G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
5 October 2020  
(20-6794) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
REPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION  CONVENTION (IPPC)  
FOR THE PERIOD OF 1 JUNE 2020 TO 1 OCTOBER 2020  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE IPPC SECRETARIAT  
The followi ng communication, received on 1st October  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat  (IPPC).1 
 
_______________  
 
 
1  INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANT HEALTH 2020  
1.1.  The IPPC secretariat  and IYPH ISC2 continue to implement the IYPH action plan with fruitful 
achievements. New dates were set for the International Plant Health Conference3 and IYPH closing 
ceremony in He lsinki, now scheduled on 28 June to 1  July 2021. Prof. Maria Lodovica Gullino is 
leading the study on the impact of climate change on plant health.  
1.2.  The IYPH website and FAO and IPPC social media channels are being filled with plant health -
related contents. Among them, an IYPH activity book4 (now available in nine languages), an IYPH 
brochure, four videos for stakeholders, a video animation5, an art and draw ing competition6 for 
children, a photo contest7, and a new social media campaign: "A day in the life of a plant health 
professional ".8 Nineteen countries have issued IYPH commemorative stamps and three countries 
have each minted an IYPH commemorative coin.  
1.3.  The IPPC secretariat  has issued four monthly IYPH newsletters since June 2020. Over 4 00 IYPH-
related events, particularly webinars are being recorded to take place worldwide. IYPH was 
highlighted at seven  IPPC regional workshops, two FAO Regional Conferences, four online training 
sessions on TR4, the Virtual World Seed Congress9, and many other national and regional events. 
Various IYPH gadgets and materials are being produced , e.g. 2020 calendars by Croatia, IPPC 
secretariat , EPPO, NAPPO and Greece.  
1.4.  The proposal for an International Day of Plant Health (IDPH), championed by Zambia and 
promoted by the CPM, the CPM Bureau and the IYPH International Steering Committee as a key 
IYPH legacy has been submitted to the FAO Committee on Agriculture and as of today it is likely to 
be submitted to the FAO Council for further review.  
 
1 The original document was prepared for the March 2020 SPS Committee meeting , but as this SPS 
meeting was cancelled, this report was not released. This report has been updated to include all activities from 
November 2019 to June 2020.  
2 IYPH ISC: https://www.ippc.int/en/ph/iyphisc/ . 
3 International Plant Health Conference: http://www.fao.org/plant -health -2020/events/events -
detail/en/c/1250609/ . 
4 IYPH activity bo ok: http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca9327en . 
5 Video animation: https://youtu.be/ioAl18nMxpI . 
6 Art and drawing competition: http://www.fao.org/plant -health -2020/art -competition/enter -the-
contest/en/ . 
7 Photo contest: http://www.fao.org/plant -health -2020/photo -contest/enter -the-contest/en/ . 
8 A day in the life of a plant health professional: 
https: //www.facebook.com/ippcheadlines/videos/289673568908198 . 
9 Virtual World Seed Congress: https://govirtual.worldseed.org/ . G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
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  2  THE COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES, BUREAU AND SUBSIDIARY BODIES 
AND GROUPS  
2.1  Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM)  
2.1.  The fifteenth session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM -15), including its 
Ministeri al Segment, has been postponed to 15 -19 March 2021. The modalities of the meeting will 
be agreed in cooperation with the CPM Bureau, depending on the evolution of the COVID -19 
pandemic and will be communicated at a later stage.  
2.2.  Two virtual meetings were or ganized for IPPC contracting parties in different time zones to 
exchange information on ongoing activities by the IPPC secretariat  and IPPC governing and 
subsidiary bodies. The briefing was attended by over 160 participants from more than 75 NPPOs, 
ten RPPOs, and the IPPC secretariat . 
2.2  CPM Bureau  
2.3.  The CPM Bureau held eight virtual meetings since April 2020 to advance the IPPC work plan 
throughout the pandemic and discussed the importance of the IPPC community preparedness to 
adapt to the evolving situation.  
2.4.  The CPM Bureau discussed important procedural matters, such as dates for CPM -15 in 2021 
and dates of Financial Committee (FC) and the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) in October 2020, and 
made an initial review of the draft work plan and budget of the IPPC se cretariat  for 2022. The  CPM 
Bureau endorsed 12 May as the proposed date for the establishment of an International Day of Plant 
Health, and discussed the IPPC secretariat' s positioning in the new FAO structure.  
2.5.  The CPM Bureau provided guidance on standard s etting, namely advancing work on the issue 
of authorisation of entities to perform phytosanitary actions, the re -organization of standards related 
to pest risk analysis (PRA), and approved the draft ISPM on commodity standards and the draft 
specification f or the Technical Panel on Commodity Standards for consultation.  
2.6.  The CPM Bureau also authorized the IPPC secretariat  to proceed with the following two 
Implementation and Capacity Development (ICD)  topics as a high priority pending CPM official 
change of pri ority: Surveillance and e -Commerce as priority 1, and provided guidance on the 
approach in implementing the IPPC development agenda, on the draft IPPC partnership strategy, 
and on the issue of one health approach and plant health.  
2.7.  The CPM Bureau agreed to extend the mandate of the Sea Container Task Force until the end 
of 2021 and agreed to the establishment and TORs of a Focus Group on Strengthening Pest Outbreak 
Alert and Response Systems.  
2.3  Strategic Planning Group (SPG)  
2.8.  The first ever Strategic Planning G roup (SPG) virtual meeting is scheduled on 8 -9 October 2020 
to advance strategic discussions on eight IPPC development agendas foreseen by the IPPC Strategic 
Framework 2020 -2030, and present new IPPC communication and partnership strategies.  
2.4  Standards Comm ittee  
2.9.  The Standards Committee (SC) approved the following for the 2020 consultation:  
2.10.   The 2020 consultation period opened on 1 July 2020 for 20 drafts:  
• three  draft specifications (first consultation) – closed 31 August 2020 ; 
• four draft ISPMs (first consultation) – closed 30 September 2020 ; 
• 12 draft phytosanitary treatments (PTs) – closed 30 September 2020 ; 
o five for first consultation ; 
o seven  for second consultation ; 
• one CPM recommendation (second consultation) – closed 30 September 2020 . G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
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  2.11.   The compiled comments for the three draft specifications are available on the IPP on the draft 
Specifications page10. 
2.12.   Draft ISPMs and the draft CPM Recommendation are still available for commenting via the 
online commenting system (OCS)11. For more information on the consultati on periods, visit the draft 
ISPM consultation page12, or the draft CPM Recommendations page13 on the IPP.  
2.13.   The SC held two virtual meetings.  
2.14.   The SC held its first informal virtual meeting on 14 July 2020 to be briefed on general updates 
from the IPPC secretariat , CPM Bureau decisions and to  discuss the plan for the next steps in relation 
to the Commodity Standards and the reorganization of PRA standards. The SC also discussed the 
topic on authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions and the tentative webinar on this 
theme.  
2.15.   The SC made recommendations on the stewards and assistants nominations for the Technical 
Panel on Commodity Standards (TPCS) and the draft ISPM on Commodity -based standards for 
phytosanitary measures. The SC noted that the stewards would address country commen ts on the 
overarching concept standard submitted for the first round of consultations in 2020, and additional 
SC members could steward the development of standard for individual commodities once they are 
in the work programme.  
2.16.   The 35th SC meeting was held on 23 September 2020. The agenda14 is available on the IPP. 
The meeting report will be available soon.  
2.17.   Reports of the SC meetings are posted on the IPP15. 
2.18.   Technical Panels work under the oversight of the SC, updates on the following are provided:  
• The Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP) met on 10 September to welcome new 
members and to discuss its work programme. There are 19 draft diagnostic protocols (DPs) 
under various stages of development. The TPDP asked the Secretariat to open a call fo r 
authors for the remaining DPs that were added to the work programme and recommended 
to the SC that the of Revision of DP 5 ( Phyllosticta citricarpa  (McAlpine)) Aa, (2019 -011) be 
"under development " as new information is being provided. The meeting report16 will be 
available in due course and a related news item17 is posted on the IPP.  
• The Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments (TPPT) met virtually on 2 July 2020 and 
reviewed their work programme. They agreed to start the revisions of ISPM 18 ( Guideli nes 
for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure ) throughout a series of virtual 
meetings. They also had further discussions and finally approved the responses to 
consultation comments on the Irradiation treatment for Zeugodacus tau  (2017 -025) to be 
presented to the SC.  
• The Technical Panel for the Glossary (TPG) is considering organizing virtual meetings to 
review its work programme. As it was proposed by TPG and agreed by SC to achieve the 
best quality of translation of ink amendments, the TPG members have translated ink  
amendments to "commodity class " that were reviewed and approved by the SC in May 2019. 
This ink amendment will be presented according to the agreed processes.  
 
10 Draft Specifications: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/standards -setting/member -consultation -
draft-specifications -ispms/ . 
11 Online commenting system (OCS): https://ocs -new.ippc.int/ . 
12 Draft ISPM consultation page: https://www.ippc.int/core -activities/standards -setting/member -
consultation -draft-ispms/ . 
13 Draft CPM Reco mmendations page: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/governance/cpm/current -
consultations -for-cpm-recommendations/ . 
14 SC 2020 -09 agenda: https://www.ippc.int/events/event/871 . 
15 SC meeting reports: https://www.ippc.int/en/co re-activities/standards -setting/standards -committee/ . 
16 TPDP meeting reports: https://www.ippc.int/core -activities/standards -setting/expert -drafting -
groups/technical -panels/technical -panel -diagnostic -protocols/ . 
17 TPDP News item 2020 -09: https://www.ippc.int/en/news/making -progress -in-plant-pests -diagnostics -
the-ippc-technical -panel -on-diagnostic -protocols -meets -to-advance -its-work-in-pandemic -times/ . G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
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  2.5  Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC)  
2.19.   The IC have been meeting virtually since June 2020:  
• VM03 ( three  sessions: 24 June, 1 and 15 July): List of Implementation and Capacity 
Development Topics ; 
• VM04: 9 July: Review of specific Drafts of Implementation Plans for guides and training 
materials ; 
• VM05: 22 July: Update on STDF project: Beyo nd Compliance ; 
• VM06: 30 September: Enhancing communications between IFU and IC/IC leads.  
2.20.   Reports from these meetings are posted on the IPP18. 
2.21.   The IC oversees Implementation and Capacity Development (ICD) activities of the IPPC 
Community. In addition to the  IC meetings, the IC oversees two IC Sub -groups: Sea Container Task 
Force (SCTF) and Implementation Review and Support System (IRSS) as well as several teams. In 
addition, it oversees the development of Guides and Training, ICD web resources, phytosanitary  
projects and the conduct of Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluations (PCE).  
2.6  Guides and Training materials  
2.22.   The following Guides and Training materials are currently under development:  
• e-Commerce guide for plants, plant products and other regulated articles (201 7-039): 
The IC approved the Draft Outline for consultation in 2020. The compiled comments19 and 
the final Outline20 for the guide are av ailable on the IPP. A call for experts will be issued in 
the coming weeks ; 
• Export certification, e -Learning materials (2020 -003): Experts have met to begin 
development ; 
• Guide to support the implementation of ISPM 15  (2012 -015, 2017 -043 and 2018 -012): 
Exper ts have been selected and will soon meet ; 
• Pest risk analysis, e -Learning materials (2020 -002): Experts have met to begin 
development ; 
• Pest Status Guide (2017 -048): The guide has been drafted, but publication is pending 
adoption of the revision of ISPM 8 De termination of pest status in an area (2009 -005); 
• Plant Pest Surveillance Guide (2017 -049) revision : Experts are reviewing the guide 
(originally published in 2016) to ensure it is in line with ISPM 6 ( Surveillance ), which was 
adopted in 2018.  
2.7  Web-based information for Implementation and Capacity Development  
2.23.   A Phytosanitary Systems landing page21 has been developed in collaboration with the IC. 
The landing page is composed of several component pages. Each component page brings together 
ISPMs, C PM Recommendations, Guides and training materials and contributed resources on a given 
subject. It is hoped that these webpages will help NPPO staff and other stakeholders find all relevant 
information to help them implement ISPMs.  
2.24.   SPS members are encourag ed to visit these webpages and provide comments to support 
continual improvements to these pages ( ippc@fao.org ). 
 
18 IC meeting reports: http://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/capacity -
development -committee/ . 
19 Compiled comments: https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/88597/ . 
20 Outline: https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/88773/ . 
21 Phytosanitary System landing page i s available at: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -
development/phytosanitary -system/ . G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
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  2.8  Projects  
2.25.   While the IPPC secretariat  manages several projects22, concrete steps were taken for the 
implementation of the FAO Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA) Trade 
Facilitation project .23 Working Groups were established and met for their first virtual meeting, aiming 
respectively at developing e -learning materials on Pest Risk Analysis and on Phytosanitary Export 
Certification. These e -learning modules and courses will be available to all and are being developed 
in collaboration with the Comité de Liaison Europe -Afrique -Caraïbe et Pacifique (COLEACP).  
2.9  Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation  
2.26.   Although many activities have been put on hold due to COVID -19, there are increasing 
attempts to conduct Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluations (PCEs) virtually. This is particularly true for 
the PCEs being conducted virtually  in four countries in the Caribbean (Dominica, Santa Lucia, The 
Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago). The ongoing PCEs in Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone should soon 
proceed virtually as well. A PCE will also be conducted in Belarus within the framework of an FAO 
project. 
2.27.   The Implementation and Capacity Development PCE Team met virtually to consider how to 
progress the work related to the PCE, in particular on how to exchange experiences on implementing 
PCEs virtually and how to ensure visibility of PCE activities. Fur thermore, the evaluation of the STDF 
project "STDF/PG/401 Developing a network of PCE facilitators " which trained PCE facilitators just 
started and should be finalized by the end of 2020.  
2.10  Design thinking  
2.28.   The IPPC secretariat  is facing several challenges fo r the delivery of its activities resulting from 
travel restrictions due to the global pandemic, limited team resources within the IPPC secretariat , 
and low awareness of guides and training materials developed by the IPPC secretariat . A consulting 
firm was engaged to carry out a pilot project using the "design thinking approach " in order to identify 
how to leverage digital methods to efficiently deliver IPPC secretariat  implementation and capacity 
development activities at global, regional and national level s. This study was structured in three 
steps: 1) setting the scope ; 2) understanding the user ; and 3)  defining the challenges and setting 
priorities.  
2.29.   Interviews were conducted with five staff members in Madagascar and in Kenya (i.e. the Head 
of the NPPO, th e legislation officer, the surveillance officer, the diagnostic officer and the field 
operations officer, in each country). These individual interviews aimed at getting the users feedback 
on their experience with the IPPC secretariat  implementation and cap acity development tools and 
services. The analysis of these interviews is being used to identify:  
• key learnings on the NPPO organization, access to IT and internet and the various levels of 
awareness about the IPPC mission and the IPPC secretariat' s tools and services ; 
• three "personas " or fictitious, stereotyped characters were identified to help understand the 
perspectives of different types of users of the IPPC secretariat' s tools and services ; 
• a training journey representing the different opportunities f or NPPO interactions with the 
IPPC secretariat , which identifies the various touch points between the IPPC secretariat  and 
the different personas.  
2.30.   Several workshops were held using the facilitation tool "Klaxoon " to brainstorm and identify 
detailed steps in the users ' journey. These workshops focused on one of the main challenges, namely 
"how to improve communication between the IPPC secretariat  and NPPOs and provide easy access 
to all IPPC materials ". Besides being an opportunity to train the IPPC secretariat  staff on the design 
thinking methodology, this exercise provided useful insights on how to improve communication, 
accessibility and use of IPPC secretariat  materials and resources.  
 
22 IPPC Secretariat manages several projects: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -
development/projects -on-implementation -and-capacity -development/ . 
23 FAO Common Market for  Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA) Trade Facilitation project: 
https://www.ippc.int/en/ core-activities/capacity -development/projects -on-implementation -and-capacity -
development/comesa -trade-facilitation -programme/ . G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
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  2.11  Fall Armyworm (FAW) and red palm weevil  
2.31.   The FAO/IPPC Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Global Action for FAW control on 
"Quarantine and Phytosanitary in Relation to Trade " have had three virtual meetings since it w as 
established in July 2020. This group is embedded in the overall "FAW Global Action " structure to 
ensure efficient networks are established at the national, regional and global levels to control and 
prevent FAW. It will also provide vital communication a nd awareness between all relevant 
government, industry, donor and scientific stakeholders. The Terms of Re ference24 of this group 
have been prepared, a briefing paper to detail the priorities and outputs of the TWG and guidelines 
for the prevention of FAW are being drafted and should be finalized by the end of 2020.  
2.32.   The IPPC secretariat  has developed a webpage25 on FAW, an overview of the activities of the 
FAO/IPPC TWG group and minutes of the meetings are already available.  
2.33.   Regarding activities on red palm weevil, a FAO project in the Near East and North Africa region 
will include a co mponent on the control and prevention of this pest.  
2.12  Implementation Review and Support System (IRSS)  
2.34.   The IRSS is under the oversight of the IC with input from the SC. The IRSS was established 
to review the implementation of the IPPC, its ISPMs and CPM recom mendations and to provide 
support to strengthen areas identified as lacking or needing further guidance. The main funding for 
this work has come from the EU under three project cycles. Currently we are in the third cycle (2018 -
2020) which ends in December 2020, however due to COVID -19, considerations are being given to 
extending this project.  
2.35.   The IC Sub -group works in accordance to the Terms of Reference26 (TOR) approved by the  IC. 
A procedure for submission27 of Topic Proposals allows new topics or sugges tions for changes in 
priority to be submitted by the Bureau, RPPOs, IC, SC and the IPPC secretariat . A list of IC approved 
IRSS topics for studies and surveys is posted on the IPP.  
2.13  IPPC Regional Workshops  
2.36.   Seven IPPC Regional Workshops (RW) have been delive red virtually in 2020. Dates, agendas, 
schedules, documents and presentations are all posted on the IPP.28 Reports are also posted on the 
IPP, as they are finalized.  
2.14  Monitoring and Evaluation  
2.37.   The Secretariat continues to work with Wageningen Centre for Dev elopment Innovation 
(WCDI) (within the legal entity Stichting Wageningen Research (Stichting WR), part of Wageningen 
University) under a letter of agreement. A literature review of M&E frameworks and implementation 
within the SPS areas has been published.29 A Call30 for case studies on good practices for monitoring 
and evaluation of national phytosanitary systems was launched, however the response has been 
very low. SPS members are encouraged to consider responding to this call in order to help the IPPC 
secretariat  gather examples of good practices that may be shared with the IPPC Community.  
 
24 Terms of Reference: 
https://www.ippc.int/static/media/files/publication/en/2020/09/ToRs_Quarantine_and_Phytosanitary_in_Relati
on_to_Trade2020 -08-18_2.pdf . 
25 FAO Global Action for Fall Armyworm (FAW) Control: Preventing FAW introducti on into new areas 
https://www.ippc.int/en/the -global -action -for-fall-armyworm -control/#a . 
26 Terms of Reference: https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/86154/ . 
27 Procedure for submission of Topic Proposals https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/88059/ . 
28 IPPC Regional Workshops: https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capacity -development/regional -
ippc-workshops/2020 -ippc-regional -workshop/ . 
29 Evidence on  effects of plant pests on IPPC strategic objectives and monitoring and evaluation 
mechanisms by the SPS community: Report based on literature review and interviews with SPS organisations: 
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/evidence -on-effects -of-plant-pests -on-ippc-strategic -objectives -a. 
30 Call for Call for case studies on good practices for M&E: https://www.ippc.int/en/calls/call -for-case-
studies -on-good-practices -for-monitoring -and-evaluation -of-national -phytosanitary -systems/ . G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
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  2.38.   The Secretariat would like to set up Monitoring and Evaluation for the IPPC Community, in 
particular to help contracting parties to monitor the implementation of the IPP C Strategic Framework 
(2020 -2030) development agenda items, but is waiting for guidance from the CPM Bureau and 
Strategic Planning Group.  
2.15  Strengthening Pest Outbreak Alert and Response Systems  
2.39.   In July 2020, the Bureau discussed this topic and agreed to es tablish a CPM Focus Group, 
which will meet virtually, hopefully by the end of 2020. The Bureau also agreed the IPPC secretariat  
should issue a call for experts to participate in the Focus Group on Strengthening Pest Outbreak 
Alert and Response Systems. The  Bureau revised and agreed to a Terms of Reference of this Focus 
Group, which will shortly be available on the dedicated programme IPP Webpage31. A call for experts 
for this Focus Group was issued in September.  
2.16  National Reporting Obligations  
2.40.   IPPC secretari at provides regular assistance to IPPC contact points and their IPP editors 
throughout the year to facilitate reporting through the IPP. The Pest reports bulletin32 is being 
maintained and updated. The IST continues to collaborate with the FAO Intelligence and Coordination 
Unit of the Food Chain Crisis Management Framework (FCC -ICU) to streamline pest reports.  
3  PROMOTING TRADE FACILITATION  
3.1  Authorization of Entities  
3.1.  The IPPC secret ariat will take part in the SPS thematic session on Voluntary Third -Party 
Assurance as part of National SPS Control Systems, which will be held on Tuesday, 3 November 
2020. The IPPC Community refers to this concept as authorization of entities to perform 
phytosanitary actions.  
3.2.  Under the IRSS, a study on the use of Authorized Entities to Perform Phytosanitary Actions is 
being carried out to give us a snapshot of the current use. A draft of this study will be available in 
early October 2020 and once published  an announcement33 on the IPP will be issued.  
3.3.  In addition, a webinar will take place on 20 October 2020 on "Enhancing the understanding of 
the concept on authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions ". This webinar is replacing 
the previously planned CPM side session and aims to provide a forum to present the concept of 
authorization, present case studies and demonstrate successes and challenges identified while 
authorizing entities. It will provide an opportunity for discussing conc erns and positions. The webinar 
will have interpretation into English -Russian. A small Standards Committee (SC) working group that 
developed the paper on this topic for the CPM is being consulted on the agenda and the operations 
for this webinar and once t he arrangements are finalized an announcement34 on the IPP will be 
issued.  
3.2  e-Commerce  
3.4.  The IPPC e -Commerce programme, which has been identified as a developmental agenda in 
the IPPC Strategic Framework for 2020 -2030, is under the oversight of the Implementa tion and 
Capacity Development Committee (IC) with input from the Standards Committee (SC). The key 
outputs of the IPPC secretariat' s work plan for the e -Commerce programme include: establishing an 
informal network of e -Commerce experts, strengthening colla boration between the IPPC secretariat  
and other key international organizations, gathering relevant technical resources and making these 
resources available to the IPPC community and developing a new IPPC Guide on e -Commerce ( see 
update under Guides and tr aining materials ). 
 
31 Strengthening Pest Outbreak Alert and Response Systems IPP Webpage 
https://www.ippc.int/en/core -activities/capaci ty-development/programmes/strenghtening -pest-outbreak -alert-
and-response -systems/ . 
32 Pest reports bulletin: https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/reportingsystem -summary/all/ . 
33 IPP Announcement webpage: https://www.ippc.int/en/news/category/announcements/ . 
34 IPP Announcement webpage: https://www.i ppc.int/en/news/category/announcements/ . G/SPS/GEN/1827  
 
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  3.5.  The secretariats of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), 
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), WTO -STDF, Codex and OIE have all nominated 
representatives to participate in the IPPC e -Commerce network al ong with experts from a number 
of NPPOs and RPPOs and some industry stakeholders. The network is intended to enhance 
collaboration among the participants, facilitate the exchange of information about e -Commerce 
initiatives and issues, and identify opportun ities for addressing the phytosanitary risks associated 
with cross -border e -Commerce. Currently the network is discussing various national responses to 
the packets of unsolicited and unauthorized seeds that were recently mailed to recipients in many 
countr ies of the world.  
3.3  ePhyto  
3.6.  Since June 2020, the IPPC ePhyto Solution continues to grow – 46 countries are now 
exchanging phytosanitary certificates via the IPPC ePhyto Solution. A few more countries have gone 
live, including Guatemala, Colombia and Uganda. The first training in French was conducted for 
Tunisia and subsequent training is being planned for Nigeria. New countries are also being engaged 
through collaboration with the World Economic Forum 's Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation 
including Madagas car, and the Alliance is also setting up a training for field staff on ePhyto in order 
to help increase awareness in other countries where the Alliance operates. The  World Bank is also 
becoming more active and is investigating the implementation of ePhyto in connection with efforts 
to establish a single window in Zambia. The IPPC was pleased to participate in a successful STDF -
sponsored webinar on ePhyto on 23 September. Nearly 250 attendees from around the world actively 
participated in the webinar.  
3.7.  Next s teps for the IPPC ePhyto Solution include system enhancements, additional messaging 
for exchanging and continued outreach to other interested organizations to discuss possible 
collaboration to transform the IPPC ePhyto Solution into an "SPS Digital Solutio n". The IPPC is also 
very interested in collaborating with colleagues in UNCTAD 's Asycuda effort to establish a sound 
relationship which will enhance the single windows concept through a relationship between ePhyto 
and Asycuda.  
3.8.  More information can be foun d on the ePhyto webpage35 on the IPP.  
3.4  Sea Containers Task Force  
3.9.  The CPM Bureau agreed to extend the SCTF for one additional year until the end of 2021 to 
allow the SCTF to complete planned activities.  
4  STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY  
4.1  IPPC Communica tions and Advocacy  
4.1.  Since June 2020, the IPPC secretariat  has coordinated and posted 36 IPP headline news items, 
and produced two videos on IYPH, all translated into six FAO languages as well as social media work 
especially in relation to the IYPH.  
4.2.  The IPPC secretariat  would like to take this opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to the 
WTO SPS Secretariat for the strong support and close cooperation.  
__________  
 
35 ePhyto webpage: https://www.ephytoexchange.org/landing/ .