The Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments advances work for mealybugs and grain pests

Rome, 22 January 2025. The Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments (TPPT) successfully held its first virtual meeting for the year on 14 January 2025. The TPPT evaluates data submissions from National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) and Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs), reviews, revises, and develops phytosanitary treatments, and provides guidance to the Standards Committee (SC) on specific phytosanitary treatment issues. The panel also evaluates treatment submissions based on the requirements in ISPM 28. Comprising ten experts specializing in irradiation, fumigation, temperature, modified atmosphere, and chemical treatments, the TPPT operates under tasks defined in Specification TP 3 and its work programme.

During the meeting, panel members reviewed and addressed comments from the first round of country consultations for four draft phytosanitary treatments (PTs): combination of irradiation and modified atmosphere treatment for Trogoderma granarium (2023-032), irradiation treatment for Pseudococcus baliteus (2023-033), irradiation treatment for Paracoccus marginatus (2023-034), and irradiation treatment for Planococcus lilacinus (2023-035).

The TPPT agreed on the next steps to advance the draft PTs. Two treatments: irradiation treatment for Paracoccus marginatus (2023-034) and irradiation treatment for Planococcus lilacinus (2023-035), will be presented to the Standards Committee (SC) with a recommendation for adoption by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). These treatments are critical for mitigating the impact of the papaya mealybug and cacao mealybug, pests which cause significant damage to crops, such as papaya, avocado, mango, citrus, cocoa, guavas, and coffee, causing severe damage and economic losses.

The TPPT also agreed to recommend the draft PT Irradiation treatment for Pseudococcus baliteus (2023-033) to the SC for second consultation. Meanwhile, further evaluation is needed for the draft PT on combination of irradiation and modified atmosphere treatment for Trogoderma granarium (2023-032) before finalizing its approach.