Suva, Fiji – Fragile Pacific islands are free from major pests and diseases, and with increase international travel and trade, there is increased risk of pests travelling with them.
New pest introductions and their management can cost governments and farmers a lot of money, and once established new pests are difficult to eradicate and cost more money on their management pushing food production costs higher.
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation is an international plant health agreement, established in 1952, that aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests.
IPPC allows countries to analyze risks to their national plant resources and provides an international framework for plant protection that includes developing International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) for safeguarding plant resources.
The Pacific Plant Protection Organisation (PPPO) is the regional partner of IPPC for the Pacific and based with Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Community.
Starting this Wednesday, 29thJuly, 2015 a regional workshop will be held at SPC aiming to provide opportunities for the review of several draft standards on phytosanitary measures issued by IPPC in 2015.
This regional workshop is held every year to ensure that the views and concerns of Pacific members are adequately taken into account in the development and implementation of global phytosanitary measures issued by the IPPC.
The participants will also gain a better understanding of the national and regional impact of these proposed standards and provide a basis for the development and submission of national comments.
The three day workshop (29 – 31 July 2015) will be held at Pasifika Room, Louts Building, Nabua, SPC.