. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1188 
14 September 2012 
 (12-4960) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NEED FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GLOBAL COOPERATION 
 
Communication from Pakistan 
  
 The following communication, received on 13 September 2012, is being circulated at the 
request of the Delegation of Pakistan. 
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1. Stem Rust is an old disease of wheat which has the potential to destroy large fields of wheat 
in a short span of time. Its infestation has re-emerg ed after it remained dormant for a period of fifty 
years.  The disease has been in progression during the last few years and is a potential threat for wheat 
growing countries.  Being a viral disease, the causal  organism keeps itself mutating hence resulting in 
a sudden breakdown of the newly developed resist ant cultivars against previously known species.  
Eight different strains of virus causing the disease (Ug-99) have now been identified.  This necessitates monitoring of the disease (sustained su rveillance) across the affected areas to timely 
identify the new mutant form and effectively develo p its management strategy including developing 
new resistant germplasm/varieties.  Thus, tagging of the causing (gene) as well as of resistant genes is 
a continuous practice. 
2. According to FAO estimates, Ug-99 could reduce global wheat production by 60 million 
tonnes.  A failure of this magnitude would further inflate the prices of other foods. 
3. The current spread of a highly virulent pathogen of Ug-99 is a challenge for many developing 
countries.  On the one hand this challenge has ge nerated high level of gl obal cooperation but many 
poor and developing countries are struggling to have  an effective national surveillance and research 
system.  While ICARDA, CIMMYT, FAO, the Bo rlaug Global Rust initiative (BGRI) Programme 
and several other organizations are involved in Ug-99 surveillan ce, developing Ug-99 resistant 
varieties and its multiplication and distribution of seed  to poor farmers, the role of IPPC in global 
surveillance has been minimal due to limited reso urces.  Therefore there is a need to allocate 
resources for a coordinated global surveillance and stem rust tracking system, based on developing 
strong national surveillance capacity. 
4. The spread of this pathogen in wheat grow ing areas of Africa, West Asia, Middle East, 
East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia could have  serious implications on food security.  Therefore 
resource allocation by donor countries and technical assistance for its surveillance and allied research 
activities is very important. G/SPS/GEN/1188 
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  5. Though Pakistan is already an active partner to  the BGRI programme, there still is a need to 
strengthen the national surveillance and coordina tion system with the aid of international 
stakeholders.  Pakistan reiterates its commitment to  the BGRI programme as this will not only address 
the food security issue for 180 million people of Pakist an but will also ensure future food security 
sustenance in this country.  A re gular update from IPPC on the status of Ug-99 would be useful for 
Members. 
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