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Au Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC) (Established 1954)

Through the Maputo declaration, the profile of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC) was designed as follows

Vision

The Maputo declaration recognises the need to secure a common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products as well as the need to promote appropriate measures for their control and therefore re echoes the IPPC in its mission to the IAPSC as follows:

• To prevent the introduction and spread of pests which attack and damage crops and forests in Africa.
• To develop a common strategy against the introduction and spread of pests particularly through the harmonisation of phytosanitary legislation
• To ensure co-operation and a harmonised approach in all areas of plant protection where governments take official measures (registration of pesticides, certification of plant materials, accreditation of people who apply pesticides etc)
• To provide a documentation service for provision and exchange of information in all areas of its activities. Activities as outlined in the Maputo Declaration:
• Plant protection information management
• Development of strategies against the introduction and spread of plant pests
• Promotion of safe and sustainable plant protection techniques
• Enlighten member states on the implications of the WTO-SPS Agreement on international agricultural trade
• Capacity building among Member states in phytosanitary and plant protection activities. Core Functions:
• Development and management of information to serve Africa and international Plant protection Organisations (IPPOs)
• Harmonization of Phytosanitary regulations in Africa
• Development of regional strategies against the introduction and spread of plant pests (insects, plant pathogens, weeds etc)
• Training of various cadres of NPPOs in Pest Risk Analysis(PRA), Phytosanitary inspections and treatment, field inspection and certification , laboratory diagnoses, pest surveillance and monitoring etc.

In line with the above activities, the following is the status of IAPSC as the African RPPO for the period ending June 2004. Members All African Union (AU) members i.e. all African countries, except Morocco.