The 2017 IPPC Regional Workshop for the South-West Pacific held in Fij

The 2017 IPPC Regional Workshop for the South-West Pacific was held in Nadi, Fiji from 7th to 9th August 2017. The Workshop was jointly organized by the IPPC Secretariat and the Pacific Community (SPC), and supported financially by the Australian AID. The Workshop was attended by 29 participants (including 8 female participants) from 21 countries belonging to the Pacific Plant Protection Organisation (PPPO). Mr Jan Helsen, Director of Land Resources Division of the SPC and Mr Timothy Tumukon, Director of Biosecurity Vanuatu delivered opening remarks supported by Mr Josua Wainiqolo, PPPO Secretariat and Coordinator from Biosecurity & Trade of the SPC.

The Workshop was facilitated by Ms Dorota Buzon, NRO Programme Officer from the IPPC Secretariat. Additionally, the Workshop was attended by Ms Lois Ransom, CPM Chairperson, who delivered summary of CPM-12 achievements and planned financial initiatives, Mr Ezequiel Ferro, who delivered overview of the standard setting process, as well as Ms Kyu-Ock Yim, CPM-Bureau Member for Asia. Mr Viliami Fakava from FAO Samoa and external stakeholders (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; Australia s Aid program - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Pacific Agricultural and Horticultural Market Access) also participated in the event.

A three day Workshop included a group exercise on commenting on three draft international standards for phytosanitary measures under first consultation: 1) International movement of cut flowers and foliage; 2) Requirements for the use of fumigation as a phytosanitary measure; 3)2017 Amendments to ISPM 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms). Participants were also made familiar with the Online Comment System for draft standards and the latest developments in 2020 International Year of Plant Health, a call for Phytosanitary Treatments; Emerging issues questionnaire results; Pilot Programme on Surveillance; Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation and Beyond compliance tool. The official launch of the Biosecurity Information Facility Portal (http://bif.lrd.spc.int/ ) took place on the third day. The Portal hosts biosecurity operating procedures for the 22 island countries of the PPPO.

The Workshop raised awareness on how to analyze and formulate comments on draft international standards for phytosanitary measures and build phytosanitary capacity at a national and regional level through the exchange of experience and information sharing on IPPC related activities.