Official Establishment of the Implementation Capacity Development Committee of the IPPC Commission on Phytosanitary Measures

Full members of the IC of IPPC-CPM (December 2017)

On 11 December 2017, Rome, Italy. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) launched, at FAO-HQs, it s new implementation oversight body, the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC). The establishment of this new committee is a milestone event for the IPPC as it signals a greater emphasis towards the implementation of the IPPC and its standards.

In 2014, the IPPC s governing body, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) launched an Enhancement Evaluation of the IPPC Secretariat. As one of the important outcomes of this Evaluation, a strong recommendation was proposed for strengthening the implementation of the Convention and its standards. This catalysed a series of events leading to this momentous occasion. A brainstorming session took place on the establishment of the IC in 2015. In 2016, an IPPC Focus Group was convened at the EPPO Headquarters in Paris France to develop Terms of Reference (ToRs) and Rules of Procedures for the IC. These were adopted at CPM-12 (2017).

The core activities of the IC will cover, among others: a) Capacity Development; b) IRSS; c) National Reporting Obligation; d) Dispute Avoidance and Settlement; e) Trade Facilitation; f) Emerging pest issues; and g) Resource Mobilization.

The IC is composed of seven members from the seven FAO regions, five phytosanitary experts from various regions, and two representatives (one from the Standards Committee and one from Regional Plant Protection Organizations). In addition, the IC also includes seven regional alternates. The IPPC CPM Bureau selected and appointed the IC members, taking into account their expertise, experience and geographical representation.

The IC members will serve for a term of three years with renewal subject to approval by the CPM Bureau. The IC will meet two times per year with additional meeting held subject to need, availability and financing.

More information on the IC can be found at https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/capacity-development/implementation-and-capacity-development-committee-ic/