94th Meeting of the Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs

in conjunction with the IPPC Regional Workshop for Europe and Central Asia

Riga, 2026-08-31/09-04

 

 

 

The EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs provides a forum for the EPPO Member Countries and their NPPOs to exchange information and develop harmonised views and positions on matters related to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It also facilitates the preparation of the member governments for the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. The list of the Panel Members and their terms of reference is available on the EPPO website.

 

The EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs met on 2026-08-31/09-04 in Riga in conjunction with the 2026 IPPC/EPPO Regional Workshop for Europe and Central Asia that took place on 2026-09-01/04 . This meeting was hosted by the State Plant Protection Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia. Thanks are due for the warm hospitality and the excellent organization of this joint meeting.

 

This was the first time that the Panel meeting and the Regional Workshop has been held jointly. Participants welcomed this format, which facilitated broader exchanges, regional cooperation and the joint preparation of comments on draft IPPC documents among countries from across Europe and Central Asia.

 

 

The Panel members and the Workshop participants discussed several draft IPPC documents under IPPC consultation. These comprised five draft Commodity-specific Standards as well as a new draft specification for the revision of an ISPM, as listed below.

 

Once finalized, the EPPO comments will be shared with EPPO countries for endorsement and subsequently submitted to the IPPC Secretariat through the IPPC Online Commenting System (OCS).

 

Draft annexes to ISPM 46 Commodity-specific standards for phytosanitary measures for first consultation:

  • International movement of Citrus fruit for consumption
  • International movement of seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris
  • International movement of fresh Malus domestica fruit for consumption

 

Draft annexes to ISPM 46 Commodity-specific standards for phytosanitary measures for second consultation:

  • International movement of fresh Musa spp. fruit
  • International movement of fresh Colocasia esculenta for consumption

 

Draft ISPM specification for the revision of:

  • ISPM 3 Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms

 

During the meeting, the Panel members and the Workshop participants were also updated on IPPC governance, strategic issues and implementation and capacity development activities. A representative of the NPPO of the host country gave a comprehensive and informative presentation on Latvia’s phytosanitary system.

 

 

In addition to the joint IPPC/EPPO Workshop the Panel held two additional back to back sessions during which it discussed the EPPO nominations in CPM bodies for the European region, the recent discussions of the Focus Groups, and strategic issues in preparation for the meeting of the IPPC Strategic Planning Group (SPG) and the Technical Consultation among RPPOs to consider out ways to present the regional views to the whole IPPC community.

 

The next meeting of the EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs will take place in Paris, at the EPPO Headquarters, on 2027-01-25/27.