The 4th CPM Bureau virtual meeting held to advance the IPPC work programme during the Covid-19 pandemic

Rome, 9 July 2020. The Bureau of the Commission on Phytosanitary measures (CPM Bureau) held its fourth virtual meeting to advance the IPPC work programme during the Covid-19 pandemic. The meeting was opened by Mr Jingyuan Xia, IPPC Secretary, chaired by Mr Javier Trujillo, the CPM chair, and attended by six Bureau members, and two Bureau alternates (Mr John Greifer from the North American Region, and Mr Peter Thompson from Pacific Region), as well as Core Team Members of the IPPC Secretariat.

In his opening remarks, Mr Xia raised three main points for Bureau’s consideration: work plan and budget of the IPPC Secretariat for 2022; adjustments of 2020 work plan to the so-called new normal; and implementation of the eight development agendas of the IPPC Strategic Framework for 2020–2030.

CPM Bureau discussed important procedural matters, such as the date for the fifteenth session of Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-15) in 2021, and dates of Financial Committee (FC) and the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) in October 2020. They also discussed the importance of the IPPC community preparedness to adapt to the evolving situation, as it remains unclear when travel restrictions will be lifted.

A brainstorming session on the work plan and budget of the IPPC Secretariat for 2022 followed, with several remarkable suggestions made. The CPM Bureau expressed its high appreciation for the prompt reaction and ability to adapt to the new virtual routine by the IPPC Secretariat and the entire IPPC community, which has responded remarkably well and in an extremely cooperative manner.

Conclusively, the CPM Bureau provided the requested guidance on two standard setting items, namely the authorisation of entities to perform phytosanitary actions, and the re-organization of standards related to pest risk analysis (PRA). The CPM Bureau also welcomed the proposal to extend the mandate of the Sea Container Task Force and agreed to establishment of a Focus Group on Strengthening Pest Outbreak Alert and Response Systems, whose Terms of Reference will be finalised at its next meeting on 10 September 2020.

The CPM Bureau report will soon be available at https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/governance/bureau/