Celebration of the 65th Anniversary of the International Plant Protection Convention

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) was established on 3 April 1952, which aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests. This year is the 65th Anniversary of the IPPC. During the twelfth Session of the Commission of Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-12) held from 5 to 11 April 2017 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, a reception was organized at the Oakwood Hotel for celebrating the 65th anniversary of the IPPC, with presence of all CPM-12 participants.

The reception was chaired by Mr. Craig Fedchock (IPPC Adviser) and opened by Mr. Jingyuan Xia (IPPC Secretary). After Mr. Bong-Kyun Park (Commissioner of Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, MAFRA of Korea) delivered a welcome address, Secretary Xia presented Commissioner Park an Appreciation Certificate from the IPPC to thank APQA for the generous support to and excellent organization of CPM-12, which is the first CPM organized outside of Rome in IPPC history.

Mr. Ralf Lopian (IPPC Contact Point for Finland) made complimentary remarks on the great contribution of Mr. John Hedley (New Zealand) to the IPPC. Mr. Hedley gave a speech on the successful history of the IPPC, and he also highlighted that the keywords for the future of the IPPC community should be: commitment, cooperation and compromise. Mr. Hedley further noted that the IPPC Secretariat should continuously serve the needs of its contracting parties, and that the world direly needs the IPPC, and particularly hundreds of new treatments, commodity standards, and quick application of Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation.

After Mr. Hedley s address, Ms. Lois Ransom (CPM Chairperson) presented an Appreciation Certificate from the IPPC to Mr. Hedley for recognition of his long-term contribution to the IPPC.