Orientation session for national plant protection organizations sets the stage for CPM-19
Posted on Tue, 18 Mar 2025, 07:24
Delegates at the NPPO orientation session during CPM-19 ©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti
17 March 2025, Rome. To strengthen the implementation of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and foster the adoption of standards to harmonize phytosanitary measures against plant pests, countries must be able to effectively participate in the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). As the IPPC’s main governing body, CPM provides a global forum to discuss phytosanitary issues, adopt international standards to protect plant resources from pests, and foster global collaboration in preventing the introduction and spread of pests. Therefore, to kick off the 19th session of CPM (CPM-19) held in Rome, Italy, the IPPC Secretariat organized a side session on national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) orientation.
The session included presentations, videos, and discussions aimed at enabling participants attending CPM for the first time and those with limited experience in the annual meeting, to enhance their understanding of: the IPPC and its governance, CPM as the IPPC’s main governing body, their roles at CPM and how to implement outcomes and recommendations in support of the IPPC’s objectives and global plant health. Currently, the IPPC has 185 contracting parties, 10 regional plant protection organizations, and more than 50 partner organizations dedicated to protecting global plant resources and facilitating safe trade.
" You, the NPPO, are the guardians of plant health. Your role and the national phytosanitary systems you maintain help facilitate safe trade and protect biodiversity by preventing entry and spread of plant pests", said Sarah Brunel, lead of the Implementation Facilitation Unit at the IPPC Secretariat.
The session addressed the role of NPPOs as an “official service established by a government to discharge functions specified by the IPPC”. These functions include: conducting surveillance, reporting, and controlling pest outbreaks or spread; inspecting plants and plant product consignments moving in international traffic to prevent pest spread; issuing phytosanitary certificates to certify that exported consignments comply with phytosanitary requirements of importing countries, and training and developing their staff capacity.
The session also served as a refresher for experienced CPM participants and tackled procedural and practical issues at CPM, when and how to make interventions and the IPPC standard-setting process. To guide participants further, the session introduced participants to the IPPC Guide to participating in the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention and the recently launched e-learning course on Working with a national plant protection organization. The IPPC secretariat also developed a mobile app customized with CPM-19 information, schedules, sessions, networking opportunities, and notifications to ensure participants had a fruitful experience.
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