G/SPS/GEN/1259  
 
24 June 2013  
(13-3270)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 IPPC IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND SUPPORT SYSTEM (IRSS) 
REPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
MEETING OF 27-28 JUNE 2013 
Agenda Item 11(b) - Monitoring of the Use of International Standards 
The following communication, received on 21 June 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat (IPPC). 
 
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1.  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 National Reporting Obligations, as well as with th e principal governance structures of the IPPC, the 
CPM Bureau, Standard Setting, Dispute Settlement and Capacity Development. A Triennial Review 
Group has been established comprising of memb ers from the above structures and the IPPC 
secretariat. 
2.  The table below outlines the principal activi ties of the Implementation Review and Support 
System (IRSS). 
Activity Outcome 
IRSS Webpage  on the International Phytosanitary 
Portal (IPP) which includes the following features: 
 Country Profiles Area 
 Helpdesk and Tools including a discussion area, 
FAQs and access to useful databases 
 IRSS activities area which includes posting of 
IRSS surveys and documents repository Countries are encouraged to enter their 
Profile data into the system. The Question and Answer Forum is now 
open and contracting parties are asked 
to use the tool. 
Review of the implementation of ISPM 13 (2001) 
– Guidelines for the notification of non-
compliance and emergency action  
Results of the survey "Analy sis of survey results on 
implementation of ISPM13:(2001) – Guidelines for the 
notification of non-compliance and emergency action" 
were analyzed and communicated to the Subsidiary 
Body on Dispute Settlement (SBDS) meeting held in 
March 2013. The SBDS used the results as baseline 
information for their discussion on the review of roles 
and functions of the SBDS. Report posted on IRSS Activities 
webpage. A table of follow-up actions 
was developed by the IRSS and fine-
tuned by the IPPC Capacity 
Development Committee (CDC) in 
December of 2012. 
Follow-up actions were presented to 
CPM-8 for consideration. 
General survey on the implementation of the IPPC 
and adopted Standards. This survey covered 
34 standards and the principal obligations under the 
Convention. Feedback received from 73 Contracting 
Parties. Draft report on preliminary 
findings prepared with main draft report 
expected by July 2013. 
ISPM 17:(2002) – Pest Reporting & ISPM 
19:(2003) – Guidelines on lists of regulated pests 
Questionnaire  has been finalized, translated into 
Russian, French, Spanish, English and Arabic, and 
deployed to NPPOs on 24 June 2013. Respondents have been given 12 weeks 
to submit their responses. Deadline for 
survey submission is 24 September 
2013. G/SPS/GEN/1259 
 
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  Activity Outcome 
IRSS Study: Implementation Challenges and Best 
Practices of ISPM6: (1997) – Guidelines for 
Surveillance – Based on the results, the Asia region 
conducted a symposium in October 2012 on the subject. The symposium used the ISPM6 data to 
determine the content of manuals on pest surveillance 
to be developed post symposium. Draft frameworks for surveillance 
manuals prepared and presented to 
CDC DEC 2012. 
Work on-going to develop a pest surveillance manual. 
Suggested Actions  for possible capacity development 
activities based on the following IRSS studies: 
1. Review of the Implementation of ISPM6: (1997) – 
Guidelines for Surveillance 
2. Review of the Implementation of ISPM4: (1995) – 
Requirements for the establishment of pest free 
areas 
3. Review of the Implementation of ISPM8: (1998) – 
Determination of pest status in an area 
4. ISPM13: (2001) – Guidelines for the notification 
of non-compliance and emergency action 
5. ISPM 15: (2009) – Regulation of wood packaging 
material in international trade Presented to CPM-8 April 2013 here: 
"https://www.ippc.int/sites/default/files
/documents//1360681528_CPM_2013_I
NF_04_IRSS_Overview_20.pdf " 
IPPC Recommendations based on the Aquatic Plants 
study and the Internet Trade in Plants study were 
developed and subsequently introduced to CPM-8 2013 
for consideration. "https://www.ippc.int/sites/d efault/files/documents//13
61890745_CPM_2013_17_Rev1_Recommendations.pdf " CPM-8 2013 invited further comments 
from contracting parties on the 
proposed recommendations. The 
revised Recommendations will be presented at CPM-9. 
Additional comments may be made at 
the IPPC Strategic Planning Group meeting, Rome, Italy in October 2013 
Preparation of the Implementation Review Report 
(IRR): 
This document summarizes the IRSS activities and 
outputs over the past three years of operation. The 
report will provide a snapshot of the challenges 
identified for implementation of the IPPC and 
Standards. It will propose some actions to be taken 
based on analyses and desk studies that have been 
conducted.  Preparation of the report will begin mid-
July 2013 and should be ready for the 
CPM-9. 
IRSS Future Steps: A concept note is in the final stage 
of preparation. The concept note has undergone wide 
consultation with subsidiary bodies of the IPPC. The document outlines the future direction and focus of work to be taken by IRSS as it enters its second cycle. The proposal is expected to be finalized 
by end July 2013. The work plan 
developed from this exercise will form the future  
IRSS Concept Note – Indicator Development 
The IRSS will initiate a work on identification of 
indicators to strengthen the quality and sustainability of 
the IPPC and its standards. This work comes at a time 
when the IPPC is contemplating the broader issues of 
implementation in the convention. The Bureau supported the IRSS 
proposal to work on phytosanitary 
Indicators and recognized its 
importance as a measure of the outputs 
and impact of the IPPC. This work will 
be conducted over the course of the 
year. 
  
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