Prevention, preparedness and response guidelines for Fall Armyworm are now posted on the Online Comment System for comments

Countries at high risk of Fall Armyworm introduction can now review and comment on the IPPC Prevention, preparedness and response guidelines for "Spodoptera frugiperda" that are posted on the Online Comment System (OCS).

In the framework of the FAO Global Action for Fall Armyworm (FAW) Control, FAO and the IPPC Secretariat established a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures to develop global guidelines on FAW prevention and coordinate technical activities to limit FAW spread to new areas.

The “Prevention, preparedness and response guidelines for Spodoptera frugiperda” of the IPPC target 21 countries in those territories where the pest is absent or of limited distribution, and where FAW host plants represent a major crop. For the Pacific region, countries at high risk of FAW introduction are Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji islands, Guam, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain are the major areas for FAW prevention in Southern Europe, while Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria are the target countries in Near East and North Africa.

National Plant Protection Organizations and representatives of these 21 target countries are now invited to review the guidelines and provide their feedback to the IPPC Secretariat and the FAO TWG on Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures. The consultation period is open until March 15.

Other countries from the Pacific, Europe or the Near East and North Africa wishing to provide comments on the draft guidelines should send a request to Sarah Brunel, Implementation Facilitation Deputy Lead. All the other Contracting Parties can consult the document via OCS.

To ease the implementation of the FAW programme, a confidential questionnaire on FAW is now available for target countries on their National Reporting Obligations page to allow them to share relevant information with the IPPC Secretariat. This confidential questionnaire asks countries whether they have undertaken a Pest Risk Analysis; regulated the pest; nominated a contact person; set a crisis unit; drafted prevention, preparedness and response plans; and planned capacity development activities for FAW.

The IPPC Secretariat intends to be as close as possible to its Contracting Parties to make the prevention of FAW a success!