History of the Commission

The Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region (formerly the Plant Protection Agreement for South-East Asia and Pacific Region) was approved by the 23rd Session of the FAO Council in November 1955 and entered into force on 2 July 1956. Amendments to this Agreement are:

i) Article I(a) approved by the 49th Session of the FAO Council in November 1967; ii) Title of the Agreement and the name of the Committee approved by the 75th Session of the FAO Council in 1979; iii) Article I(a) of the Agreement approved by the 84th Session of the FAO Council in November 1983; iv) Articles II, III, IV and XIV concerning financial obligations approved by the 84th Session of the FAO Council in November 1983; v) At the 117th Session of the FAO Council approved, in November 1999, two sets of amendments to the Agreement designed to bring the Agreement into line with the New Revised Text of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), as well as with modern requirements for plant protection and to strengthen the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission. The Council agreed that such amendments did not involve new obligations for the Contracting Governments and, therefore, pursuant to Article IX.4 of the Agreement, will come into force with respect to all Contracting Governments as from the thirtieth day after acceptance by two-thirds of Members.

Agreement

Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region (currently enforced). Revision of the Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region. There are two sets of amendment of the revised agreement. The second set of amendment providing for the deletion of the detailed measure of the South American Leaf Blight is not circulated until the Director General is notified by the APPPC Secretary that a satisfactory regional standard on the disease has been adopted by the Commission. The first set of amendments has been circulated to APPPC members for acceptance. Over this period, it has successfully convened several biennium sessions.

1956

The Commission held its first meeting in 1956, originally named the “Plant Protection Committee for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region,” with Malaya playing a pivotal role in its formation.

Several officials played key roles in shaping the Commission during its early years. Notably, Anthony Johnston, a pathologist from Malaya, raised awareness about South American leaf blight of rubber, a significant concern in the region. Johnston later served as FAO's Regional Plant Protection Officer (RPPO), Executive Secretary (EO) of APPPC, and eventually became the director of the Commonwealth Mycological Institute. Another significant figure was D. Bap Reddy, who also served as RPPO and EO, and authored the book Plant Protection in Asia and the Pacific: An Overview, marking the Commission's 25th anniversary. Other notable figures of this era include Kang Soo Ming, Asna Booty Othman, Wan Normah Wan Ismail, SA Suparno, Wang Fuxiang, Vanham, Somboon Chareonridhi, Udorn Unahawatti, Dam Quoc Tru, R. Ikin, J.R. Morschel, M. Catley, S. Navaratnam, and L.G. Morrison.

1983

The 13th session in 1983 marked a significant turning point when the Committee was renamed the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission. During this session, amendments to the Plant Protection Agreement extended its geographic coverage to include the People’s Republic of China, and mandatory financial contributions from member countries were instituted.

1985

In its 14th session, the APPPC focused on topics like pesticide handling, integrated pest management (IPM), updates to pest lists in Annex A, quarantine measures, and contingency planning. This session also emphasized plant quarantine for cargo containers, urging member countries to strengthen controls. The APPPC Executive Committee was also formed, and progress was made in implementing the international code of conduct on pesticide distribution and use.

1989

The 16th session saw the establishment of Standing Committees on Plant Quarantine and IPM. A strategy for harmonizing phytosanitary principles and procedures was introduced, focusing on Pest Risk Analyses and Import Protocol Development guidelines.

1990

The APPPC Expert Consultation on Phytosanitary Harmonization was held in Bangkok, becoming one of the first RPPO meetings globally to focus on this issue. This meeting laid the foundation for ISPM 1, adopted by FAO in 1993.

1998

The Commission focused on the Rotterdam Convention’s implementation concerning hazardous chemicals and pesticides, continuing its IPM programmes for rice and vegetables.

1999

At the 21st session, amendments to the Plant Protection Agreement addressed regional phytosanitary standards and removed detailed measures concerning South American leaf blight of Hevea rubber, conditional on the adoption of a satisfactory regional standard.

2022

The thirty-second Session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) was held from 7-11 November 2022 in hybrid mode at Grande Centre Point Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Sixty delegates from 19 member countries of the APPPC (out of 25); one observer country and three international organizations attended the meeting. The sessions at the meeting:

• Updated the members on the work of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) including activities concerning the IPPC strategic framework, ePhyto, emerging pests, sea container hygiene, contaminating pests, E-commerce, commodity and pathway standards and the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH)
• Discussed the 1999 amendments to the Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific region with the assistance of FAO Senior Legal Officer, and facilitated one-on-one-meetings of member delegations especially the non-rubber producing countries with the FAO Legal Expert in pursuance of acceptance of these amendments by the members
• Reviewed and adopted the APPPC six-year Strategic Plan 2022-2028
• Deliberated on the draft commodity regional standards for phytosanitary measures (RSPMs) and adopted the APPPC Standard Setting Procedure for publication
• Approved the draft guidance document entitled, “Regional Implementation Guidance (RIG) for Phytosanitary Procedures for Seed Health Certification” for publication
• Approved the establishment of the APPPC Advisory Group and its Terms of Reference
• Noted the updates on delivery of APPPC meetings on surveillance, ePhyto, phytosanitary measures, the management of fruit flies in mangoes and training sessions on the analysis of active ingredients, the management of pesticides and the determination of pesticide residues.

The APPPC activities during 2020-2022 (till September) were reviewed and appreciated as despite the COVID-19 difficulties, good progress had been made. The work programme for the 2023-24 biennium was approved. This included workshops to be held on: pest surveillance, draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), ePhyto, hands-on training in molecular diagnostics for South American leaf blight (SALB), the Chili seed RSPM, emerging pests, and fall army worm (FAW), IPM/IPHM and pesticide management. The financial report was presented, and the proposed budget adopted. The next APPPC session will be hosted by China.

This commission also established the five members Advisory Group to support APPPC and provide the useful guidance to the Secretariat.

2024

The 33rd Biennium Sessions of APPPC was held in Suzhou, China from 23-27 September 2024. Among various agenda items, the Session discussed the title of the draft RSPMs and agreed;

• Options for Phytosanitary measures for the international movement of whole milled (white) rice (Oryza sativa)
• Options for Phytosanitary measures for the international movement of fresh longan (Dimocarpus longan) fruit
• adopted the two RSPMs
• The Executive Secretary of APPPC welcomed to all the participants and presented the report of the activities of the previous biennium and financial expenditure. He also presented the APPPC 1983 and 1999 amendements for the acceptance to the members.
• Encouraged member countries to actively participate in and contribute to the RSPM development including submission of supporting material before EWG meeting, nomination technical experts for EWG and increase of number of countries for submission of country comments to the draft specifications and draft RSPMs
• Thanked the SC members, EWG members and their respective countries for their valuable contribution
• Thanked the IPPC Secretariat and APPPC Secretariat for their management of on-line commenting system and organizing meetings.

MISSION

The commission administers the Regional Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and the Pacific. It reviews the plant protection situation at the national level in member countries, and also at the regional level. Coordinating and promoting development of regional plant protection systems, assisting member countries to develop effective plant protection regimes, setting standards for phytosanitary measures, and facilitating information sharing are among its key objectives. A total of 25 countries are members and the APPPC meets at least once every two years. The Asia-Pacific region is vast, both in terms of geography and population, yet it often lacks the collective impact on international systems that smaller, more unified regions like Europe enjoy. To ensure our influence is proportional to our size, it's essential that we unite and act as a cohesive group. This unity enables us to shape decisions that matter to our region and contribute meaningfully in global forums, ensuring that decisions impacting us are made with our participation, not in our absence.

The APPPC offers a unique platform for senior plant health officials to engage directly with one another. Through in-person meetings at APPPC sessions or workshops, officials collaborate on issues of shared concern. These sessions address a wide range of topics, including:

• Regional priorities and work programmes,
• Strategic directions for the future
• Responses to new pest incursions and outbreaks
• Trade-related challenges
• Issues raised during IPPC Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) meetings

Specialized officers also collaborate through regional workshops on focused programmes related to plant quarantine, phytosanitary systems, integrated pest management (IPM), pesticide management, and capacity development.

One of APPPC’s key roles is to develop regional standards for phytosanitary measures, giving member countries a voice in shaping these standards. Regional standards allow us to prioritize issues specific to our region that may not receive global attention. In some cases, these regional standards serve as a foundation for future international standards, ensuring our input is considered early in the process.

Each year, APPPC/International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) regional workshops are held to review draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). During these workshops, we develop unified regional perspectives on the draft standards and present our collective stance.

Similarly, the APPPC works to establish regional positions on matters under consideration at CPM meetings, allowing us to influence international outcomes. These discussions take place during regional workshops and pre-CPM meetings. We also strive to agree on regional positions to advocate for at FAO management and the IPPC Secretariat, particularly on issues of importance to the Asia-Pacific region.

For countries that do not commonly work in one of the five official languages of the IPPC, membership in the APPPC offers an opportunity to overcome language barriers. By working collaboratively to develop regional positions, non-FAO language countries benefit from the support of other APPPC members, ensuring their voices are heard on complex technical issues in international forums.

In addition to policy influence, the APPPC offers regional training programmes that strengthen biosecurity and food security in our region. These programmes provide members with new pest control measures, diagnostic and inspection procedures, trading protocols, IPM, and pesticide management. Members benefit by participating in training on unfamiliar topics and contributing to programmes where they have expertise.

Structure

The Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and Pacific Region is an intergovernmental treaty and administered by the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission. The Commission consists of representatives of all member countries and elects amongst them a chairperson who serves for a period of two years. The Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organization appoints and provides the secretariat that coordinates, organizes and follows up the work of the Commission. The Commission, according to its provisions convenes at least once for every two years and opens for participation to all member countries. For implementation of the Agreement, the Commission has established three standing committees, namely:

• Standing Committee on plant quarantine
• Standing Committee on integrated pest management
• Standing Committee on pesticides.

Additionally, the 32nd sessions of the commission established Advisory Group to provide support.

Following are the major functions of the standard Committee of the APPPC

Plant quarantine

APPPC helps member countries analyze risks to their national plant resources and use science-based measures to safeguard their cultivated and wild plants. The Commission helps member countries improve their capacity for pest surveillance, pest risk analysis, pest risk management through systems approaches, and implementation of regional and international standards for phytosanitary measures. It helps with the management of outbreaks of invasive species to promote safe agricultural trade. The APPPC facilitates information exchange networks among member countries through the APPPC website, which allows countries to share import and export requirements, pest reports, updated pest control programmes, and early warning of risks. The Commission helps countries develop plant health policy and regulations, and systems and practices to minimize the potential risk of the introduction and spread of regulated pests.

Integrated pest management

From small family farms to factory farms, the use of chemical pesticides is widespread throughout the Asia-Pacific region. These chemical pesticides can damage the environment, pose health risks to farmers and possibly lead to super-storms of chemical-resistant pests. The APPPC plays an important role in promoting integrated pest management, which is an ecologically based, environmentally safe method for farmers to protect their crops against pest and disease incursions without resorting to potentially dangerous chemicals. The Commission advances the growing use and effectiveness of IPM across the region through Farmer Field Schools, FAO regional IPM programmes, collaborative research and capacity-building programmes for farmers, trainers, and plant protection workers. It coordinates regional information sharing and agreements so that member countries can adopt IPM technologies that are appropriate for their situations.

Pesticide management

The abusive use of chemical pesticides carries potentially serious risks for the environment and human health. The APPPC works to ensure that production, trade, and use of chemical pesticides are properly and effectively regulated in line with the FAO Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management and other international treaties, as well as to reduce the pesticide risks as much as possible.

The Commission is assisting members with ratification and implementation of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. Most member countries in the region have signed on to this convention. Joining the Convention involved assistance to develop regulations and infrastructure to implement the measures required to make pesticide use in member countries in the region as safe as possible.