74^th EPPO Council Session

Baku, 2024-09-24/25

The 74^th Session of EPPO Council took place in Baku on the 24^th and 25^th of September 2024 at the kind invitation of AFSA (Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan). Delegates were welcomed by Ms Zkiyya Mustafayeva (Deputy Chairman of AFSA) and by Mr Sarvan Jafarov Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This Council Session was preceded by meetings of the Accounts Verification Panel (online) and the Executive Committee, and followed by the Euphresco Governing Board. Mr Kurzweil (Chair) welcomed delegates from 33 EPPO member countries and the European Commission (permanent observer). In addition, 5 more countries were represented by other countries and could participate in the voting process.

Council members were updated on the technical work being carried out by EPPO Panels under the guidance of the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations and the Working Party on Plant Protection Products. They also received reports on a number of current and future activities, such as EPPO-Q-bank database, revision of EPPO datasheets, Regulated Non Quarantine Pests (RNQP II, Euphresco, EUPHRESCO III and DROP), and other projects or bids (e.g. BeXyl, FORSAID, IAS Risk Assessment, Green ERA-Hub), as well as on the European Minor Uses Co-ordination Facility (MUCF).

A number of new and revised EPPO Standards were adopted (see below), and six pests were added to the EPPO A1 and A2 Lists of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests.

Council accepted the Annual Report for 2023, as well as the budget, work programme and calendar of meetings for 2025.

The participation of EPPO in global activities (e.g. IPPC regional workshops, Technical Consultation among RPPOs, CPM, IPPC bodies, SPG) was discussed, as well as the nomination of European experts in IPPC bodies.

Two important elections took place during this Council Session. Ms Olga Lavrentjeva has been elected as the new EPPO Director-General, and she will take up her duties on January 1, 2025. The EPPO Council warmly thanked Mr Nico Horn for his hard work during his 6 years of service and wished him a happy retirement at the end of 2024. Mr van Herzele has been elected as the new EPPO Chair and he will also take up his duties on January 1, 2025. The EPPO Council warmly thanked Mr Kurzweil (Chair) for his dedication and significant contribution to the Organization.

Ms Lavrentjeva and Mr Horn

Mr Kurzweil and Mr van Herzele

As a result of other statutory elections, the EPPO Executive Committee (as of January 2025) will be composed of Italy, Finland, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. For the Accounts Verification Panel, Germany, Malta and Sweden will serve as members; Croatia and Slovenia will serve as alternates. Finally, Ms Byrne will replace Mr van Herzele in the Staff Committee.

Special thanks were conveyed to two Council delegates, Ms Schorn (former EPPO Chair, NPPO of Germany) and Ms Bouhot-Delduc (NPPO of France), as well as to a staff member of the EPPO Secretariat, Ms Roy (Information Manager), as all of them will retire in 2024.

On behalf of all delegates Mr Kurzweil (Chair) congratulated the Azerbaijan delegation for the excellent organization of this Council Session, the memorable dinner in a caravanserai in the Old City of Baku, and the interesting technical visit. He closed the meeting, thanking all delegates and observers for their participation, as well as the EPPO Secretariat and the interpreters for their support. The next session of EPPO Council will take place in Paris on the 23^rd and 24^th of September 2025 .

Mr Kurzweil and Mr Horn

Ms Schorn and Ms Bouhot-Delduc

EPPO Secretariat team in Baku with Mr Lavigne
(EPPO‘s chartered accountant – on the left)