPM 11:2004 Pest 
risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks and living 
modified organisms , and core text consequential changes to ISPM 11:2004 (2005-001), 
Priority 2. 
10.  In line with the revised standard setting process adopted in 2012, this will be the first time 
that draft ISPMs will not be revised during the CPM.  
11.  In addition to these two ISPMs presented for adoption, a review of ISPMs with minor 
modifications resulting from the "consistency revi ew" (2006-12) will also be presented. Detailed 
discussions will also take place on the following two topics: International movement of grain  
(2008-007) and Minimizing pest movement by sea containers  (2008-001), including an evening 
session on the topic of sea containers. 
12.  Proposed changes for the rules of procedure for the Standards Committee (regarding 
observers) and possible criteria to help determine whether a formal objection is technically 
justified will also be presented. Several issues relating to the standard setting procedure including an update on the implementation of the new standard setting process, a discussion on the 
relationship between ISPMs and standards created by other organizations, and a request by the 
Standards Committee for a CPM de cision on implementation issues will be put forward. 
2.4  Procedure manual for standard setting 
13.  The Secretariat updated the Standard Setting  part of the IPPC Procedure Manual, taking into 
account the new IPPC standard setting procedure adopted by the CPM-7 (2012). The IPPC Procedure Manual for Standard Setting is now publ ished independently from the rest of the IPPC 
Procedure Manual and is posted on the IPP ( https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=159891 ). 
2.5  Upcoming Standard Setting activities 
14.  Several meetings will be taking place over the next few months.  The SC, followed by the 
SC-7, will meet in May 2013. Two expert working groups will be held in 2013 to develop draft 
ISPMs on International movement of seed  (2009-003) and International movement of used 
vehicles, machinery and equipment  (2006-004). The Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols and 
the Technical Panel on Forest Quarantine will meet in June 2013 and the Technical Panel on 
Phytosanitary Treatments will meet in July 2013. 
15.  The biennial call for topics for standards will commence on 15 May 2013 and close on 
31 July 2013. The biennial call was cancelled in 2011 so  it will have been four years since the IPPC 
last called for topics. All contracting parties, regional plant protection organizations and relevant 
international organizations are encouraged to submit topics for consideration. 
16.  The IPPC will again use the Online Comment System (OCS) to gather comments on draft 
ISPMs and specifications. The Codex Alimentarius has entered into an agreement for the further 
development and maintenance of the OCS and it is hoped that Codex will commence using the 
OCS this year. G/SPS/GEN/1226 
 
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  17.  The new substantial concerns commenting period, which allows contracting parties to 
comment on draft standards revised by the SC-7 and presented to the SC November 2013 meeting, will begin on 1 June 2013 (closing on 30 September 2013). 
18.  The traditional member consultation period, which allows CPM members to provide comments 
on draft standards approved by the SC, will begi n on 1 July 2013 and be open for 150 days until 
1 December 2013. It is hoped that this new extend ed period will allow CPM members more time to 
formulate their comments. 
19.  It is also anticipated that some draft specif ications will be approved by the SC in May 2013 for 
member consultation, which will begin on 1 June 2013 and close after 60 days on 30 July 2013. 
3  INFORMATION EXCHANGE 3.1  Contact points 
20.  IPPC contact points continue to update their information on the IPP, and the Secretariat 
encourages all contracting parties to ensure their information is up to date, and that they are fulfilling their national reporting obligations under the Convention. 
3.2  International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP), https://www.ippc.int  and phytosanitary 
resources page, http://www.phytosanitary.info  
21.  The IPP is currently being moved to a new software platform which is intended to provide a 
better interface for those visiting the IPP. This move will have just been finished at the time of this 
report  
22.  There continues to be a lot of information being made available by countries through the IPP 
and the IPPC Secretariat. As noted above, the Se cretariat encourages all contracting parties to 
ensure that their information is up to date and they are fulfilling their national reporting 
obligations. Countries are encouraged to periodically visit the IPP for updates. 
23.  The information available through the Phytosanitary Resources Page continues to provide 
support to capacity development and the Implemen tation Review and Support System (IRSS). This 
information is being increased continually. Key links for these resources are: 
i. Phytosanitary Resource Page in support of IPPC Capacity Development and 
Implementation: http://www.phytosanitary.info  
ii. Projects Database: http://projects.phytosanitary.info  
iii. Roster of Consultants: http://consultants.phytosanitary.info/  
iv. PRA eLearning: http://elearning.phytosanitary.info  
3.3  Pest reporting 
24.  National pest reporting continues to improve but there is still potential for further 
improvement. The 2011 reporting year saw a substant ial increase in the number of pest reports 
and 2012 has started with a significant number of reports. The Secretariat is working to allow 
users to access this information in a more constructive and analytical manner. 
25.  The IPPC Secretariat is working with the Eu ropean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) to 
finalize the system that will allow national report ing through EPPO (as an Regional Plant Protection 
Organization) to meet IPPC reporting obligations. There are certain legal procedures that need to 
be met before this system can be activated. It is hoped that this will be piloted within the foreseeable future and then expanded to other RPPOs and their members. 
4  DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 
26.  As noted previously, the phytosanitary trade dispute between South Africa and the European 
Union is continuing and further announcements will be made as information becomes available and 
when appropriate. Despite previous resource challenges within the IPPC Secretariat that previously G/SPS/GEN/1226 
 
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  impacted this process, the process has been renewed, consultations have taken place, and while 
not resolved, progress has been made with regard to this issue. 
27.  The IPPC is in the process of reviewing th e IPPC Dispute Settlement system and the outcome 
should be available in 2013 for the eighth session of the CPM. 
5  COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
28.  The eighth meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-8) will take place 
8-12 April 2013. Most of the meeting document s have been posted on the IPP and can be 
downloaded ( https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=13330 ). Highlights of this meeting are expected 
to be the possible adoption of two standards, the adoption of rules of procedure for the CPM 
Bureau, a report on the establishment of a Capa city Development Committee, the adoption of a 
communication strategy and work plan and an update on the progress towards setting up a system 
to deal with ePhytos. 
6  COMMUNICATIONS 29.  An IPPC Communication Strategy and work pl an will be submitted for possible adoption to 
CPM-8 (2013). 
30.  The following social media pages for the IPPC are available: 
i. Facebook: " http://www.facebook.com/pages/Int ernational-Plant-Protection-
Convention-IPPC/113230338690380?ref=tn_tnmn " 
ii. Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ippcnews  
iii. LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/gro ups?gid=3175642&trk=hb_side_g  
iv. Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/internat ional_plant_protection_convention/  
v. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/IPPCnews  
7  RESOURCE MOBILIZATION 
31.  The Secretariat would like to thank all those contracting parties and other donors who 
contributed to the budget and activities of the IPPC. The IPPC encourages them to consider 
sustainable contributions for the future. It will be greatly appreciated if donors are able to express their intention for further contributions in order to facilitate planning for the coming years. These 
donations will help to ensure the core work programme will be delivered. A full list of financial and 
in-kind support is made available to CPM each year 
8  IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATION IN TH E IPPC (EPHYTO) 
32.  The IPPC Secretariat created an ePhyto web page ( http://ephyto.ippc.int/ ) on the IPP. 
Updates on the continued development of ePhy tos can be found on the IPPC Website at: 
http://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1111140 . 
33.  An ePhyto workshop was help 20-22 November 2012 in Victoria City, Brazil. Additional 
information and a report of this meeting may be found on the IPP 
(https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1111139&no_cache=1&L=0 ). 
 
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