WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/1049 
13 October 2010 
 (10-5246) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION  
CONVENTION SECRETARIAT (IPPC) 
 
Meeting of 20-21 October 2010
 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 11 Octo ber 2010, is being circulated at the request 
of the IPPC Secretariat . 
 
_______________ 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The report covers the period March to 10 October 2010. 
2. The number of contracting parties to the IPPC remains at 173. 
II. DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
3. The Committee is invited to note that the Fi fth Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary 
Measures (CPM-5) was held in Rome from 22-26 March 2010. 
4. The CPM adopted the following standards (see the Annex and available at 
https://www.ippc.int/in dex.php?id= 13399&L=0 ): 
• ISPM 33. 2010. Design and operation of post-entry quarantine stations for plants  
• ISPM 34. 2010. Pest free potato (Solanum spp.) micropropagative material and 
minitubers for international trade  
• Three phytosanitary treatments as annexes to ISPM 28. 2007. Phytosanitary 
treatments for regulated pests , listed in the Annex.  
• One Diagnostic protocol for regulated pests as an annex to ISPM 27. 2006.  DP 1: 
2010. Diagnostic protocol for Thrips palmi 
• An amendment to ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms  
5. The CPM adopted the Capacity Development strategy and approved continued work on the 
operational plan for building national phytosanitary capacity. G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  III. STANDARD-SETTING WORK PROGRAMME 
A. 2010
 MEMBER CONSULTATION PERIOD FO R THE REVIEW OF DRAFT ISPM S 
6. The Standards Committee (SC) met in April 2010 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, and 
approved the following five draft ISPMs for the me mber consultation period  21 June - 30 September 
2010: 
Member consultation through the regular process  
• Systems approaches for pest risk ma nagement of fruit flies (Tephritidae) 
• Submission of new treatments for inclusion in ISPM No.15 
• Integrated measures approach for managing p est risks associated with international 
trade of plants for planting 
Member consultation through the special process  
• Diagnostic protocol for Plum pox virus (Annex to ISPM 27)  
• Irradiation treatment for Ceratitis capitata  (Annex to ISPM 28) 
7. These draft ISPMs were reviewed in the following regions: 
Region Date 
(2010 Tentative) Venue Organized 
by Other 
Funding Source 
Africa 9-13 August  Lusaka, Zambia IAPSC PANSPSO/EU/AU 
Asia 6–10 September Busan City, Republic of 
Korea FAO Republic of Korea 
Caribbean 6-10 September  Port of Spain, Trinidad and 
Tobago USDA FAO, IICA 
CIS countries and 
Central Asia 19 -23 July  Bykovo, Moscow Region, 
Russia FAO EU Trust Fund 
Latin America 30 August–
3 September San Jose, Costa Rica IICA FAO, IICA 
Near East 5–8 July Cairo, Egypt FAO EU Trust Fund/ FAO 
Pacific 9-13 August Nadi, Fiji SPC EU Trust Fund 
 
8. For the second year, the Secretariat administered  a survey to workshop attendees to address 
the association between workshop attendance and par ticipation in the standards development process, 
results of this survey will be used to improve future regional workshops. 
9. The Secretariat continues the development of an online system to streamline the process of 
commenting on draft ISPMs for members and for the IPPC secretariat.  This system is projected to be 
functional for the 2011 member comment period.  Member countries have again assisted in compiling 
comments in 2010. 
B. CALL FOR EXPERTS  
10. In March 2010, a call for a Chinese speaking e xpert for the Technical Panel on Glossary 
(TPG) was made.  
11. In July 2010, a call for experts was made requ esting nominations for an expert working group 
on Minimizing pest movement by sea contai ners and conveyances in international trade  and for  G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  nominations for a Spanish speaking and a Russian speaking expert for the TPG.  There was a poor 
response to these calls from member countries, which resulted in the Secretariat extending the 
deadline to 30 October 2010 (see https://www.ippc.int/index.php?i d=1110798&tx_calls_pi1[showUid
]=1106106&frompage=1110736&type =calls&L=0#item ). 
C. DRAFT SPECIFICATIONS  
12. The following three draft specifications were sent for member consultation in July 2010, 
Member comments are being reviewed and revised specifications will be presented to the November 
2010 SC meeting:  
• Minimizing pest movement by air containers and aircrafts; 
• Systems for authorizing phytosanitary activities ;  and  
• Safe handling and disposal of waste with potential pest risk generated during 
international voyages . 
 
13. Two specifications were finalized and appr oved at the April 2010 Standards Committee 
meeting:  
• Minimizing pest movement by sea contai ners and conveyances in international trade  and  
• Protocol to determine host status of frui ts to fruit fly (Tephritidae) infestation . 
 D. E
XPERT WORKING GROUPS (EWG) 
14. An EWG on the Importation of Plant Breeding Material was held in Amsterdam, the 
Netherlands, 1-5 February 2010.   
15. An EWG on Movement of Soil and Growing Media in Association with Plants in 
International Trade  was held in Ottawa, Ca nada, 14–18 June 2010.  
E. TECHNICAL PANELS  
16. Five technical panels have met in 2010 and continued their work in their areas of 
specialization, drafting ISPMs and diagnostic prot ocols, approving treatments, and reviewing the 
glossary of phytosanitary terms. 
Panel Date Venue 
Technical Panel on Forest Quarantine 20-24 September Rome, Italy 
Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols 26-30 July Washington, DC 
Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments 26-30 July Kyoto, Japan 
Technical Panel on Fruit Flies 4-8 October Vienna, Austria 
Technical Panel on Glossary 11-15 October Rome, Italy G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  IV. INFORMATION EXCHANGE 
A. C
ONTACT POINTS  
17. Through 7 October 2010, over 80 per cent of  IPPC contact points have updated their 
information at least once.  This contributes subs tantially to improving communication between the 
Secretariat and contracting parties.  This means that contracting parties communicating with other 
IPPC contact points should visit the IPP frequently to ensure they have the latest contact information. 
B. UNOFFICIAL CONTACT POINTS  
18. The following contracting parties in each regi on have unofficial contact points and still need 
to make formal nominations for official IPPC contact points:  
• Africa:  None 
• Asia:  None 
• Europe:  Greece  
• Latin America and the Caribbean:  Ba hamas, and Saint Kitts and Nevis 
• Near East:  Bahrain, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates 
• Southwest Pacific:  Fiji, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 
 C. I
NTERNATIONAL PHYTOSANITARY PORTAL (IPP)  – HTTPS ://WWW .IPPC.INT 
19. Unofficial translations of the International Ph ytosanitary Standards into Portuguese have been 
made available through a co-publishing agreement with the government of Brazil.  To access these 
translations, go to the IPP page for adopted sta ndards (https://www.ippc.in t/index.php?id=ispms) and 
click on the standard of interest. 
20. Usage of the IPP continues to increase but it is apparent that this can be improved in certain 
regions and in certain countries.  Internet access/re liability has a role to play in certain countries. 
21. Earlier this year a new form for communi cating information regarding the national 
implementation of ISPM 15 was made available on the IPP:  
https://www.ippc.int/?id=1 110520&no_cache=1&type=ispm&L=0 .  Thus far, 16 countries have used 
this form to share information in this regard.  A communications strategy is being developed to further 
raise awareness about ISPM 15.  
22. Countries are also able to post information regard ing their pest fre e areas or areas of low pest 
prevalence:  https://www.ippc.int/?id=1 110520&no_cache=1&type=pfa&L=0 . 
D. PEST REPORTING  
23. National pest reporting continues to improve.  Fifty-two pests have been reported since the 
beginning of 2010, an almost 50 per cent increase in pest reporting in the first 10 months of this year 
over the average number of pests reported in past year s.  However, there is still considerable room for 
improvement in reporting. 
E. COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY  
24. The IPPC Secretariat has developed a draft IPPC communications strategy, and associated 
communications work plan, to support the resource mobilization strategy and to increase awareness of 
the benefits of the IPPC.  This work is consider ed a high priority as many decision and policy makers 
are not aware of the importance and successes of the IPPC work.  G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  25. The Secretariat has already substantially incr eased the number of IPPC news items available 
through the IPP to promote various aspects of the IPPC work programme. 
26. The IPPC communications strategy is expected to result in: 
• global recognition of the successes of the work done by the IPPC; 
• global recognition of the negative impact of the phytosanitary failures; 
• changed perceptions about what constitut es real, urgent threats and risks while 
protecting plants; 
• substantially improved recognition of the N PPO's role and importance in protecting 
national plant health; 
• substantially improved resources availa ble to the plant protection community 
(national, regional and globally) to conduct their currently under resourced work in a 
more sustainable manner, particularly relative to the comparable programmes of animal health and food safety; 
• phytosanitary resource issues are embedded as a national priority and in policy; 
• effective global and regional cooperation a nd synergies developed in meeting this 
goal;  and 
• the generation of improved financial a nd in-kind support for the secretariat. 
 
V. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 
27. The IPPC Secretariat has received the first official request for the activation of the IPPC 
Dispute Settlement system (see more https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=dispute_settlement
).  This 
process is ongoing. 
28. Although there have been many successful inform al consultations rega rding phytosanitary 
dispute avoidance in the past, this will be the first formal case under the IPPC. 
VI. CAPACITY BUILDING  
A. STRATEGY AND OPERATIONAL PLAN  
29. The IPPC capacity building strategy was appr oved by CPM-5 and the operational plan is 
being developed further through by the Expert Wo rking Group on Capacity Development in the last 
week of October 2010. 
B. PROJECTS (PHYTOSANITARY CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ) 
30. The main aim of the projects in which the IP PC Secretariat is involved is the proper 
implementation of the IPPC standards and the Conv ention.  The secretariat continued its collaboration 
with donor agencies and contracting parties in the delivery of technical assistance for capacity 
building in projects funded through various sources.   The secretariat, under a supervisory or 
implementation agreement signed between the Sta ndards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) 
and FAO, provided its services to the three STDF projects listed below, among the following projects 
directly supported by the IPPC secretariat: 
• STDF 171 - Establishment of a Centre of Phyto sanitary Excellence (COPE) in East Africa; 
• STDF 230 - Establishment of Lethal yellowing disease free area for coconuts in Mozambique; G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  • STDF 133- Capacity building in the use of the Ph ytosanitary Capacity Evaluation Tool in the 
Pacific:  A final report was prepared and s ubmitted to the STDF secretariat and information 
on the project products has been provided. 
• UNJP/URT/129/MUL - Biosecurity capacity building; 
• TCP/MOZ/3205:  Management and mitigati on measures for alien invasive fruit fly 
(Bactrocera invadens) in Mozambique; 
• TCP/INS/3203:  Strengthening Quarantine Control Systems for Invasive Alien Species (IAS) 
for Indonesia; 
• TCP/ERI/3204:  Strengthening capacity for inte grated pest management (IPM) in Eritrea 
Citrus pilot IPM programme; 
• TCP/MDV/3201:  Maldives - Assistance in the Drafting of Agricultural Legislation and; 
• GCP/LEB/021/ITA:  Strengthening production an d marketing of of Lebanese agricultural 
products. 
 
C. P
ROJECT FORMULATION  
31. The IPPC secretariat continues to assist in the formulation of a number of projects to improve 
phytosanitary capacity of members.  These include: 
• Regional project for West Africa on Bactrocera invadens valued at USD 9M; 
• Project to strengthen phytosanitary services in Mozambique; 
• Five (5) multi-year trust fund projects submitted for proposal to donors by FAO;  and 
• Strengthening the phytosanitary regulatory system of the Kingdom of Lesotho. 
32. In addition, contracting parties submit project  formulation requests to the secretariat from 
time to time.  The IPPC secretariat has assisted Afghanistan, Bahamas, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, 
Cameroon, Guatemala, Cape Verde, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Senegal by  providing technical 
inputs on project design.  Projects are currently be ing formulated and submitted to donors for funding. 
D. PHYTOSANITARY CAPACITY EVALUATION (PCE)   
33. Development of a new improved online version continues and significant progress has been 
made.  Countries who are members of OIRSA (Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria) have received PCE training by videoconf erence.  Belize, Burundi, Georgia, Guatemala, 
El Salvador, Honduras, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Cost a Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, 
Oman, Seychelles and the Democratic Republic of  the Congo have also expressed interest in 
undertaking the new PCE in the immediate forese eable future.  The English-speaking Caribbean 
countries have also expressed interested in the new PCE.  Field testing is ongoing through 2010-11 at 
the request of contracting parties and provided the availability of funds for this purpose. 
E. I
MPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND SUPPORT SYSTEM  
34. The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (C PM-3, 2008) adopted the Programme for the 
Development of the Implementation Review and Support System  (IRSS).  The IRSS programme is 
going to be funded by the European Union fo r one year and has now been initiated.  The 
establishment of the "IPPC Help Desk" and the deve lopment, distribution and collection of data on 
the implementation of the Convention and internatio nal standards by the Contracting Parties are high 
priorities.   G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  35. Additional funding resources  are needed to get the 2012-13 IRSS component of this work 
programme funded so that the IRSS first cycle can be  completed.  An IPPC Secretariat staff member 
has been identified to undertake the coordination of the IRSS.  The Secretariat is actively looking for 
funding from donors and partners to ensure the IRSS is  sustainable and becomes an integral part of 
the CPM work programme. 
VII. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION 
36. The sustainability of IPPC secretariat, and he nce the work programme of the IPPC, is being 
addressed as a matter of urgency.  The current res ource allocation (financial and human resources) is 
simply not sustainable with a projected budget deficit for 2011 of about $2.1 million. 
37. Therefore, the CPM Bureau and Informal Working Group on Strategic Planning and 
Technical Assistance (SPTA) has agreed there is no alternative but to cut the IPPC standard-setting 
programme, in addition to the information excha nge and capacity development programmes, to the 
absolute minimum in 2011.  This is extremely drastic, but unless extra-budgetary resources are made available for 2011 onwards, there will be no alternativ e but to maintain this very low level of IPPC 
standard-setting activity.  A letter from the Chairper son of the CPM has been sent to all IPPC contact 
points in this regard. 
38. The Secretary is giving this highest priority and continues discussions with the contracting 
parties and key partners to improve th e situation in the foreseeable future. 
39. Given the current lack of sustainability of  the CPM work programme (effective 2011), the 
Secretariat would welcome discussions with contrac ting parties on ways of establishing sustainable 
funding for the IPPC to maintain a balanced work programme for standard development and 
implementation. G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  ANNEX 
 
Adopted International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs
) 
 
 
Texts of adopted ISPMs are available at:  https://www.ippc.int/id/13399  
 ISPM 1. 2006 Phytosanitary principles for the protection of plants and the application of 
phytosanitary measures in international trade  (originally adopted in 1993, 
revised in 2006) 
ISPM 2. 2007 Framework for pest risk analysis (originally adopted in 1995, revised in 
2007) 
ISPM 3. 2005 Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological control 
agents and other beneficial organisms  (originally adopted in 1996, revised in 
2005) 
ISPM 4. 1995  Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas  
ISPM.5. 2010  Glossary of phytosanitary terms  (updated as needed) 
  - Supplement No. 1 (2001) Guidelines on the interpretation and 
 application of the concept of official control for regulated pests  
  - Supplement No. 2 (2003) Guidelines on the understanding of 
 potential economic importance  and related terms including reference 
 to environmental considerations 
  - Appendix No. 1 (2009):  Terminology of the Convention on 
 Biological Diversity in relation to  the Glossary of phytosanitary 
 terms  
ISPM 6. 1997  Guidelines for surveillance  
ISPM 7. 1997  Export certification system  
ISPM 8. 1998  Determination of pest status in an area  
ISPM 9. 1998  Guidelines for pest eradication programmes  
ISPM 10. 1999 Requirements for the establishment of pest  free places of production and pest 
free production sites ) 
ISPM 11. 2004 Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests, including analysis of environmental 
risks and living modified organisms  (originally adopted in 2001, with 
supplements integrated in 2003 and 2004) 
ISPM 12. 2001  Guidelines for phytosanitary certificate s 
ISPM 13. 2001  Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action  
ISPM 14. 2002 The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk 
management 
ISPM 15. 2002 Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade  (originally 
adopted in 2002, revised in 2009) 
   - Annex 1 (2006) Approved measures associated with wood packaging 
  materials  (methyl bromide fumigation schedule modified in 2006) 
ISPM 16. 2002  Regulated non-quarantine pests:  Concept and application 
ISPM 17. 2002  Pest reporting   G/SPS/GEN/1049 
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  ISPM 18. 2003  Guidelines for the use of irradi ation as a phytosanitary measure  
ISPM 19. 2003  Guidelines on lists of regulated pests  
ISPM 20. 2004  Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system  
ISPM 21. 2004  Pest risk analysis for regulated non-quarantine pests  
ISPM 22. 2005  Requirements for the establishment of  areas of low pest prevalence  
ISPM 23. 2005  Guidelines for inspection  
ISPM 24. 2005  Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of 
 phytosanitary measures 
ISPM 25. 2006  Consignments in transit 
ISPM 26. 2006  Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae) 
ISPM 27. 2006  Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests 
 - DP 1:2010. Diagnostic protocol for Thrips palmi  
ISPM 28. 2007  Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests 
− PT 1:2009.  Irradiation treatment for Anastrepha ludens 
− PT 2:2009.  Irradiation treatment for Anastrepha obliqua  
− PT 3:2009. Irradiation treatment for Anastrepha serpentina  
− PT 4:2009. Irradiation treatment for Bactrocera jarvisi  
− PT 5:2009. Irradiation treatment for Bactrocera tryoni 
− PT 6:2009. Irradiation treatment for Cydia pomonella 
− PT 7:2009. Irradiation treatment for fruit flies of the family Tephritidae 
(generic) 
− PT 8:2009. Irradiation treatment for Rhagoletis pomonella  
− PT 9:2010. Irradiation treatment for Conotrachelus nenuphar  
− PT 10:2010. Irradiation treatment for Grapholita molesta  
− PT 11:2010. Irradiation treatment for Grapholita molesta  under hypoxia 
 
ISPM 29. 2007  Recognition of pest free areas and areas of low pest prevalence 
ISPM 30. 2008  Establishment of areas of low pest prevalence for fruit flies (Tephritidae) 
ISPM 31. 2008  Methodologies for sampling of consignments  
ISPM 32. 2009  Categorization of commodities a ccording to their pest risk 
ISPM 33. 2010  Pest free potato (Solanum spp.) micropropagative material and minitubers 
   for international trade 
ISPM 34. 2010  Design and operation of post-entry quarantine stations for plants  
 
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