WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1204 
17 October 2012 
 (12-5644) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
IPPC IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND SUPPORT SYSTEM (IRSS) 
Meeting of 18-19 October 2012 
Agenda Item 10(c) 
 
 The following communication, received on 15 October 2012, is 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 activities of the IPPC's Implementation Review and 
Support System (IRSS), which covers the monito ring and evaluation of the implementation of 
International Standards of Phytosanitary Measu res (ISPMs) and the IPPC.  The IRSS concept 
emanated from an IPPC Commission on Phytosanitary  Measures (CPM) proposal to the Subsidiary 
Body on Dispute Settlement (SBDS) for the establis hment of a possible IPPC compliance mechanism, 
in 2007.  This concept was rejected because th ere was a belief that a compliance (enforcement) 
mechanism was not specified in the IPPC and was c ontrary to the general philosophy of the CPM and 
FAO.  However, the concept was subsequently rede fined by the SBDS and a modified programme for 
the development of an IRSS was adopted by CPM in 2008, noting the importance of this programme 
in the implementation of both the IPPC and the implementation of ISPMs. 
2. The primary objective of the IRSS is to facilitate  and promote the implementation of the IPPC 
and ISPMs.  The advantages of the system include  the ability to monitor, encourage and support the 
harmonised implementation of the IPPC and its ISPM s, and to act as a means to identify and address 
emerging and potential implementation problems before they become disputes.  The IRSS utilizes an 
assistance-based, non-confrontational approach.  
3. The IRSS is a cross-cutting activity in the I PPC secretariat and involves close collaboration 
between the three principal IPPC secretariat units - Standard Se tting, Capacity Development and 
Information Exchange - as well as with the prin cipal governance structures of the IPPC - the CPM 
Bureau, Standard Setting, Dispute Settlement and Ca pacity Development.  A Triennial Review Group 
has been established comprising of members from the above structures and the IPPC secretariat. 
2. Updates of the project implementation 
4. Funding for the three-year cycle of the IRSS w as made possible by a total investment of EUR 
1.2 million from the European Union (EU). The first year of the cycle was completed early 2012.  The IPPC Secretariat continues to encourage other member s to contribute to what continues to be a very 
important part of the IPPC Secretariat’s work programme. 
5. A summary of the major actions completed by the IRSS is included below: G/SPS/GEN/1204 
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  IRSS Major Actions  
IRSS Implementation Support - Achievements 
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 Completed 
March 2012 
IRSS Implementation Review - Achievements 
Activity Outcome 
General IPPC Questionnaire  on the Implementation of the Convention and 
ISPMs – Draft survey on Survey Monkey  (online survey tool) and release to 
Contracting Parties (CPs) Completed 
April 2012 
ISPM 6 Questionnaire  prepared, released, results analyzed and 
communicated to the Steward for review of the standard Completed 
March 2012  
ISPM 4 Mini-survey  prepared, released, results analyzed and communicated 
to the Standards Committee (SC) Completed 
March 2012 
ISPM 8 Mini-survey  prepared, released, results analyzed and communicated 
to the Standards Committee (SC) Completed 
March 2012 
IRSS Study: Implementation Challeng es and Best Practices of ISPM 6 –  
Results of ISPM 6 Questionnaire above were analyzed and consolidated with 
the outcomes of a global series of workshops held in five FAO regions.  
Workshops included: 
  Discussion on pest surveillance base line information gathered from the 
questionnaire on ISPM 6 mentioned above 
  Collection of examples of best pr actices 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 and ISPM 8 Completed 
February 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 United Kingdom. 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 pl ants, 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/1204 
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  3. Activities in the second phase: April 2012-March 2013  
6. During the March 2012 meeting of the Subsidia ry Body on Dispute Settlement (SBDS), the 
SBDS requested IRSS support for the SBDS' initiativ e in reviewing its role and functions.  The 
initiative is intended to respond to the issues raised at  CPM6.  In this regard, the SBDS needed more 
information to understand NPPO processes to addres s issues on implementation of ISPM13, dispute 
settlement and analysis of the implementati on of non-compliance and emergency actions of 
NPPOs,since these are the logical precursors to any dispute actions by contracting parties.  The 
Bureau agreed that the IRSS would formally re view and identify challenges related to ISPM13 
implementation and provide an overall b aseline analysis report to the SBDS. 
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