WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/706 
23 June 2006 
 (06-3069) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
DECISIONS FROM THE FIRST SESSION OF THE COMMISSION  
ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Communication from the International Plant Protection Convention Secretariat (IPPC)
 
 
  The following communication, received on 21 June 2006, is being circulated at the request of 
IPPC.  
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 1. The 1
st session of the Commission on Phytosanitary  Measures (CPM-1) took place in Rome, 
3-7 April 2006.  Three hundred and five particip ants registered, representing 120 Members of the 
Commission (i.e. contracting parties to the IPPC), plus 10 countries who were  not contracting parties 
and 17 observer organizations. 
I. ISSUES RELATED TO ENTRY INTO FORCE 
2. The CPM decided, inter alia,  to establish subsidiary bodies for standards setting ("Standards 
Committee") and dispute settlement ("Subsidiary Body  for Dispute Settlement"), both with associated 
terms of reference, rule of procedure and co mposition.  The CPM agreed that the Standards 
Committee had the right to use any of the five official FAO languages.  
II. THE DEVELOPMENT, ADOPTION AND MONITORING OF THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (ISPMS) (STANDARD SETTING) 
A. A
DOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
3. The Secretariat introduced four draft ISPMs for consideration by the CPM, which consisted 
of three new standards ( Consignments in transit , Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies 
(Tephritidae) , Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests ) and the revision of ISPM No. 1 ( Principles of 
plant quarantine as related to international trade ).  The CPM adopted all of the draft standards as 
ISPMs.  
Principles for the protection of plants and the applic ation of phytosanitary measures in international 
trade 
 
4. This Standard covers the principles related to  the protection of plants, including cultivated 
and non-cultivated/unmanaged plants, wild flor a and aquatic plants, plus those regarding the 
application of phytosanitary measures to the in ternational movement of people, commodities and 
conveyances.  It also describes the basic principles under the IPPC, including;  sovereignty, necessity, 
managed risk, minimal impact, transparency, harmonization, non-discrimination, technical G/SPS/GEN/706 
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  justification, cooperation, equivalence of phyto sanitary measures and modification.  Operational 
principles under the IPPC, which relate to the establishment, implementation and monitoring of 
phytosanitary measures and to the administration of official phytosanitary sy stems are also described 
Consignments in transit 
 5. This ISPM describes procedures to identify, assess  and manage phytosanitary risks associated 
with consignments of regulated articles which pass through a country without being imported, in such 
a manner that any phytosanitary measures applied in th e country of transit are technically justified and 
necessary to prevent the introduction into and/or  spread of pests within that country. 
Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae) 
 6. This standard provides guidelines for the esta blishment of pest free areas for fruit flies 
(Tephritidae) of economic importance, and for the maintenance of their pest free status. 
Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests 
 
7. This standard provides guidance on the structure and content of the IPPC diagnostic protocols 
for regulated pests.  The protocols describe pro cedures and methods for the official diagnosis of 
regulated pests that are relevant for internati onal trade.  They provide at least the minimum 
requirements for reliable diagnosis of regulated pests.  
B. A
DOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS  – FAST TRACK PROCESS  
Proposed modification to the methyl brom ide fumigation (Annex 1 of ISPM No. 15) 
 
8. The Secretariat introduced the proposed modification to the methyl bromide fumigation 
schedule contained in Annex 1 of ISPM No. 15 ( Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material 
in international trade ).  The outcome was that the minimum temperature should not be less than 10°C 
and the minimum exposure time should be 24 hours.  Monitoring of concentrations should be carried 
out at a minimum at 2, 4 and 24 hrs. 
9. The CPM: 
(a) Adopted  the proposed modification to the methyl bromide fumigation schedule 
contained in Annex 1 of ISPM No. 15 (Guidelines for regulating wood packaging 
material in international trad e), contained in Appendix XI. 
C. TOPICS AND PRIORITIES FOR STANDARDS  
10. The Secretariat introduced a paper that outlined  the topics on the IPPC standard setting work 
programme, the associated priorities and the stages of  development.  It was noted that draft ISPMs 
had been developed for all topics for whic h the Standards Committee (SC) had approved 
specifications and that draft specifications on most other topics had been sent for country consultation 
and were pending approval by the Standards Committee.  
11. The CPM: 
(a) Endorsed  the IPPC standard setting work programme.  G/SPS/GEN/706 
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  D. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STANDARD SETTING PROCEDURE  
Use and Translation of the Terms "must", "shall", "should" and "may" in ISPMs 
 
12. The CPM discussed and modified the recommenda tions made by the Technical Consultaion 
among Regional Plant Protection Or ganisations and the Informal Working Group on Strategic 
Planning and Technical Assistance.  
13 The CPM: 
 
(a) Agreed that a policy for the use of "must", "s hall", "should" and "may" in standards 
should be implemented; 
(b) Adopted  the following statement on the use of "should" in ISPMs:  "In future ISPMs, 
the word 'should' in English be interprete d to mean a type of moral or political 
commitment.  It creates an expectation (though non-binding) that something will be 
done."; 
(c) Decided  that for future ISPMs there would be no limit on the use of "shall" and 
"must" as long as their use was justified and was with in the framework of the 
Convention and the legal status of the standards. 
E. ANALYSIS OF THE COSTS OF STANDARDS COMMITTEE MEETINGS BEING HELD IN SEVERAL 
LANGUAGES  
14. The CPM discussed the use of translation and in terpretation for subsidiary bodies, based on 
figures provided by the Secretariat.  
15. The CPM:  
(a) Agreed that members of the Standards Committee had the right to use any of the five 
official FAO languages. 
III. THE MAINTENANCE OF AN EFFECTIV E AND EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATIVE 
FRAMEWORK 
Budget Plan 2006 
 
16. It was noted by the CPM that there would be a reduction in outputs compared to 2005 due to a 
decrease in anticipated revenue from approximate ly US$ 3.9 million for 2005 to approximately 
US$ 2.3 million in 2006, as a result of the arrears funding having finished and of a reduction in 
funding provided by FAO.  The Secretariat was reduc ing staff to make allowance for reduced funding.  
There was a significant decrease of resources avai lable for funding regional workshops on draft 
ISPMs and for activities enabling countries to partic ipate in information exchange through the IPP. 
17. The CPM: 
(a) Noted  that as, a result of the arrears funding no longer being available and no 
additional contributions to the Trust Fund for the IPPC having been made, various 
activities planned for 2006 may not be undertaken. G/SPS/GEN/706 
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  Evaluation of the IPPC and its Structures 
 
18. A representative of the FAO evaluation service gave details on the evaluation of the IPPC.  
The process, timetable and milestones were introdu ced and it was noted that some preliminary 
findings and issues would be presented at CPM-2, with the objective of receiving feedback in order to 
see which additional issues should be addressed.  The final report is planned for June 2007. 
Strategic Plan and Business Plan 
 
19. The CPM supported a general review and redraft of the both the Business and Strategic Plans 
following entry into force of the new revised text of  the IPPC, which would also consider topics that 
might not be covered adequately.  Such topics should include invasive alien species, electronic 
certification, compliance, commodity-specific standa rds and strengthening the scientific work of the 
organization.  
Composition of, and Terms of Reference for, a Work ing Group on the Feasibility of the International 
Recognition of Pest Free Areas 
 20. In accordance with a decision from ICPM-7, a Focus Group had develope d terms of reference 
for a working group on the feasibility of the intern ational recognition of pest free areas (PFAs), which 
were then reviewed by the Working Group on Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance.  The Working Group on Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance had been informed that the Expert 
Working Group convened to devel op the draft ISPM on the recognition of pest free areas and areas of 
low pest prevalence had found very little informa tion on what PFAs had been established around the 
world and for which pests.  The Working Group on Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance had 
suggested that this information should be compil ed prior to convening a working group on the 
feasibility of recognition.  
21. The CPM recognized the importance of the issu e of international recognition of PFAs for 
many countries, and that a preliminary study rega rding existing PFAs should be conducted.  However, 
it also noted the financial situation of the IPPC, and there was disagreement as to when the work 
could start.  Regional groups were invited to  consult among their members and the following 
outcomes were recorded. 
22. The Latin America and Caribbean regional grou p supported the need for a feasibility study, 
which should not overlap with activities carried out in  the framework of the SPS Agreement.  Funding 
of this activity should not affect funding of other priorities already set by the CPM.  The outcome of 
any study should be subject to approval by the CPM. 
23. The Southwest Pacific regional group strongly urged the CPM to progress the work in this 
area by accepting the recommendations ma de in the document CPM 2006/14.  
24. The Near East regional group gave priority to this activity, which affected all importing and 
exporting countries.  It supported the view that it should start as soon as possible. 
25. The EC and its member States agreed to the term s of reference on the basis that a review of 
the terms of reference should be undertaken at CP M-2 to take account of the experience gained from 
the collection of data to be made by the Secretar iat, and considering from a broader perspective the 
advantages and disadvantages of all four headings  of the annex of the document CPM 2006/14.  The 
EC and its member States believed that the feasi bility study should be undertaken only after the 
budget period 2006-2007.   G/SPS/GEN/706 
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  26. The Africa regional group considered that this  activity was very important for developing 
countries, and should start as soon as possible. 
27. Some members suggested that the feasibility and necessity of international recognition of 
PFAs should be carefully considered by all contractin g parties.  They also suggested that membership 
of the working group should be more extended than  in the proposal in CPM 2006/14 and its outcome 
should be circulated to all contracting parties. 
28. The CPM: 
(a) Adopted  the terms of reference for the working group as amended, to be reviewed at 
CPM-2; 
(b) Agreed  that data on existing PFAs be assembled by the Secretariat in 2006, and the 
outcome presented at CPM-2;  and 
(c) Agreed that CPM-2 would then decide on how to proceed. 
IV. INFORMATION EXCHANGE 
A. INFORMATION EXCHANGE UNDER THE IPPC 
29. The Secretariat introduced a paper on information exchange under the IPPC and noted that 
the intent was to provide clarity on specific inform ation exchange issues and further clarifications in 
areas where they were needed.   
30. The CPM also discussed information exchange for countries that were not contracting parties.  
The CPM supported the information on the Internati onal Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) being accessible 
to all countries and agreed that countries that were not contracting parties could also be involved in training on the use of the IPP, in anticipation of their possible adherence to the IPPC, provided that 
resources were available. 
31. The CPM: 
(a) Adopted with amendments "The role of IPPC Contact Points";  
(b) Urged  contracting parties to provide official c ontact points and to ensure that, if that 
information changed, it would be communicated to the Secretariat in a timely 
manner; 
(c) Agreed  to the use, wherever possible, of el ectronic communications between official 
contact points and the Secretariat for official communications; 
(d) Encouraged  contracting parties, that were in a position to do so, to inform the 
Secretariat that paper copies of CPM documents were no longer required; 
(e) Urged  contracting parties to increase their utilization of the IPP to ensure national 
information exchange obligations were met in a timely manner; 
(f) Recommended  that high priority be given to the continued improvement of the IPP; 
and  G/SPS/GEN/706 
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  (g) Decided  that countries that were not a contr acting party should be allowed to post 
information on the IPP, but to ensure cont racting parties were provided with support 
before non-contracting parties. 
B. I
NFORMATION EXCHANGE WORK PROGRAMME FOR 2006 
32. The Secretariat introduced the information ex change work programme for 2006 based on the 
strategic plan.  It was emphasized that it was hi ghly unlikely that all the expected outputs could be 
met due to resource limitations.  However, the Secr etariat would ensure that the IPP was maintained 
at least with its current functionality so that c ontracting parties could continue to use it.  The 
Secretariat noted that programming of the IPP in pr eparation for the translation into the two remaining 
languages had been completed. 
33. The CPM identified the training of IPP editors as a priority.  
V. THE PROVISION OF DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISMS 
Report of the ICPM Subsidiary Body on Dispute Settlement (ICPM-SBDS) 
 
34. There were no requests for dispute settlement in 2005, despite some enquiries from one FAO 
region. 
35. The SBDS had considered the dispute settleme nt manual and made several changes.  The 
manual would be finalized after CP M-1, and be made available on the IPP.  A dispute settlement 
advocacy document had been developed and would also be finalized after CPM-1.  
36. As requested by ICPM-7, specific guidance for cl arification of ISPMs had been developed by 
the ICPM-SBDS.  The advice had b een seen as clarification of the application of the IPPC and ISPMs 
for specific circumstances or situations at a particul ar time.  This had not been considered to be the 
same as interpretation and it was noted that such clarification should not be used in subsequent 
dispute settlement processes. 
Compliance 
 
37. As requested by ICPM-7, the SBDS had considered the subject of compliance and prepared 
possible options for the CPM to consider.  It was noted that compliance mechanisms were usually a 
component of multilateral environmental agreemen ts where it complement ed dispute settlement 
systems.  Compliance mechanisms  were essentially non-adversarial,  pro-active and looked to the 
future.  In this context, the SBDS Chairperson stat ed that compliance would re fer to the fulfillment of 
IPPC requirements by contracting parties, and not  the certification and documentation requirements 
described in ISPM No. 13 ( Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action ). 
38. The SBDS believed that there was merit in i nvestigating further the issue of compliance 
within the IPPC framework and a co mpliance system would be of use in helping contracting parties to 
meet their obligations under the IPPC.  A pape r on enhanced structures to review and support 
compliance was submitted to the CPM for consideration and guidance.  
39. The CPM: 
(a) Emphasized  that the issue of compliance need ed to be investigated carefully, 
particularly with respect to legal issu es and compatibility with the IPPC Dispute 
Settlement process;  G/SPS/GEN/706 
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  (b) Decided  to place this subject on the agenda of the Working Group on Strategic 
Planning and Technical Assistance for consideration with the view to making recommendations to CPM-2;  and  
(c) Recommended  that should extra budgetary funds become available, an open ended 
working group be held to explore the subject appropriately. 
VI. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHYTOSANITARY CAPACITY OF MEMBERS BY 
PROMOTING THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
Analysis of the application of the phytosanitary capacity evaluation tool (PCE) 
 
40. A status report on the analysis of the PCE co mmissioned by ICPM-6 (2004) was discussed.  
The meeting acknowledged the value of the tool a nd discussed its use in focusing technical assistance 
projects for developing countries and noted the possible use of the results of its application to define 
areas of collaboration with pot ential partners and donors. 
Technical assistance activities by region (2001-2005) 
 
41. The report on technical assistance activities undertaken during the period 2001-2005 was 
discussed.  Syria, Guinea, the Seychelles, Panama, Nigeria, Zambia, Sudan, Eritrea and Bahrain, which had received assistance under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme, expressed their appreciation to the IPPC Secretariat and FAO for assisting in the development of their national phytosanitary systems.  
Technical Assistance Work Programme 
 42. The Secretariat presented the technical assistan ce work programme for 2006.  Projects would 
include (subject to funding) capacity-building work shops, regional workshops on draft ISPMs (the 
CPM stressed the importance of these in the deve lopment of standards), FAO Technical Cooperation 
Programme projects and various involvemen ts in international liaison projects. 
VII. PROMOTION OF THE IPPC AND COOPERATION WITH RELEVANT 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
Report of the Informal Working Group on Liai son with Research and Education Institutes 
 
43. A working group had been able to consider the data generated through a pilot project 
undertaken by the Secretariat early in 2005, which it felt should be viewed as developing the scientific 
foundation for the implementation of the IPPC.  It  recommended that the activity be placed on the 
work programme of the CPM and be addressed as additional resources became available.  Some 
countries noted that this area of work was important  and should be considered when revising the IPPC 
Strategic Plan. 
44. The CPM: 
(a) Referred the report to the Working Group on Strategic Planning and Technical 
Assistance for its consideration and for presenting further recommendations to CPM-2. G/SPS/GEN/706 
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  Report on Cooperation with Relevant Organizations 
 
45. The Secretariat presented the report on coopera tion with other relevant organizations, 
including:  RPPOs, CBD, WTO-SPS, STDF, OIE, Codex Alimentarius Commission, International 
Forest Quarantine Research Group,  IAEA, International Seed Fede ration, ISTA, Organisation for 
Economic Co-operation and Devel opment, Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, and the 
United Kingdom's Foresight initiative. 
46. With regard to the CBD, following a joint mee ting of the Bureaus and Secretariats of both 
conventions, a side event on IPPC matters was organized at the 8
th meeting of the Conference of 
Parties to the CBD.  This report discussed interna tional and national strategies for the control of 
invasive alien species, possible cooperation between the IPPC and the CBD, and between 
phytosanitary and environmental authorities.  It had been suggested that parties to the CBD may 
consider recognizing the IPPC as the standard setting organization for invasive alien species that were 
pests of plants.  
 
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