WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1102 
28 June 2011 
 (11-3167) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION  
CONVENTION SECRETARIAT (IPPC) 
 
Meeting of 30 June - 1 July 2011 
  
 The following communication, received on 27 June 2011, is being circulated at the request of 
the IPPC secretariat. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The report covers the period October 2010 - June 2011.  
2. Annex 1 provides the link to currently approved  International Standards for Phytosanitary 
Measures.  
3. The Committee is invited to note that as of 24 June 2011, there are 177 contracting parties to 
the IPPC.  
II. STANDARD-SETTING WORK PROGRA MME (UPDATE:  JUNE 2011) 
A. CPM-6  (2011)  ADOPTED ISPM S 
4. CPM-6 was held from 14 to 18 March, 2011.  The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures 
(CPM) adopted three revisions of ISPMs under the regular process and three of annexes of 
phytosanitary treatments under the special process.  
5. The CPM-6 (2011) adopted the following six ISPMs;  
 Revision of ISPM 7.  Phytosanitary certification system ; 
 Revision of ISPM 12.  Phytosanitary certification ; 
 Appendix 1.  Fruit fly trapping  to ISPM 26:2006.  Establishment of pest free areas for fruits 
flies (Tepheritidae); 
 Annex 12.  Irradiation treatment for Cylas formicarius elegantulus  to ISPM 28:2007. 
Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests ; 
 Annex 13.  Irradiation treatment for Euscepes postfasciatus  to ISPM 28:2007.  Phytosanitary 
treatments for regulated pests ; G/SPS/GEN/1102 
Page 2  
 
   Annex 14.  Irradiation treatment for Ceratitis capitata to ISPM 28:2007.  Phytosanitary 
treatments for regulated pests . 
6. The CPM noted the ink amendments to the use of terms of ISPM 5.  Glossary of 
phytosanitary terms . 
B. STANDARDS COMMITTEE (SC)   
7. The Standards Committee (SC) in May 2011 approved seven draft ISPMs for 2011 member 
consultation: 
 Amendments to ISPM 5.  Glossary of phytosanitary terms (1994-001); 
 Draft revision to Supplement 1.  Guidelines on the interpretation and application of the 
concept of official control for regulated pests (Not widely distributed) of ISPM 5.  Glossary 
of phytosanitary terms (2005-008); 
 Draft Annex 4 to ISPM 11:2004.  Pest risk analysis for plants as quarantine pest and 
consequential changes in core text of ISPM 11:2004 (2005-001); 
 Draft revision to Annex 1 of ISPM 15:2009.  Approved treatments associated with wood 
packaging material (2006-011); 
 Draft Annex to ISPM 27:2006:  Trogoderma granarium (2004-006);  
 Draft Annex to ISPM 28:2007.  Vapour heat treatment of Cucumis melo  var. reticulatus  for 
Bactrocera cucurbitae (2006-110);  
 Draft Annex to ISPM 28:2007.  Heat treatment  of wood packaging material using dielectric 
heat (2007-114). 
8. The 2011 member consultation for draft I SPMs (100 days) began 20 June 2011.  
9. The SC also approved the following three Specifications:  
 Specification 53 for Establishment and maintenanc e of fruit fly quarantine areas within a pest 
free area in the event of outbreak detection (2009-007); 
 Specification 54 for International movement of seed (2009-003); 
 Revised specification for the Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP). 
C. MEMBER CONSULTATION  
10. The secretariat, in consultation with the st ewards, has prepared and posted background 
documents and power point presentations for the seven draft ISPMs (see above) for the member 
consultation 2011. 
D. ON LINE COMMENT SYSTEM (OCS) 
11. To streamline the process of compiling member  comments, the secretariat has developed the 
IPPC Online Comment System (OCS) and members are strongly urged to use the OCS for submitting 
their comments on draft ISPMs.  Draf t ISPMs have been uploaded on the IPP 
(http://review.fao.org/ippc/ippc/ippcOC S.html#) and on the OCS.  The secretariat is also planning on 
using the OCS during the 2011 regional workshops fo r the review of draft ISPMs for demonstration 
purposes and ease of sharing workshop comments.  The main objectives are to encourage workshop  G/SPS/GEN/1102 
 Page 3 
 
 
  participants to use the system when they return to  their country and to simplify the sharing process 
and submission of comments to the IPPC secretariat.  
E. SEA CONTAINERS STANDARD  
12. An expert working group (EWG), which in cludes representatives from the Convention on 
Biological Diversity (CBD ), the Container Owners Association (COA), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Customs Orga nization (WCO), has begun developing a draft 
ISPM on the topic of Minimizing pest movement by  sea containers and conveyances in international 
trade (Specification No 51.  This EWG and its Steering Committee meets virtually. 
F. F
OCUS GROUP ON IMPROVING THE STANDARD SETTING PROCESS  
13. The IPPC secretariat is organizing the meeting of  the Focus group for improving the standard 
setting process to be held in the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) 
offices, Paris, France from 25-29 July 2011.  Representatives from both Codex Alimentarius and OIE 
have been in invited to participate in this review. 
III. INFORMATION EXCHANGE 
A. CONTACT POINTS  
14. As of 24 June 2011, over 85 per cent of IPPC contact points have  updated their information at 
least once.  This means that contracting parties communicating with other IPPC contact points should visit the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP) fre quently to ensure they have the latest contact 
information. 
B. U
NOFFICIAL CONTACT POINTS  
15. The secretariat continues to work with a small number of countries that still need to nominate 
their IPPC contact points officially. 
C. INTERNATIONAL PHYTOSANITARY PORTAL (IPP)  – HTTPS ://WWW .IPPC.INT 
16. There continues to be a lot of information made available by countries and the IPPC 
secretariat.  Countries are encouraged to periodically visit the site for updates. 
17. The IPP now provides Russian navigation and we c ontinue to work with China to provide the 
site with Chinese navigation. 
18. 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. 
19. The site is currently being developed to s ubstantially increase the amount of information 
available to support standard implem entation and capacity development. 
D. PEST REPORTING  
20. National pest reporting continues to improve  but there is still potential for further 
improvement.  The 2011 reporting year has seen a substantial increase in the number of pest reports.  The secretariat is working on this information to allow users to access this information in a more 
constructive and analytical manner. G/SPS/GEN/1102 
Page 4  
 
  E. C
OMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY  
21. The IPPC secretariat continues to develop an IPPC communications strategy that is now 
greatly facilitated by agreement in CPM on the IPPC strategic objectives.  
IV. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 
22. The phytosanitary trade dispute between South Africa and the European Union is on-going 
and further announcements will be  made as information becomes available and when appropriate. 
23. The CPM has recently referred concerns regard ing ISPM implementation to the Subsidiary 
Body on Dispute Settlement (SBDS) for discussion and guidance.  This mechan ism already exists and 
will now be active for the first time. 
24. Given a number of WTO papers on informal discu ssions to resolve trade disputes, the IPPC 
secretariat would like to note the success of such discussions through the IPPC secretariat and FAO in 
the past.  It is believed that a number of disputes ha ve been resolved in this way, that before would 
have become formal disputes.  Such "dispute avoi dance" mechanisms are encouraged and the IPPC 
secretariat is available to con tinue facilitating this process. 
V. CAPACITY BUILDING  
A. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND RELATED ISSUES  
25. CPM-5 (2010) approved a concept paper on national phytosanitary capacity and an IPPC 
phytosanitary capacity building strategy.  CPM-5 (2010) also agreed to create an Expert Working 
Group (EWG) tasked to review and refine the phyt osanitary capacity development operational plan,  
assist the secretariat with developing national ph ytosanitary capacity, and co nsider the need for a 
permanent CPM body that deals with capacity development. 
26. EWG meetings were held 25-29 October 2010 and 23-27 May 2011, and the group is 
currently active producing initiatives to support th e capacity development area of the IPPC.  A 
reviewed proposal of operational plan  and associat ed budget and a document  providing an analysis 
on the possible creation of a CPM Subsidiary Body on Capacity Development,  have been prepared an 
shall be considered in October to  be considered at CPM-7, 2012. 
27. At the request of  CPM-5 (2010) the secr etariat  developped databases of capacity 
development projects and activities and compiled a lis t of contacts able to provide information on 
phytosanitary capacity development activities.  The databases are curre ntly prepared and are going to 
be made available through the IPP. 
B. PHYTOSANITARY CAPACITY EVALUATION (PCE)  TOOL 
28. The English version of the PCE has been fina lised and field tested under a number of field 
conditions.  A few more trials remain before the tool is ready for release to contracting parties.  Other 
language versions will foll ow as resources allow. 
29. Background documents on the PCE can be found on the IPC website at:  
https://www.ippc.int/index. php?id=pce&no_cache=1&L=0 .   G/SPS/GEN/1102 
 Page 5 
 
 
  C. PROJECTS  
30. The secretariat continued its active collaborati on with donor agencies and contracting parties 
in the delivery of technical assistance for capacity  development in projects funded through various 
sources.  
31. The number of projects funded by the Standard s and Trade Development Facility (STDF), by 
the European Union or FAO (Technical Cooperation Projects - TCPs)  , in which the IPPC secretariat 
is involved with different levels of participation, have drastically increased and new strategies and 
activities need to be put in place to solve the time and staff shortage, as for instance:  training of 
trainers or well  defined processes of selection of  consultants and mentoring.  Many of these 
initiatives are under way and the advice and work of  the EWG on Capacity Development has been 
central to support the necessary activities in this regard.  
32. The secretariat is involved particularly in the implementation of project STDF/PG/350:  
Global Phytosanitary Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures and Training Kits Project. 
33. The purpose of this project is to help tho se developing countries in which resources are 
limited for creating the necessary technical resources, to implement the core functions of a National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO).  These techni cal resources are specifically manuals, standard 
operating procedures (SOPs) a nd training kits outlining the processes and procedures for 
implementation of ISPMs. 
D. R
EGIONAL WORKSHOPS ON DRAFT ISPM S 
34. In 2011, the draft ISPMs will be reviewed in the following regions: 
Region Date  
(2011 Tentative) Venue Organized by Other 
Funding Source 
Africa Postponed Libreville, Gabon IAPSC PANSPSO/EU/AU 
Asia 6 - 10 September Busan City, 
Republic of Korea FAO Republic of 
Korea/Japan 
Caribbean 26 July Bridgetown, 
Barbados IDB/SPS IDB/SPS 
CIS countries and 
Central Asia 11 -15 July Bykovo, Moscow 
Region FAO-EPPO  FAO 
Latin America Proposals under 
analysis     
Near East Proposals under 
analysis  Cairo, Egypt FAO  
Pacific 7-14 September Nadi, Fiji SPC Australia  
 
35. The SPS committee is invited to note the dates provided in the schedule above and encourage 
the appropriate persons in their respective countri es to ensure that the ISPMs are reviewed and 
comments submitted to the IPPC secretariat before  the deadline of 30 September 2011.  The 
secretariat will administer a survey to work shop attendees to address the association between 
workshop attendance and participation in  the standards development process. G/SPS/GEN/1102 
Page 6  
 
  VI. IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW AND SUPPORT SYSTEM 
36. 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 
has begun with funding support for the first year of operation being provide d with the generous 
support of the European Union.  The priority  acti on is the  establishment of an "IPPC Help Desk" and 
the development, distribution and analysis of a questionnaire on the implementation of the 
Convention by the Contracting Parties.  The secretar iat has initiated a number of steps to resource the 
"IPPC Help Desk" including: 
 the development of a phytosanitary projects and activities database; 
 establishment of a roster  of phytosanitary experts; 
 collection of a number of technical resources;  and 
 establishment of a resource page on the In ternational Phytosanitary Portal (IPP). 
37. The IPPC secretariat is seeking funding to continue the IRSS programme beyond 2011.  
VII. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION 
38. The sustainability of the IPPC secretariat, a nd hence the work programme of the IPPC, is 
being addressed as a matter of urgency.  The cu rrent resource allocation (financial and human 
resources) is simply not sustainable.  Therefore, th e Secretary is giving this his highest priority and 
has begun discussions with the governing body and some  partners to improve the situation in the 
foreseeable future.  An IPPC R esource Mobilization Strategy is u nder development and this will be 
one of the primary focus areas during the annual meeting of the CPM Informal Working Group on 
Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance in October 2011. 
39. Although additional resources were found to ensu re that the basic work programme for 2011 
is possible, early indications are that the budge t for 2012 will need similar extra-budgetary resources 
as for 2011.  This includes any extra FAO contributions  that may be anticipated.  It is essential that 
the IPPC receive regular and predictable contributio ns to allow appropriate planning and delivery of 
the core IPPC work programme, i.e. provide sustainability to the programme.  
40. The secretariat would welcome any discussions with contracting parties or partner 
organizations that could provide solutions to th e current challenges, particularly in the medium 
to long term.  
VIII.  IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR ELECTRONIC  CERTIFICATION IN THE IPPC 
(EPHYTO) 
41. An Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Electronic Certification was held in Seoul, 
Republic of Korea, from 7 to 10 June 2011.  The meeting was attended by participants from 
27 countries and 2 regional plant protection organizations. 
42. An increasing number of countries are converting from paper systems to electronic 
certification systems.  A global ePhyto standard  will greatly facilitate the inter-governmental 
exchange of phytosanitary certificates with improve d security and often large gains in efficiencies.  
Some background information can be found on the IPPC website (https://www.ippc.int/inde x.php?id=1110892&no_cache=1 ).  G/SPS/GEN/1102 
 Page 7 
 
 
  43. For most countries, this plant health initiative will be integrated into their animal health and 
food safety electronic certifications systems.  Particip ants agreed to work together to ultimately agree 
on a global standard for electronic phytosanitary certi fication based on the International Standard on 
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 12, pr obably to be called ePhyto.  Three working groups have been 
established to progress this work with the objectives of  having a draft available by the end of 2011 for 
field testing.  Once it is shown to be functional and robust, it will be entered into the IPPC standard 
setting process, probably for inclusion into I SPM 12 as an Appendix after CPM approval. G/SPS/GEN/1102 
Page 8  
 
  ANNEX 1 
 
Adopted International Standards fo r Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) 
 
 
Texts of adopted ISPMs are available at:  
"https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=1110798&fro mpage=13399&tx_publicatio n_pi1[showUid]=2181
813&type=publication&L=0 " 
 
 
__________