IPPC Contracting Parties step up in issuing postage stamps to promote the International Year of Plant Health in 2020

Rome, June 2020. Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, so far June has been a month rich in activities to promote the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) in 2020.

Many initiatives are being undertaken by IPPC contracting parties (CPs) at the national level. After the issuing of IYPH coins by Belgium and Italy, many CPs are engaging in issuing postage stamps to commemorate the IYPH 2020.

Upon request of the IPPC Secretariat and Finland, the Bureau of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) invited its CPs to consider issuing a commemorative postage stamp to promote the IYPH 2020. All the designated operators of UPU member countries have been invited to adopt the IYPH theme and contribute to the initiative, which was welcomed by a number of countries.

“Issuing commemorative coins and stamps is one of the key outreach initiatives throughout the International Year of Plant Health, which will be remembered for the years to come” said Jingyuan Xia, IPPC Secretary, in welcoming this great initiative.

To date, IYPH stamps were released by eleven IPPC CPs, including Finland, the Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia and the Vatican, while a number of others have announced relevant plans.

Further information on the issuing of postage stamps can be found in the UPU International Bureau Circular.

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Update on 24 August 2020:

Japan, United Arab Emirates, Sierra Leone and Togo also issued IYPH commemorative stamps, increasing the total number of countries to fifteen.

Update on 24 September 2020:

Malta, Moldova, Slovakia and Slovenia are also issuing IYPH commemorative stamps, increasing the total number of countries to nineteen.

Update on 27 October 2020: Italy, Portugal and Turkey announced the issuing of IYPH commemorative stamps, increasing the total number of countries to twenty-two.