G/SPS/GEN/1246  
 
7 June 2013  
(13-2954)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
IPPC CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 
MEETING OF 27-28 JUNE 2013 
Agenda Item 9(c) – Information from Observers 
The following communication, received on 3 June 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat (IPPC). 
 
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  1  IPPC CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (CDC) 
1.1.  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 Objective of developing the National 
Phytosanitary Capacity of its members. 
1.2.  After the approved Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure of the committee were 
adopted, in July 2012, the IPPC Secretariat issued an open call for candidates to be considered for 
membership of the 7-person CDC. The Bureau se lected one member from each of the seven FAO 
regions based on the criteria for technical expertise and qualifications at its October 2012 meeting. The first meeting of the CDC was held from 3-7 December 2012 in Rome, Italy. 
1.3.  The second meeting of the CDC took pl ace 27-31 May 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All 
regions (with the exception of North America) were represented, as well as two observers from the 
IPPC CPM Bureau and the Standards an d Trade Development Facility (STDF). 
1.4.  During the second meeting the CDC reviewed and revised its operational plan to focus on 
sub-activities that would be implemented by the CDC and capacity development area of the 
Secretariat, and considered organizing future m eeting agendas according to the operational plan. 
The CDC agreed to continue to present simple summaries of its work plan to the CPM while 
maintaining a more detailed and dynamic version for use by the CDC and Secretariat. Under its 
role of Steering Committee to the STDF funded projects, many strategic decisions were taken by the CDC members to progress in their working plans. 
1.5.  The third meeting of the CDC is planned for 25-29 November 2013 in Italy. 
2  TECHNICAL RESOURCES AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
2.1.  The phytosanitary technical resources web page ( http://www.phytosanitary.info ) has been 
migrated to a new IT platform. The page 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 RPPOs to review and add information from their regions to the Global Capacity Development Projects 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/ ). G/SPS/GEN/1246 
 
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  2.2.  The IPPC Secretariat launched the Roster of Consultants in April 2013. This tool consolidates 
self-nominated experts with competencies releva nt to developing phytosanitary capacity. This 
includes expertise in technical areas (such as pest risk analysis, surveillance, and phytosanitary treatments) and managerial functions (such as 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/ ). A disclaimer in the Roster of 
Consultants explains that inclusion in the Roster of Consultants does not indicate any endorsement 
or support by the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention or its contracting 
parties. 
2.3.  An additional call for technical reso urces is planned to be made in June 2013. 
3  REGIONAL IPPC WORKSHOPS 
3.1.  The IPPC has supported and attended th e IPPC regional workshops to review draft 
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) since 2000, with seven workshops per year for the past five years, covering all re gions except Western Europe and North America. 
3.2.  The purpose of these workshops has been 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. 
3.3.  Since 2013, the workshops now address a br oader range of IPPC issues in addition to 
comments on draft ISPMs. This was reported to CPM-8 and was reflected in the new, more inclusive name (regional IPPC workshops) for th e workshops. These IPPC regional workshops are 
being planned in cooperation with a range of re gional partners, and some with EU funding. 
3.4.  The new standard setting process includes a longer consultation period which allows for more 
even spacing between the timing of the workshops.  The Secretariat has developed a menu of nine 
topics to address at the regional workshops, in addi tion to the draft ISPMs. Regions will be invited 
to incorporate some, all, or other issues into their workshops as appropriate to their regional 
priorities. 
3.5.  This includes enhanced responsibilities for workshop organizers, participants, and national 
contact points. This was done to ensure that participants are suitable candidates for the 
workshops, invest time into preparation for their participation, and that the contact points commit to submitting at least one comment after the workshop as a condition for receiving funding for participation in future workshops. 
 
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