Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency The Role of Codex and the International Plant Protection Convention in International Standard Setting Gary Luckman IAEA Expert Cairns, July 2009

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency An international treaty since 1953; Revised in 1973 and 1997 Has its own membership (170) Not limited to applications in trade Secretariat in FAO Harmonization role began with the phytosanitary certificate Standard setting started in 1993 Currently 31 ISPMs IPPC

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency IPPC Standards Reference, concept, or specific Usually adopted by consensus of Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM); meets annually Currently no concept standard for treatments ISPM No. 18 (irradiation) is the first specific treatment standard

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency Objective The objective is to prevent the introduction or spread of regulated pests. This may be realized by achieving certain responses from the treatment of targeted pests. Mortality Non emergence of adults Sterility Inactivation Efficacy is defined by NPPO of the importing country: Efficacy concepts: Description of required response: e.g., sterility Statistical level of response required, e.g., Probit 9

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency New Concept Irradiation is a phytosanitary treatment with different options for a desired response: Inability of insects to emerge or to fly Sterility Inactivation Mortality

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency Required Response … a specified level of effect for a treatment (ISPM # 18; Guidelines for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure; IPPC 2003) An effect (e.g., mortality) Specified level (e.g., probit 9)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency Often based on standards for other phytosanitary treatments (e.g., fumigation) Probit 9 ( % response, usually mortality) Disadvantages Normally an extremely high level of security Not always possible to work with the large number of pests required for appropriate research Effectiveness

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency ISPM No. 18 Introduction: Scope, references, definitions and abbreviations and outline of requirements Technical Requirements: Authority, treatment objective, treatment, dosimetry, approval of facilities, system integrity, documentation, inspection, research Two annexes and two appendices: Annexes: Specific approved treatments; checklist for facility approval Appendices: Estimates of minimum absorbed dose doses for selected pest groups, research protocol

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency ISPM No. 18 Facts 1st specific standard for risk management 1st standard for a phytosanitary treatment Only standard with annexes & appendices Introduces concept of “required response” Introduces concept of different endpoints Introduces concept of system integrity Completed jointly with IAEA

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency Authority The National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) is responsible for the evaluation, adoption and use of irradiation as phytosanitary measure

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency Summary Irradiation is different than other treatments in many ways Various responses may be possible for irradiation treatment Regulatory criteria play an important role in deciding the most appropriate response

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Atomic Energy Agency The future 14 specific treatments to be adopted by the IPPC 6 treatments adopted into ISPM 28 in 2009 Feasibility studies Bilateral agreements Expand tolerance research Adjustments in regulatory frameworks Increased consumer acceptance