The passing of Dr Ahmed Kamal El-Attar, IPPC contact point for Egypt

The passing of Dr Ahmed Kamal El-Attar, IPPC contact point for Egypt and CPM Bureau representative for Near East and North Africa.

With deep sadness, the IPPC Secretariat announces the passing of Dr Ahmed Kamal El-Attar, the Head of the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt. CAPQ is Egypt’s national plant protection organization (NPPO), and Dr El-Attar was the official IPPC contact point for Egypt.

Dr El-Attar was also the Vice-chairperson of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Bureau- the IPPC’s governing body. He represented the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region on the CPM Bureau, since 2021, and was serving his second term. He also served as Chairperson of the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO), the regional plant protection organization (RPPO). As a member of the CPM Bureau, he made substantial contributions to the development and implementation of the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020–2030.

In his capacity as IPPC contact point for Egypt, Dr El-Attar was astute, deliberate, and committed to the work of his NPPO, NEPPO and the IPPC in protecting plant resources and facilitating safe global trade. He provided leadership for key IPPC initiatives and was a strong advocate for plant health and the urgency of protecting plant resources from pests at the regional and global levels.

“The IPPC and the global plant health community have lost a strong and leading figure in the phytosanitary and plant protection field. His research and professionalism have contributed to wide-ranging accomplishments at national, regional and international levels, towards ensuring a vibrant and progressive IPPC plant health community. We will truly miss an esteemed colleague and a dear friend to all of us in the IPPC community,” said Osama El-Lissy, IPPC Secretary.

The entire IPPC Secretariat and IPPC community extend their condolences to his family and friends.

Dr El-Attar (center) with other members of the CPM Bureau after a meeting in June 2023

Dr El-Attar (second left) during CPM-17 sessions in March 2023

(L-R) Dr El-Attar, Osama El-Lissy- IPPC Secretary, and Mr Ali Al-Shaibani- IPPC contact point from the NPPO of Yemen, at CPM-17 in Rome, Italy in March 2023

(L-R) Dr El-Attar, Ms Shaimaa Ibraheem from the NPPO of Egypt, and Osama El-Lissy- IPPC Secretary at CPM-17 in Rome, Italy in March 2023