Commodity standards, a webinar explains new directions in the IPPC work

Commodity standards for phytosanitary measures are crucial to safeguard plant-based agriculture, protect the environment and facilitate safe trade. The development of commodity and pathway-specific standards is a key component of the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030. Included amongst the key programmes of the IPPC development agenda for 2020-2030, the adoption of commodity-specific standards is expected to facilitate and accelerate trade negotiations and simplify safe trade in plant products by 2030.

The IPPC standard setting work will focus more and more on commodity- or pathway-specific topics in the near future. Seven pathways standards have been already adopted over the past few years, covering wood packaging material, movement of seed, wood, growing media, as well as used vehicles, machinery and equipment. A draft International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures on Commodity specific standards will be presented for adoption at the sixteenth session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measure (CPM-16) in April 2022 and will include annexes for specific commodities.

To learn more about these standards and the work of the IPPC on this direction, national and regional plant protection organizations are invited to attend the IPPC webinar on Commodity Standards that will take place on Wednesday, 16 February. This will be a unique opportunity to find out why commodity-based standards are so important and what the global plant health community is doing to develop and implement these standards at the global level. The event will also provide a platform to discuss potential partnerships and networks for the development of specific commodity standards.

Phytosanitary and standard setting experts from different regions of the world will address key issues around the concept and principles of commodity standards and the work of the global plant health community in the upcoming years. They will also focus on potential benefits and challenges countries can meet while implementing these standards, especially developing and least developed countries. The draft ISPM that will be presented at CPM-16 and the work of the Technical Panel for Commodity Standards around it will be also central in the discussion.

Interested participants can register to the morning session from 9 to 11 am (Rome time) or the evening session from 5 to 7 pm (Rome time).

The webinar will be in English with interpretation in all the other UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish).

Register to the morning session

Register to the afternoon session

Learn more about the programme of the event