WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1169 
6 July 2012 
 (12-3617) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
IPPC IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND SUPPORT SYSTEM (IRSS) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures – 10-11 July 2012 
Agenda Item 11 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 5 July  2012, is circulated at the request of the 
International Plant Protection Convention secretariat (IPPC). 
 
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1. This report provides an update on the activ ities of the International Plant Protection 
Convention’s (IPPC) Implementation Review an d Support System (IRSS), which covers the 
monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of International Standards of Phytosanitary 
Measures (ISPMs) and the IPPC.  The IRSS concept emanated from an IPPC Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) proposal to the Subs idiary Body on Dispute Settlement (SBDS) for 
the establishment of a possible IPPC compliance m echanism, in 2007.  This concept was rejected 
because there was a belief that a compliance (enforce ment) mechanism was not specified in the IPPC 
and was contrary to the general philosophy of the CPM and FAO.  However, the concept was 
subsequently redefined by the SBDS and a modifi ed program for the development of an IRSS was 
adopted by CPM in 2008, noting the importance of this programme in the implementation of both the 
IPPC and the implementation of ISPMs. 
2. The first year of the three-year cycle has been completed.  Fundi ng for the three-year cycle of 
the IRSS was made possible by a total investment of EUR 1.2 million from the European Union.  
3. The primary objective of the IRSS is to facilitate  and promote the implementation of the IPPC 
and ISPMs.  The advantages of the system include  the ability to monitor, encourage and support the 
harmonised implementation of the IPPC and its ISPM s and to act as a means to identify and address 
emerging and potential implementation problems before they become disputes.  The IRSS utilizes an 
assistance-based, non-confrontational approach.  
4. The IRSS is a cross-cutting activity in the I PPC secretariat and involves close collaboration 
between the three principal IPPC secretariat units - Standard Se tting, Capacity Development and 
Information Exchange - as well as with the prin cipal governance structures of the IPPC - the CPM 
Bureau, Standard Setting, Dispute Settlement and Ca pacity Development.  A Triennial Review Group 
has been established comprising of members from the above structures and the IPPC secretariat. G/SPS/GEN/1169 
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  5. A summary of the major actions completed by the IRSS is included below: 
Major Actions  
IRSS Implementation Support - Achievements 
Activity Outcome 
IRSS Webpage  on the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) which includes the 
following features 
  Country Profiles Area 
  Helpdesk and Tools including a discussion  area, FAQs and access to useful databases 
  IRSS activities area which includes posting of IRSS surveys and documents 
repository Completed 
March 2012 
IRSS Implementation Review - Achievements 
Activity Outcome 
General IPPC Questionnaire  on the Implementation of the Convention and ISPMs – 
Draft survey on Survey Monk ey (online survey tool) a nd release to Contracting 
Parties (CPs) Completed 
April 2012 
ISPM 6 Questionnaire  prepared, released, results an alyzed and communicated to the 
Steward for review of the standard Completed 
March 2012  
ISPM 4 Mini-survey  prepared, released, results anal yzed and communicated to the 
Standards Committee (SC) Completed 
March 2012 
ISPMS 8 Mini- survey  prepared, released, results an alyzed and communicated to the 
Standards Committee (SC) Completed 
March 2012 
IRSS Study: Implementation Challeng es and Best Practices of ISPM 6 –  Results 
of ISPM 6 Questionnaire above were analyz ed and consolidated with the outcomes of 
a global series of workshops held in five FAO regions.  Workshops included: 
  Discussion on pest surveillance baseline information gathered from questionnaire on 
ISPM 6 mentioned above 
  Collection of examples of best practices from a regional perspective 
  Collection of information and examples on existing tools used in the regions to aid 
implementation of ISPM 6  
  Recommendations to improve ISPM 6 as well as ISPM 4 and ISPM 8 Completed 
February 2012 
IRSS Study: Internet Trade of Plants  – Study provides Contracting Parties with a 
synopsis of the type of trade of plants and plant products being channelled through the 
internet. Conducted by the IPPC Secretariat with peer-review supp ort provided by the 
UK. Found here:  https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1111059&L=0#irssactivities  Completed 
March 2012 
IRSS Study: Aquatic Plants  – Conducted with the objective to provide technical 
information that can be used as a referen ce by the IPPC on how it should address the 
issue of aquatic plants, in relation to the established mandate of the IPPC, and 
includes recommendations on how to address the issue. Found here:   
https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1111059&L=0#irssactivities  Completed 
March 2012 
  G/SPS/GEN/1169 
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  IRSS Approved Work Programme Activities April 2012-March 2013 (as of May 2012) 
 
6. During the March 2012 meeting of the Subsidia ry Body on Dispute Settlement (SBDS), the 
SBDS requested IRSS support for an initiative it was conducting in reviewing its  role and functions.  
The SBDS initiative is being conducted in response to issues raised at CPM6. In this regard, the 
SBDS needed more information to understand NPPO processes to address issues on implementation 
of ISPM 13, dispute settlement and analysis of the implementation of non-compliance and emergency 
actions of NPPOs, since these are the logical precursors to any dispute actions by contracting parties.  The Bureau agreed that the IRSS would formally re view and identify challenges related to ISPM 13 
implementation and provide an overall baseline analys is report to the IPPC SBDS by July 2012.  
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