1. International Agreements and Pest Management Programmes
International Plant Protection Convention
Food and Agriculture Organization
Rome, Italy
Christina Devorshak, Ph.D.
(USDA-APHIS-PPQ / Raleigh, NC, USA)

2. What are some reasons to undertake an AWPM programme?

3. Agricultural trade
US$200 billion industry – Increasing steadily since WTO entered into force
Increased volume of trade
More demand for wider variety of goods
Increased possibility of transporting pests

4. Problem
How to ensure fair opportunities for trade, but at the same time ensure that trade is safe?
How to ensure that protective measures are not disguised barriers to trade?

5. International Agreements
World Trade Organization (140+ members)
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
International Plant Protection Convention
Convention on Biological Diversity
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

6. International Regulatory Framework
Least trade
restrictive
measures
Protecting
wild flora
IPPC
SPS CP
CBD
GMOs as
potential
plant pests
Trade and
Environment

7. History of the SPS GATT begins in 1948
exists to 1994 w/o Agriculture Agreements
Exception in GATT Article XX.b for measures to protect human, animal and plant health and life

8. The Uruguay Round 1986-94 established the WTO
added Agreements on Agriculture
included the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement)

9. Desired elements Working Group consensus on SPS measures:
Should not be disguised trade barriers
Should be harmonised and based on science
Special considerations for developing countries
Transparency in setting regulations and settling disputes
International committee for implementation

10. The SPS Agreement In force for many countries since 1995
Focus on the purpose of the measure
Limited to the protection of:
human or animal life and health (sanitary)
plant life and health (phytosanitary)

11. Key SPS Provisions Sovereignty • Risk Assessment
Harmonization • Regionalization
Equivalence • Area Freedom
Transparency • Low Prevalence
Technical Assistance
Dispute Settlement
Least trade restrictive (minimal impact)
Non-discrimination
“Appropriate level of protection” = ALOP

12. Article 2
“Members shall ensure that any sanitary or phytosanitary measure is applied only to the extent necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health, is based on scientific principles and is not maintained without sufficient scientific evidence...”.

13. The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) is the only WTO agreement that identifies specific organizations responsible for standard setting and international harmonization.

14. Relationship to the SPS
Art 3 of the SPS (Harmonization)
measures based on international standards or justify deviations
participation in standard setting bodies
standard setting organizations are:
Codex Alimentarius Commission,
Office Internationale des Epizooties, and
International Plant Protection Convention

15. The SPS makes provision for phytosanitary protection in a trade agreement... The IPPC makes complementary provision for trade in a protection agreement.

16. Why is this important to YOU?
Awareness of legal and political motivation that may influence work
Justification to undertake new programmes or research
Potential to seek out new opportunities for research and/or funding

17. What is the IPPC?
A multilateral treaty for international cooperation in plant protection
The global instrument for the harmonization of phytosanitary measures
The phytosanitary standard-setting organization named in the WTO-SPS Agreement

18. Purpose of the IPPC
… to secure common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures for their control.

19. History Original IPPC came into force in 1952
Amended in entered into force 1991
Amended again in 1997
requires 2/3 of member’s acceptance
consistent with SPS principles and expectations
formalizes Secretariat and standard-setting

20. Membership Over 120 Contracting Parties (to the 1979 text)
Includes most major trading partners except China and the European Community
Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures

21. Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures
FAO members and contracting parties
Observers: countries, RPPOs, International Organizations
Acceptance of ISPMs by consensus
Reviews global plant protection needs
Serves as a scientific and technical forum

22. Scope of the IPPC Protecting plants from harmful pests
plants include forests and wild flora
pests include diseases and weeds
harm includes indirect effects (e.g. weeds)
not limited to trade
Includes bio-control organisms
Extends to storage places, conveyances, and containers
Other objects or materials capable of harbouring or spreading pests

23. Key Provisions of the IPPC
Appropriate national legislation and infrastructure
Countries should implement adequate measures
Strength of measures appropriate
Uniform certification
Free access to information
Regionalization
Cooperation

24. Key Obligations Administer an NPPO
identify official contact point
Exchange official and scientific information
conduct surveillance for pests
Develop and observe standards (ISPMs)
Recognize equivalence
Conduct treatments and certify exports
Pest free areas
Pest eradication programmes

25. Scope
“The coverage of the IPPC definition of plant pests includes weeds and other species that have indirect effects on plants. Therefore the scope of the Convention applies to the protection of wild flora resulting in an important contribution to the conservation of biological diversity.” (ICPM 2001)

26. CBD relationship to the IPPC
GMOs (LMOs) to the extent that such organisms may be considered plant pests
Biosafety as it involves pest risk analysis, biocontrol, and the application of phytosanitary measures
Alien invasive species to the extent that these include pests of plants and plant products

27. Secretariat Activities
Phytosanitary standard-setting
Coordination with RPPOs and NPPOs
Cooperation with international orgs:
IAEA, WTO, CBD, others
Information exchange
Technical assistance
Dispute settlement
Work programme decided by ICPM

28. Information Exchange Facilitate mandatory information exchange
standards
pest status
regulations, requirements, pest lists
non-compliance, emergencies

30. Objective of Harmonization
Countries use standards as basis for national regulations
These premises cannot be challenged under SPS

31. The Standards Committee
Composed of 20 int’l technical experts
Development of international standards:
approval of draft specifications
review and recommendation of draft standards
prepares draft standards for country consultation
ensure consistency in development of new standards

32. Types of standards Reference standards Pest risk analysis standards
Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms
Pest risk analysis standards
Concept standards
Guidelines for pest free areas
Specific standards
Wood packaging

33. Priorities for new standards?
What standards would be most useful to developing countries?
What specific pests should be targeted first?
What programmes should be implemented (e.g. AWPM, SIT, PFAs?)
What specific commodities are most important (to you or your country)?
Who can suggest topics?
Who decides priorities?

34. Take home message SPS Agreement IPPC Measures:
protect human, animal and plant life or health
should meet “ALOP”, but be least trade restrictive
based on science and risk assessment
IPPC
Plant protection agreement with provision for trade
Recognition of and guidance for pest free areas, areas of low prevalence and regions

35. More info… Secretariat of the IPPC Internet: http://www.ippc.int
Secretariat of the IPPC
FAO – AGPP – IPPC
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
Rome, ITALY 00100
Fax:
Tel:

36. My contact details… Christina Devorshak, PhD USDA APHIS PPQ
Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory
1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 300
Raleigh NC, USA
Tel: