84th Meeting of the Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs

Paris, 2023-04-18/20

 

 

The April 2023 meeting of the EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs was organized in Paris on 2023-04-18/20. The meeting focussed on the review of the draft Standards, which will be discussed by the members of the IPPC Standards Committee (SC). The Panel studied the drafts in order to provide inputs from the EPPO region to European SC members. Discussions focussed on the following drafts which may be shared by the IPPC Secretariat for country consultation in July 2023:

  • 2023 Amendments to ISPM 5 Glossary of phytosanitary terms
  • Reorganization and revision of Pest Risk Analysis Standards
  • Annex International Movement of Mango (Mangifera indica) fruit to ISPM 46 Commodity- specific standards for phytosanitary measures
  • Annex Use of systems approaches in managing the pest risks associated with the movement of wood to ISPM 39 International movement of wood
  • Annex Design and use of systems approaches for phytosanitary certification of seeds to ISPM 38 International movement of seeds.

 

The Panel also discussed the revision of ISPM 4 Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas which was sent for consultation in 2022 and is still under discussion by the SC.

 

 

The Panel members were updated on recent IPPC discussions, including those of the CPM Bureau, the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) and the Technical Consultation (TC) among RPPOs. The Panel also evaluated the 17th session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-17 ) that was organized in Rome on 2023-03-27/31. The Panel appreciated its outcomes and highlighted the important issues for the EPPO region which need to be followed.

 

The Panel discussed the progress of a number of strategic issues, including the preparation for the IPPC Call for topics in 2023 and for the IPPC Workshop on Sea Containers (EPPO will facilitate a teleconference to give inputs to European delegates attending this event). The Panel also considered the outcomes of the ongoing discussions of the CPM Focus Groups for the ‘Sustainable funding for the IPPC ePhyto Solution’ and ‘Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid’ and discussed how to get ready for the expected new CPM Focus Groups on ‘Research Coordination’ and ‘Diagnostic Laboratory Network’. The Panel exchanged information on the expected initiatives for the International Day for Plant Health on the 12th of May and discussed the new EPPO initiative for an EPPO Network of experts working on surveillance, monitoring, and control of the Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).

 

The next meeting of the EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs is planned to take place on 2023-09-06/08 in conjunction with the IPPC/FAO Regional Workshop for Europe and Central Asia to be held in Montenegro on 2023-09-04/06.