G/SPS/GEN/1227  
 
13 March 2013  
(13-1350)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
IPPC CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 
MEETING OF 21-22 MARCH 2013 
Agenda Item 8 (c) – Information from Observers 
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  ESTABLISHMENT OF IPPC CAPA CITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (CDC) 
1.  The Seventh Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-7, 2012) established 
the IPPC Capacity Development Committee (CDC) as a technical structure to provide oversight and contribute to the delivery of the IPPC Strategic Ob jective of developing the National Phytosanitary 
Capacity of its members. 
2.  In July 2012, the IPPC Secretariat issued an open call for candidates to be considered for 
membership of the 7-person CDC, in line with the terms of reference and rules of procedure of the 
CDC that were approved by CPM-7. In response, 12 nominations were received. At its October 
2012 meeting, the CPM Bureau reviewed the CV s of the nominees. The Bureau selected one 
member from each of the seven FAO regions based on the criteria for technical expertise and qualifications. Several regions have not yet submitted nominations for alternate members of the 
CDC and have been encouraged to do so as soon as possible. 
3.  The first meeting of the CDC took place 3-7 December 2012 in Rome, Italy. Members of the 
previous expert working group on capacity deve lopment also participated to strengthen the 
communication of past work on IPPC capacity development issues to the new committee members. 
The group ensured that the capacity development work plan was compatible with the newly-developed IPPC strategic framework. The full re port of the CDC’s December 2012 meeting is 
available at 
"https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1110798&from page=13381&tx_publication_pi1[showUid]=21
86110&type=publication&L=0 ". 
4.  The second meeting of the CDC is planned for 27-31 May 2013, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 
2  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION 
5.  The STDF project on "Global Phytosanitary Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures and 
Training Kits" is being implemented by the IPPC Secretariat (2012-2014). The first progress report 
was submitted to the STDF in September 2012 with plans for 18 technical resources, including 
manuals, standard operating procedures and training kits to be developed under the project. The terms of reference for service providers to develo p these technical resources have been developed 
and the IPPC Secretariat is in the process of selecting service providers. 
6.  The Secretariat identified a synergy with an existing product in development by the FAO 
Forestry Division. The FAO Forestry Division is developing an e-learning training kit on the relevance of ISPMs in the import/export of fore st products. The IPPC Secretariat and the FAO G/SPS/GEN/1227 
 
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  Forestry Division could collaborate to adapt this resource to apply to the import/export of 
commodities in general and to ensure alignment with the IPPC framework.  
3  TECHNICAL RESOURCES AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 7.  The phytosanitary technical resources web page ( http://www.phytosanitary.info ) has been 
launched and includes various categories of phytosanitary resources and tools (advocacy, 
diagnostic protocols, guides, manuals, pest information, photos, standard operating procedures, videos, etc.). The web page invites NPPOs and RP POs to review and add information from their 
regions to the Global Capacity Development Proj ects and Activities databases. The e-learning 
course on Pest Risk Analysis is available in English and Spanish for participants to sign up and enroll in through the phytosanitary technical resources web page (http://elearning.phytosanitary.info/ ). 
8.  A Roster of Consultants has been developed by the IPPC Secretariat. This tool consolidates self-
nominated experts with competencies relevant to developing phytosanitary capacity. This includes 
expertise in technical areas (such as pest risk analysis, surveillance, and phytosanitary 
treatments) and managerial functions (such as application of the Phytosanitary Capacity 
Evaluation tool, and establishment and management of national plant protection organizations). The Roster of Consultants is available through the phytosanitary technical resources web page 
(http://consultants.phytosanitary.info/ ) and is intended to facilitate access to experts with 
experience in phytosanitary issues. Through this tool experts will be able to create their profile and 
upload their CVs. Anyone interested in contracting these experts will be able to contact them through the database. A disclaimer in the Roster of Consultants explains that inclusion in the 
Roster of Consultants does not indicate any en dorsement or support by the Secretariat of the 
International Plant Protection Convention or its contracting parties. 
9.  In 2012, the Secretariat staff facilitated the use of the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation Tool 
(PCE) in 11 developing countries. 
10.  In the regional TCP-project for Central Africa (RAF/3312 " Appui au renforcement des capacités 
phytosanitaires dans les pays membres de la CEEAC et de la CEMAC ", the PCE has been applied in 
nine countries (Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Centra l Africa Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of 
Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo and Sao Tome and Principe). In addition, the PCE has been applied in Armenia and Mauritius.  
11.  The Secretariat has received additional requests for facilitation of the PCE application in 2013. 
4  REGIONAL WORKSHOPS 
12.  The IPPC supported and attended the regional workshops to review draft International 
Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) during 2012. The workshops have been held since 
2000, with seven workshops per year for the past five years, covering all regions except Western 
Europe and North America. 
13.  The purpose of these workshops is to help  contracting parties to discuss and prepare their 
comments on draft ISPMs and act as an important forum for exchange of national and regional 
perspectives on draft ISPMs during the member consultation period. The workshops are also important for developing the capacities of cont racting parties and improving their understanding 
and implementation of the IPPC and its ISPMs. 
 
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