Expert Consultation on Phytosanitary Evaluation and Phytosanitary Measures in Near East Countries Tunisia Hammamet 15- 26 September 2003)

The Expert Consultation on Phytosanitary Evaluation and Phytosanitary Measures was held as part of a programme to build phytosanitary capacity in the Near East region. The meeting covered the following four areas: 1) Fundamental principles of plant quarantine in light of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), the New Revised Text of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and the World Trade Organization s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measure (WTO-SPS). 2) An exercise of the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) Tool ending in a review of the regional constraints as determined through the exercise. 3) An exercise on conducting Pest Risk Analysis. 4) A brainstorming session to determine National Priorities and development of regional strategies based on the PCE and fundamental principles of plant quarantine and international trade with the objective to enhance Plant Quarantine Capacity throughout the Near East Region. The meeting ended with an evaluation which concluded that the workshop met the needs of the participants. There was active participation in all aspects of the workshop and discussion sessions. The participants recommended that a permanent group be formed for the Near East Region comprised of the same members in this first meeting. The group recommended that the Table contained in Annex 4 be analyzed further, refined as necessary and a project be developed for its individual components or as a comprehensive Phytosanitary Institutional and Capacity Strengthening Program.