IPPC urges stronger collaboration to protect plants from pests as 2023 regional workshops commence

Rome, 16 August 2023. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat, in conjunction with regional plant protection organizations (RPPOs), has commenced the 2023 annual IPPC regional workshops, to engage contracting parties on the strategic work of the secretariat, particularly to strengthen countries’ phytosanitary capacity. Held under the theme: “Plant health and environmental protection”, the 2023 regional workshops will provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, information and experiences at the regional level, while also strengthening collaboration for plant health.

The regional workshops will also complement the IPPC’s consultation period (1 July – 30 September), giving participants an opportunity to make input into a number of draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). Technical and general presentations will focus on issues such as the use of IPPC’s guides and training materials to help countries better understand and implement the standards, revised CPM recommendation on minimizing the risk of movement of pests via sea containers, the benefits of conducting Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluations, adopting the IPPC ePhyto Solution for certification of exports in international trade, and how e-commerce is reducing the spread of pests distributed through the mail or courier pathway.

Workshop participants include representatives from regional and national plant protection organizations (RPPOs, NPPOs) and members of the Commission of Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Bureau, IPPC Standards and Implementation and Capacity Development Committees. Other participants are representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regional, sub-regional and national offices. They will discuss issues pertinent to their regions and possible interventions to prevent the introduction and spread of pests into their territories, consequently ensuring better food production, a better environment and safer cross border trade.

“Our greatest strength lies in the dedication, passion and expertise of the plant health community. We can achieve a lot by working together to adopt and implement international phytosanitary standards”, said Osama El-Lissy, IPPC Secretary.

He noted that with increased awareness over the years, about the importance of safeguarding food security, the environment, and international trade by protecting plants from pests, “we have an opportunity to come together, to combine efforts, and resources, and take a holistic and systematic approach to truly improve plant health at regional and global levels.”

El-Lissy thanked the various RPPOs for hosting and co-organizing the regional workshops, which will also address governance and strategic issues.

The first IPPC regional workshop will be held from 16 – 18 August in Antigua and Barbuda, for the Caribbean region. It will be hosted by the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency. Below is a schedule of the upcoming workshops: