The IPPC and its standard setting process

1
The IPPC and its standard setting process

• Workshop on SPS coordination to national and
  regional levels .
• Geneva , Switzerland .
• IPPC Secretariat

2
The IPPC What we are

• International framework for protection of plants
  from pests
• Convention with
• a long history of joint work of the contracting
  parties
• the advantages to have reviewed its text after
  the SPS Agreement
• the problems of funds shortage
• Clear national responsibilities and sound basis
  of regional participation through its regional
  plant protection organizations.
• And also, 3 key activities
• Standard setting organization( recognized as one
  of the 3 ISSBs)
• Facilitates exchange of information
• Works towards building national phytosanitary
  capacity

3
Standard setting and itsWork programme

• Standards to guide members on how to establish
  and apply their phytosanitary measures, in a way
  compatible with their rights, obligations and
  responsibilities.
• Developed and adopted by IPPC contracting parties
• 34 adopted ISPMs(1993-2011)14 treatments and 1
  diagnostic protocol.
• To be implemented by Members
• 75 topics at various stages of development on the
  work program

4
Strengths and weakness of the IPPC SS Process

• Inclusiveness
• Consultative nature
• Transparency
• Open to the best scientific advise and to learn
  from other ISSBs
• Procedure focused to the needs
• Looking for constant improvements
• Supported by the interest and participation of
  the members
• Brutally democratic
• Limited by the availability of resources
• Not so speedy as it could be expected
• Susceptible to lobby

5
Concerns of the IPPC membership

• Get substantive advance in the SS work program
  selecting the best options to use limited
  resources.
• Obtain the right balance between speed and
  quality in the SS process.
• Ensure that the views of all contracting parties
  are taken into account.
• Ensure the continuation of the collaborative
  spirit of this Convention.
• Ensure that SS is followed by the implementation
  of the standards by contracting parties.

6
Changes under consideration

• Recommendations of the Paris Focus Group, 2011
• No text negotiation at CPM
• More commenting periods before CPM
• New simpler procedures for approval of diagnostic
  protocols and phytosanitary treatments.
• Improved proposals for new ISPMs.
• Improved efficiencies of the work of the
  Standard Committee in the SS process

7
Final message

• The system is robust, involves all contracting
  parties and stakeholders, is based on science and
  striving for continual improvement, the weakness
  are linked to the strengths and the key issue is
  to get adequate balance .
• The system is different from the ones implemented
  by the other ISSBs by the nature of the
  organizations, the availability of resources and
  the scope (2/3 of the agricultural trade and a
  substantive number of different commodities and
  pests)

8
IPPC Contact information

• IPPC Secretariat
• Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
• 00153 Rome, Italy
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Email ippc_at_fao.org
• https//www.ippc.int/