WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/573 
22 June 2005 
 (05-2656) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
DECISIONS FROM THE SEVENTH INTERIM COMMISSION 
ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Communication from the International Plant Protection Convention Secretariat (IPPC
) 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 16 June 2005,  is being circulated at the request of the 
IPPC. 
_______________ 
  
1. The 7
th session of the Interim Commission on Phyt osanitary Measures (ICPM-7) took place in 
Rome, 4-7 April 2005, with 231 delegates from 117 Members, and 26 participants from 18 Observer 
Organizations.  The following are decisions from ICPM -7 that may be of interest to WTO Members. 
I. THE DEVELOPMENT, ADOPTION AND MONITORING OF THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY 
MEASURES (ISPMS) (STANDARD SETTING) 
A. PLANT HEALTH RISK ANALYSIS WORKSHOP  
2. An international workshop on Pest Risk Analys is (PRA) is being planned for October 2005 in 
Niagara Falls (Canada) to address issues and find so lutions to problems faced by people involved in 
PRA around the world.  The workshop will provide an opportunity to:  
• explore methods and procedures for applying the IPPC's PRA standards in a harmonized 
manner; 
• build international PRA expertise and enhance communication; 
• present experiences on how to use PRA as a decision making tool; 
• share tools for completing PRAs; 
• continue to strengthen collaboration internati onally through the International Plant Health 
Risk Analysis Network. 
  
B.  PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF ISPM  NO.15 METHYL BROMIDE TREATMENT SCHEDULE  
3. An information document was presented to the ICPM outlining a proposal to modify the 
methyl bromide treatment schedul e in Annex I of ISPM No. 15 ( Guidelines for regulating wood 
packaging material in international trade ).  Research had been done on the subject and it had been 
found that the current treatment schedule was inadeq uate.  The new schedule had been developed with 
scientific data provided by the International Fo restry Quarantine Research Group (IFQRG) and had 
been recommended by the Technical Panel on Forest  Quarantine.  [Note:  The meeting of the 
Standards Committee that followed th e ICPM agreed that the document should be sent to NPPOs for 
country consultation under the fast track procedure.] G/SPS/GEN/573 
Page 2  
 
 C. E
LECTRONIC CERTIFICATION  
4. There was general support to develop work on electronic certification as a high priority.  Now 
that additional information from the United Nati ons Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic 
Business (UN/CEFACT) had been made available,  it was clear that the work would be most 
appropriately developed outside the nor mal programme of standard setting.  
5. The ICPM:  
1.  Agreed  to establish a working group to formulate policy recommendations regarding electronic 
certification to be presented to the Informal Working Group on Strategic Planning and Technical 
Assistance (SPTA) for submission to ICPM-8. 
D. ADOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
6. The Secretariat introduced five documents for c onsideration by the ICPM, which consisted of 
three new standards ( Requirements for the establishment of area s of low pest prevalence, Guidelines 
for inspection, Guidelines for th e determination and recognition of  equivalence of phytosanitary 
measures ), the revision of ISPM No. 3 ( Guidelines for the export, sh ipment, import and release of 
biological control agents and other beneficial organisms ), and amendments to ISPM No. 5 ( Glossary 
of phytosanitary terms ).  
Requirements for the establishment of  areas of low pest prevalence 
 
7. This standard describes the requirements and pr ocedures for the establishment of areas of low 
pest prevalence (ALPP) for regulated pests in an area  and, to facilitate export, for pests regulated by 
an importing country only.  This includes the identifi cation, verification, maintenance and use of those 
ALPPs.  One member expressed concern over the tec hnical content of the standard and felt that 
certain issues could have been addressed more adequately.  
8. The ICPM: 
1.  Adopted  as an ISPM:  Requirements for the establishment of areas of low pest prevalence  
 
Guidelines for inspection 
 
9. This standard describes procedures for the in spection of consignments of plants, plant 
products and other regulated articles at import and e xport.  It is focused on the determination of 
compliance with phytosanitary requirements, based on visual examination, documentary checks, and 
identity and integrity checks.  
10. The ICPM: 
1.  Adopted as an ISPM: Guidelines for inspection   
 
Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary measures 
 
11. This standard describes the principles and requi rements that apply for the determination and 
recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary measures.   It also describes a procedure for equivalence 
determinations in international trade.   G/SPS/GEN/573 
 Page 3 
 
 
 12. The ICPM: 
1.  Adopted as an ISPM: Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of 
phytosanitary measures  
 Revision of ISPM No. 3 (Guidelines for the export,  shipment, import and release of biological control 
agents and other beneficial organisms)  
13. This standard provides guidelines for risk manage ment related to the export, shipment, import 
and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms.  It lists the related 
responsibilities of contracting parties to the IPPC ("contracting parties"), National Plant Protection 
Organizations (NPPOs) or other responsible authorit ies, importers and exporters (as described in the 
standard).  The standard addresses biological cont rol agents capable of self-replication (including 
parasitoids, predators, parasites, nematodes, ph ytophagous organisms, and pathogens such as fungi, 
bacteria and viruses), as well as sterile insects and other beneficial organisms (such as mycorrhizae 
and pollinators), and includes those packaged or fo rmulated as commercial products.  Provisions are 
also included for the import for research, in quarantin e facilities, of non-indigenous biological control 
agents and other beneficial organisms. 
14. The ICPM: 
1.  Adopted  as ISPM No. 3 (2005): Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of 
biological control agents and other beneficial organisms   
 
Amendments to ISPM No. 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms) 
 
15. Revised terms and definitions included:  Additional Declaration, chemical pressure 
impregnation, detention, ecosystem , emergency measure, heat treatm ent, Import Permit, phytosanitary 
action, phytosanitary procedure, systems approach (es) and treatment.  New terms and definitions 
included: habitat, pest risk assessment (for regulat ed non-quarantine pests), pest risk management (for 
regulated non-quarantine pests), and phytosanitary import requirements.  Definitions for ecoarea and quarantine (of a biological control agent) were deleted from the Glossary. 
16. The Glossary Working Group was requested to re view the terms "security (phytosanitary)" 
and "compliance procedure (for a consignment)" in light of comments provided at the ICPM. 
17. The ICPM: 
1.  Adopted the amendments to ISPM No. 5 ( Glossary of phytosanitary terms ) as presented. 
 E. R
EGIONALIZATION  
18. The WTO representative introduced a document outlining discussions on regionalization in 
the SPS Committee.  The major issues discussed at  the SPS Committee in relation to Article 6 
included: 
• procedures for the recognition of pest free areas and areas of low pest prevalence 
including the elevated costs of establishing and maintaining these; 
• the lengthy administrative procedures for bilate ral recognition of pest free areas and areas 
of low pest prevalence; 
• the international recognition of pest free areas and areas of low pest prevalence for 
specific pests. 
 G/SPS/GEN/573 
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 19. It was noted that the SPS Committee had not reached a consensus on the way forward in 
addressing issues of regionalization.  While some SPS Committee member s wished to adopt 
administrative guidelines that included timeframes, ot hers had indicated that it should be the mandate 
of relevant international standard- setting bodies to address these issues.  
20. The ICPM  
2.  Decided  that a concept standard "Guidelines for the recognition of the establishment of pest free 
areas and area of low pest prevalence" be urgen tly developed.  The ISPM would provide general 
guidance on the recognition process but would not pr ovide timelines.  The specification for the ISPM 
would be considered by the Standards Committee at its next session.  
4.  Recognized  the need for further pest specific standards for pest fr ee areas and areas of low pest 
prevalence.  5.  Decided  that a feasibility study be undertaken on th e international recognition of pest free areas, 
which would take into account le gal, technical and economical factors and assess feasibility and 
sustainability of such system.  
 F. T
OPICS AND PRIORITIES FOR STANDARDS  
21. The Secretariat introduced a paper on topics and priorities for standards and presented a list of 
draft ISPMs and their stages of development.  A fra mework for standards and procedures of the ICPM 
was also presented and it was suggested by the S ecretariat that this could be used as a tool in 
determining topics and priorities for standards.  It was noted that work had been initiated on all topics 
for standards in the current work programme and wo rk on specifications would begin for topics added 
to the work programme during ICPM.  That woul d allow more time for the development of the 
specifications.  
22. With regard to prioritization, the ICPM ag reed that topics already on the ICPM work 
programme would be given the highest priority. 
23. The ICPM introduced modifications to the futu re submissions of topics and priorities for 
standards, in order to implement a two-year pro cess.  The Secretariat noted that a phase-in period 
would be needed.  
24. The ICPM: 
1.  Endors ed the action of the Secretariat in facilitating wherever possible the completion of standards 
that were already in an advanced stage of development. 
 2.  Adopted  the topics as outlined in Appendix XIII [i.e. High priority]:  
• Guidelines for pre-inspection/ pre-clearance; 
• Guidelines for the recognition of the establishmen t of pest free areas and areas of low pest 
prevalence; 
• Import of organic fertilizers; 
• Plants for planting (including movement of pl ants for planting, post-entry quarantine for 
plants for planting, certification programmes for plants for planting); 
• PRA for plants as pests; 
• Supplement to ISPM No. 5:  Appropriate level of protection; 
• Supplement to ISPM No. 5:  Guidelines on the understanding of "not widely distributed".  G/SPS/GEN/573 
 Page 5 
 
 
 Normal priority:  
• Guidelines for regulating stored pr oducts in international trade; 
• Inspection manual; 
• Soil and growing media. 
 
On hold:  
• Review of ISPM No. 12 ( Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates ): Section 3.3 in relation to 
transit (pending completion of draft standard on c onsignments in transit), giving high priority 
to some standards, as indicated. 
 
4.  Adopted and modified the procedure regarding future submissions of topics  as follows: 
• calls for topics should be made biennially; 
• it should be made clear that a new list would be compiled every other year; 
• submissions from previous years would not be included for consideration and would need to 
be re-submitted; 
• when a situation arises in which a standard is required urgently, a standard could be inserted 
into the priority list at any session of the ICPM. 
 
5.  Invited  NPPOs, RPPOs, the SPS Committee and other organizations to submit proposed topics and 
priorities for standards to the IPPC Secretariat by 31 July 2005.   
II. INFORMATION EXCHANGE 
A. T
HE INTERNATIONAL PHYTOSANITARY PORTAL (IPP)  AND THE INFORMATION EXCHANGE 
WORK PROGRAMME  
25. The Secretariat introduced a document on the info rmation exchange work programme.  It was 
noted in particular that regarding contact points,  whilst there was an improvement of information 
available, there was still much contact point information missing or out of date.  
26. The work programme for the IPP for 2005, whic h had been reviewed and amended by the 
Focus Group, the SPTA and the IPP Support Group, w as presented. It was noted that navigation in 
French and Spanish would be available in the near  future, and it was anticipated that navigation in 
Arabic and Chinese would be available by the end of  2005.  The programme of training in the use of 
the IPP for information exchange would cont inue.  The ICPM was invited to recommend 
modifications or enhancements to the IPP. 
27. The ICPM: 
1.  Urged members to provide official contact points or to  ensure that information provided on contact 
points was checked and updated (inc luding e-mail addresses) regularly. 
 2.  Recalled the information exchange obligations of members under the IPPC.  
 
B. E
XCHANGE OF INFORMATION WITHIN THE IPPC 
28. The Secretariat introduced a document on the information exchange within the IPPC.  In 
relation to the flow charts on exchange of info rmation (document ICPM 2005/24), it was noted that 
the RPPOs should also received a copy of the invitati on to ICPM, and that it should be reflected in the 
relevant flow chart. G/SPS/GEN/573 
Page 6  
 
 29. The ICPM: 
3.  Urged members to provide official contact points or to  ensure that information provided on contact 
points was checked and updated (inc luding e-mail addresses) regularly. 
 
4.  Agreed that information relating to the organiza tion and administration of the IPPC should 
continue to be provided from the Secretariat to contact points.  
III. THE PROVISION OF DISPU TE SETTLEMENT MECHANISMS 
A. R
EPORT OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODY ON DISPUTE SETTLEMENT (SBDS) 
30. No request to utilize the dispute settlement mechanism had a risen during 2004-2005.  The 
dispute settlement manual and advocacy document woul d be finalized and printed in 2005.  Following 
a request by the SPTA, the SBDS agreed that clarif ications on ISPMs could be dealt with within the 
existing framework of the SBDS, and the dispute settlement manual would be adjusted accordingly. 
31. The ICPM: 
2.  Requested that specific guidance be developed by th e SBDS for the submission of requests for 
clarifications of ISPMs for inclusion in the dispute settlement manual. 
 
B. DOCUMENTS PRODUCED BY THE SBDS 
32. The Secretariat presented the proposed nomination form for the roster of experts for dispute 
settlement and invited members to provide s uggested improvements to the Secretariat. 
33. The ICPM: 
1.  Noted  the nomination form for the roster of experts for dispute settlement. 
 
IV. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHYTOSANITARY CAPACITY OF MEMBERS BY 
PROMOTING THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
A. REPORT ON THE PHYTOSANITARY CAPACITY EVALUATION (PCE)  TOOL  
34. The Secretariat reported on actions taken with respect to the PCE tool.  A multilingual version 
of the PCE now included English, French, Spanish and Arabic.  It was currently being reprogrammed 
to facilitate storage and retrieval of informati on so that progress could be tracked over time.  
35. It was reported that the IPPC Secretariat had signed an agreement with CAB International 
(Africa) to develop an instrument which could be  used to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
phytosanitary capacity evaluation process.  It was an ticipated that the result of this evaluation would 
be ready for submission to the 8th Session of the ICPM. 
36. The ICPM: 
2.  Acknowledged  the value of the tool in the technical assistance programme and supported its further 
development and application.  
  G/SPS/GEN/573 
 Page 7 
 
 
 B. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORK PROGRAMME  
37. The Secretariat summarized the technical assi stance activities projected for the year 2005-
2006.  It listed regional and sub-re gional workshops for phytosanitary capacity building in Asia, the 
Caribbean and the CIS countries.  Regional work shops on draft international standards were 
anticipated in several regions subject to th e availability of funding for these workshops. 
38. National and regional capacity building proj ects funded under the TCP were listed for 
implementation.  The Secretariat anticipated contin ued collaboration with the WTO to participate in 
SPS workshops, and with the World Bank to assist in project formulation and supervision of the 
phytosanitary component of agricultural strengthening programmes. 
39. The ICPM:  
1.  Noted the reports. 
 2.  Noted  the need for workshops in regions other than those listed. 
 
V. PROMOTION OF IPPC AND COOPERATION WITH RELEVANT 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
A. C
OOPERATION WITH THE CBD 
40. The Secretariat introduced a document review ing the collaboration between the IPPC and 
CBD, and which included a draft decision on "threats to biodiversity posed by alien species: actions 
within the framework of the IPPC".  It suggest ed possible further activities on the matter, building 
upon the outcome of the Workshop on Invasive A lien Species in 2003 in Braunschweig (Germany). 
41. The Commission expressed its support for the collaboration between the IPPC and the CBD, 
and welcomed the paper and its focus.  It believed that collaboration helped to prevent duplication or 
conflicting principles and frameworks where internat ional phytosanitary issues were concerned, and 
lent support to the achievement of goals of mutual  interest and importance to ICPM members.  A 
Friends of the Chair group was convened to consid er comments to the draft decision, including to 
focus more fully its text in light of the scope of  the IPPC.  The working group developed a revised 
text which was presented to plenary. 
42. The ICPM ( inter alia ): 
7.  Recommended  that contracting parties and NPPOs, as appropriate:  
(a) Enhance plant protection laws and policies, wher e needed, to include the protection of wild 
flora and biodiversity from pests of plants (inc luding plants that are invasive alien species); 
(b) Promote the IPPC and participate in broade r national strategies to address threats to 
biodiversity posed by invasive alien species, so that maximum advantage can be taken of 
existing structures and capacities under the IPPC; 
(c) Reinforce efforts to apply and utilize relevant  ISPMs and related phytosanitary measures to 
address threats to biodiversity posed by invasi ve alien species that are pests of plants 
(including plants that are invasive alien species); 
(d) Give particular attention, when carrying out pest risk analysis, to the possibility that 
introduced plants could act as invasive alien species, taking into consideration available 
information on the types of plants fo r which this has already occurred; 
(e) Enhance linkages between environmental, plan t protection and agricultural authorities and 
related ministries, in order to articulate and achieve common goals in work involving the 
protection of plants and biodiversity from, invasive alien species; G/SPS/GEN/573 
Page 8  
 
 (f) Improve communication between national CBD focal points and IPPC contact points; 
(g) Collect, where appropriate, information on the alie n invasions of pests of plants (including 
plants that are invasive alien species), and fo rward this to the CBD national focal points, to 
assist in monitoring progress towards the 2010 biodiversity targets outlined in the COP-7 
Decision VII/30; 
(h) Establish or adapt existing pest alert systems to include all pests of plants (including plants 
that are invasive alien species) that threat en the environment and biological diversity, 
including those affecting uncultiv ated/unmanaged plants, wild fl ora, habitats and ecosystems, 
and ensure that relevant agencies and officials have access to lists of plants, plant products, 
other regulated articles and trade path ways that may carry such pests; 
(i) Report to the IPPC Secretariat on actions and progress on the above recommendations. 
 
8.  Supported , within the framework of the IPPC, actions to:  
(a) Further clarify opportunities to address issues of i nvasive alien species that are pests of plants 
(including plants that are invasive alien sp ecies) within the context of the IPPC, and the 
benefits of doing so; 
(b) Address concerns relating to threats to biodivers ity and the environment from pests of plants 
(including plants that are invasive alien speci es) and their pathways in the development of 
new or revised ISPMs and related phytosanitary measures; 
(c) Include potential pathways of invasive alien speci es that are pests of plants (including plants 
that are invasive alien species) as a criterion for the selection of topics and priorities for future 
standards; 
(d)  In the context of technical assistance initia tives under the IPPC, enhance the capacity of 
developing countries to address pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) that threaten the environment and biological diversity. 
 
11.  Welcomed  the collaboration between the IPPC and the CBD in developing mechanisms to address 
the threats posed by invasive alien species, and requests the Secretariat to develop a joint work 
programme with the Secretariat of the CBD in support of these efforts.  12.  Invited  the CBD, in addressing the threats posed by inv asive alien species, to continue to take into 
account work under the IPPC for the protection of pl ants and its contribution to the conservation of 
biodiversity. 
 B. C
OLLABORATION BETWEEN OIE,  CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION AND THE IPPC 
43. The Chairperson noted that, at ICPM-6, he ha d proposed a closer cooperation between OIE, 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the IPPC .  The SPTA had discussed the strategically 
important issue and recommended a process for initia ting contacts with the two organizations and had 
proposed a three-step procedure.  
44. The ICPM: 
2.  Adjusted and adopted  the following three steps for initia ting contacts with the OIE and Codex 
Alimentarius: 
(a) ICPM Bureau initiates contacts with  the OIE and Codex Alimentarius; 
(b) Meetings as necessary between IPPC, Codex Alimentarius and OIE to identify potential 
topics and priorities and develop draft procedures for cooperation. 
(c) Adoption by ICPM of the potential topics, priorities and draft procedures.  G/SPS/GEN/573 
 Page 9 
 
 
 C. COORDINATION AMONG UNITED NATIONS BODIES ON QUARANTINE AND PRE-SHIPMENT 
USES OF METHYL BROMIDE  
45. Several members stressed the importance of c ooperation between the Montreal Protocol and 
the IPPC, as among other things this could reduce th e possibility of duplication and /or overlap in 
research into alternatives to methyl br omide (MeBr) use for quarantine purposes. 
46. Several members requested that the work in the development of alternatives to MeBr be 
accelerated.  It was stressed that it would be the responsibility of members to encourage the 
intensification of research and participate in the wo rk of the International Forest Quarantine Research 
Group (IFQRG).  The Secretariat informed the ICPM that alternatives to MeBr was already on the 
work programme and that the Technical Panel on Ph ytosanitary Treatments had allocated one day at 
the end of their next meeting to discuss the topic. 
47. Several questions were raised about the implementation of ISPM No. 15.  One member noted 
that most of these questions had already been addressed at the IPPC workshop on the practical 
application of ISPM No. 15 held in Vancouver earlie r in the year.  The Secretariat noted that the 
presentations and workbook were pos ted on the IPP (www.ippc.int) a nd that questions and answers 
were posted on the IFQRG website (www.forestry-quara ntine.org) which was also linked to the IPP. 
48. The ICPM: 
1.  Noted  the decision of the meeting of parties to the Montreal Protocol attach ed as Annex 1 of ICPM 
2005/21.   2.  Agreed that the IPPC Secretariat should cooperate with the Secretariat to the Montreal Protocol, as 
appropriate, to coordinate work on the issue. 
 3. Encouraged countries to liaise with their appropriate research organizations and stress the 
importance and urgency in developing alterna tives to MeBr for use for quarantine purposes. 
 
 
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