G/SPS/GEN/1529  
 
25 October 2016 
(16-5837) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sa nitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
UPDATE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION  
CONVENTION SECRETARI AT (IPPC)  
(AS OF 15 OCTOBER 20 16) 
The followi ng communication, received on 24 October 2016, is being circulated at the request of 
the International Plant Protection Convention secretariat  (IPPC).  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This report covers the period July - October 2016.  
1.2.  The secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has begun actively 
implementing the results of the IPPC Secretariat Enhancement Evaluation.  The secretariat has 
finished an action plan which will include restructuring of the secretariat , enhanced internal 
communication and working procedures, streamlining of reporting lines and a more open attitude 
to FAO and other partners; the secretariat  is simply awaiting the FAO DG 's final approval.  
1.3.  The IPPC secretary once again participated in a meeting of the Liaison Group of Biodiversity 
related Conventions in early September.  The agenda covered a wide variety of topics, and the 
IPPC reported on developmen ts related to activities related to the International Year of Plant 
Health proposal  (https://www.ippc.int/en/iyph/ ), as well as ePhyto efforts (to include additional 
cooperation between CITES and IPPC on similar  systems).  
1.4.  The ePhyto project has begun, with funding provided by the United States and in -kind 
support from Canada.  Deposit of resources from the STDF into the IPPC ePhyto budget are 
pending final signature from the FAO bureaucracy.  
2  STANDARD SETTING WOR K PROGRAMM E 
2.1.  Member Consultation . The following draft ISPMS were approved by the Standards Committee 
for member consultation1 (1 July -30 September 2016): The following draft ISPMs were submitted 
for consultation by the Standards Committee (SC) or Standards Co mmittee Working Group (SC -7): 
a. First consultation : 2016 Draft Amendments to ISPM 5 (Glossar y of phytosanitary 
terms ) (1994 -001),  Draft revision of ISPM 6 National surveillance systems (2009 -004), 
Draft ISPM on Requirements for the use of temperature treatme nts as a phytosanitary 
measure  (2014 -005),  Draft DP for Phytophthora ramorum  (2004 -013),  Draft DP for 
Fusarium circinatum  (2006 -021),  Draft DP for Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum  
(2013 -001). 
b. Second consultation : Draft ISPM on International movement of  Seeds (2009 -003), 
Draft ISPM on International movement of vehicles, machinery and equipment (2006 -
004), Draft ISPM on Arrangements for verification of compliance of consignments by the 
importing country in the exporting country (2005 -003). 
                                                
1 MC page on the IPP, https://www.ippc.int/core -activities/standards -setting/member -consultation -
draft-ispms . G/SPS/GEN/1529  
 
- 2 - 
 
  c. Third consultat ion: Draft ISPM on International movement of wood (2006 -029), Draft 
ISPM on International movement of growing media in association  with plants for planting 
(2005 -004). 
2.2.  Standard Setting Calendar. The standard setting c alendar is available on the IPP.2 
3  NATIO NAL REPORTING OBLIGA TIONS  
3.1.  IPPC contact points continue to update their information on the International Phytosanitary 
Portal  (IPP). Any contracting parties communicating with other IPPC contact points should visit the 
IPP frequently to ensure they have the  latest contact information.  The secretariat  continues 
working with countries to update this information as a matter of high priority.  
3.2.  The Int ernational Phytosanitary Portal  https://www.ippc.int  has been updated with ne w 
features and a new look.  Please visit the website regularly to get the latest updates, especially for 
IPPC contact points as they change frequently.  
3.3.  Usage of the National Reporting Obligations ( NRO) webpage continues to increase.  Countries 
that are repor ting IPPC obligatory information to the WTO are encouraged to provide this 
information (minimal modification is necessary) through the IPP to ensure they meet their IPPC 
reporting obligations.  
3.4.  The IPPC once again reminds SPS Committee Members that it conti nues to see evidence of a 
lack of coordination and/or communication between SPS authorities and IPPC contact points in 
countries, as well as a lack of understanding by some governments that meeting their WTO 
notification obligations does not in any way aut omatically meet their IPPC reporting obligations; 
i.e. they are two totally legally independent multilateral instruments of equal status. This remains 
a serious issue of concern.  
3.5.  Information available through the IPP has substantially increased the number of resources 
available to support standard and IPPC implementation, capacity development and the 
Implementation Review and Support System (IRSS). This information is being increased 
continually and is available through: (1) Phytosanitary Resources in Suppo rt of IPPC 
Implementation:  http://www.phytosanitary.info ; (2) IRSS: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/irss/activities/ ; (3) IPPC Projects  Database: 
http://www.phytosanitary.info/projects ; (4) eLearning: http://elearning.phytosanitary.info ; and 
(5) A summary of IPPC Publications: https://www.ippc.int/en/media -kit/. 
3.6.  Pest Reporting. The secretariat  is working to improve pest reporting in order to allow users to 
access this information in a more constructive and analytical manner. This remains one of the 
greatest chall enges to the work of the IPPC.  
3.7.  Communications. The following social media pages for the IPPC are available: 
(1) Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pag es/International -Plant-Protection -Convention -
IPPC/113230338690380 ; (2) Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ippcnews ; (3) LinkedIn: 
http://www.linke din.com/groups?gid=3175642&trk=hb_side_g ; (4) Flickr: 
http://www.flickr.com/groups/international_plant_protection_convention/ ; and (5) YouTube: 
http://www.youtube.com/IPPCnews . 
4  DISPUTE SETTLEMENT  
4.1.  The IPPC secretariat  has for a number of years been very active in dispute avoidance and this 
remains the focu s for IPPC contracting parties.  
4.2.  The IPPC is also engaged with two of th e IPPC contracting parties in the resolution of a 
dispute.  The formation of an expert panel to review the issue has been somewhat difficult as 
options are quite limited for panellists without prior involvement in this issue. As of the writing of 
this paper , the secretariat  is still unable to form an expert panel.  
                                                
2 https://www.ippc.int/en/year/calendar/ . G/SPS/GEN/1529  
 
- 3 - 
 
  5  IPPC CAPACITY DEVELO PMENT COMMITTEE (CDC ) 
5.1.  As a result of the 2014 IPPC Secretariat Enhancement Evaluation, a Focus Group on 
establishment of a new subsidiary body for implementation of the IPPC met  from 18 -22 July 2016 
at the EPPO Headquarters in Paris, France. The Focus Group was established following the decision 
by CPM 11 (2016) so as to carefully consider the purpose, scope and functions of the new 
subsidiary body and to propose governance, memb ership, and Rules of Procedure. The Focus 
Group was composed of a member from each region nominated through their Bureau member, as 
well as of one representative from the CPM Bureau, the Capacity Development Committee (CDC), 
the Standard Committee (SC), th e Regional Plant Protection Org anizations (RPPOs) and the 
IPPC secretariat . Following discussions on the results of the focus group meeting at both the 
October 2016 Bureau and Strategic Planning meetings, the Bureau decided, based on the results 
of those d iscussions, to recommend to CPM -12 (2017) the finalized Terms of Reference and Rules 
of Procedu re for the new subsidiary body.  
5.2.  The new committee will be taking on the roles of the current Capacity Development 
Committee as well as others.  Until the time of the new committee being established, the CDC will 
continue to operate.  The next meeting of the CDC will be tak ing place from 30 November to 
4 December 2015.  
6  TECHNICAL RESOURCES AND OTHER INFORMATIO N FOR TECHNICAL ASSI STANCE  
6.1.  The phytosanitary technical reso urces web page ( http:// www.phytosanitary.info ) has the 
objective to be used as an information platform for technical resources to support the 
implementation of the IPPC and its standards. The page includes vari ous categories of 
phytosanitary resources and tools (advocacy, diagnostic protocols, guides, manuals, pest 
information, photos, standard operating procedures, videos, etc.).  Members are encouraged to 
visit the page as well as propose additional contributio ns. 
6.2.  Additional new materials such as manuals that were develope d under the auspice of the 
IPPC secretariat  and with the direction of the CDC have bee n posted on the web page. 
Other  materials in development will be mad e available in the near future.  
7  REGIONA L IPPC WORKSHOPS  
7.1.  The IPPC continues to support and attend the regional IPPC workshops to review draft 
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) to the greatest extent possible based 
on the resources available.  Workshops have already taken place in the Pacific Islands, Eastern 
Europe and Central Asia, t he Caribbean and the Near East.  
7.2.  The workshops now address a broader range of IPPC -related issues in addition to discuss and 
prepare the comments on draft ISPMs. These regional IPPC workshops a re planned in cooperation 
with a range of regional partners, and some with EU funding.  In the future, the IPPC plans to make 
even greater use of these workshops as a means to facilitate enhanced communication with our 
contracting parties.  
8   IMPLEMENTATION R EVIEW AND SUPPORT SY STEM (IRSS)  
8.1.  The second three  year cycle of the IRSS began in April 2014 and is focusing on strengthening 
the support element using largely the outputs of the first cycle in particular the data gat hered 
through its many surveys.  
8.2.  The IRSS  has had notable impact resulting in stimulating the CPM to discuss the need for a 
more focused approach on implementation activities. In this regard the CPM decided to establish 
an open ended working group on Implementation which convened in Rome in Augus t 2014 and 
considered the elements for such a programme including a pilot activity on pest surveillance 
building on current IPPC and IPPC partner activities and the results of the work of the IRSS.  G/SPS/GEN/1529  
 
- 4 - 
 
  8.3.  Subsequent to this meeting, as well as discussions held in  the Strategic Planning Group and 
Bureau, CPM -10 (2014) agreed to go forward, if resources become available, with an 
implementation program me focusing on ISPM 6 which covers surveillance.  As some resources have 
been identified, this effort has been initiat ed. 
9  RESOURCE MOBILIZATIO N 
9.1.  The secretariat  would like to thank all those contracting parties and other donors who 
contributed to the 2015 budget and activities of the IPPC.  The IPPC once again encourages them 
to consider future, sustainable contributions.  Sustainable contributions will be a focus of the 
Bureau 's efforts at the upcoming CPM which is going to be held outside of Rome for the first time 
in Incheon, Republic of Korea.  These donations will help to ensure the core work programme will 
be delivered.  A full list of support is made available to CPM each year and can be found at:  
https://www.ippc.int/resource -mobilisation . 
9.2.  The sustainability of the IPPC secretariat , and hence the work programme of the IPPC, 
continues to be addressed as a high priority on  an on -going basis.  The current resource allocation 
(financial and human resources) measured against projected tasks is not sustainable, and in the 
absence of additional voluntary contributions for 2016 will be reduced.  Indeed preparations have 
been made f or a reduced standard setting effort in 2017 as a result of the limited resource 
situation. The secretariat  continues to engage in discussions with the governing body as well as 
traditional and non -traditional partners to improve the situation. In addition , the secretariat  has 
established a resource mobilization task force which is now actively engaging in a resource 
mobilization effort.  
9.3.  It cannot be stressed enough that it is essential the IPPC receive regular and predictable 
contributions to provide susta inability to the work programme.  The FAO continues to faces severe 
financial challenges and is seeking cost reduction efforts in most areas; as a result the resources 
available to the IPPC activities continue to be affected, specifically in the area of inf ormation 
technology and support for the On -line Comment System.  
9.4.  The secretariat  remains open to any discussion with members or partner organizations that 
could provide solutions to the current challenges, particula rly in the medium to long term.  
10  INTERNATIO NAL YEAR OF PLANT HE ALTH  
10.1.   FAO'S Council on Agriculture formally discussed the International Year of Plant Health 
(IYPH) during their plenary on 29 Septembe r 2016, held in Rome, Italy. Mr  Veli-Pekka Talvela, 
Director General of Ministry of Agriculture and Fo restry of Finland, presented the proposal on 
behalf of the Government of Finland providing both background and justification for the proposed 
IYPH 2020. He stated that plant health is critically important to agriculture, food security and 
ecosystems and hi ghlighted the urgent need to raise awareness at a global level. There was a full 
support from countries and regional representatives for IYPH 2020 with 17 countries actively 
expressing their strong support. COAG approved the proposal by the Government of F inland to 
establish IYPH 2020 in the UN system and endorsed the Draft Conference Resolution as proposed 
to COAG. This proposal will now go for the consideration of the 155th Session of FAO Council to be 
held in December 2016, and for the approval by the 40th Session of the FAO Conference to be held 
in June 2017.  
11  COOPERATION WITH THE  WTO STANDARD SETTING  ORGANIZATIONS  
11.1.   The IPPC secretariat  would like to once again draw attention to the following current on -
going activities with Codex and OIE: (1) Codex and th e IPPC continue explore ways of addressing 
their IT needs in a more sustainable manner and share tools a nd skills when appropriate; 
(2) Codex  and the IPPC are now collaborating fully in the operational maintenance and 
improvement of the OCS; (3) Codex, OIE  and the IPPC continue to engage in consultations on 
Standard Trade and Development Facility (STDF) activities to understand each other 's positions 
and coordinate activities and responses; (4) there is ongoing cooperation between the "three 
sisters" on SPS -related capacity development projects, if and when appropriate; (5) the secretariat  
continues to participate in coordination meetings between the "three sisters" to improve 
coordination and collaboration in SPS Committee meetings; (6) ad-hoc consultations  are G/SPS/GEN/1529  
 
- 5 - 
 
  undertaken as and when subjects arise that are of mutual interest; and (7) the secretariat  is 
committed to sustaining the deeper relationship between the "three sisters " to address future 
issues in the SPS Committee Secretariat and beyond.  
 
__________