Phytosanitary treatment options for plant health: the IPPC Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments meeting

12 July 2019, Vienna - Phytosanitary treatments (PTs) are essential for controlling regulated pests in articles and goods, especially those that are regulated for trade on an international scale. The IPPC PTs are an alternative to methyl bromide and help protect biodiversity. They provide the minimum requirements necessary to control regulated pests; and offer guidance on specific plant health treatments issues.

The IPPC Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments (TPPT) met from 8 to 12 July 2019 in Vienna, Austria to discuss various PT related issues. The meeting was organized by the IPPC Secretariat and hosted by the Joint FAO/IAEA Division.

The panel reviewed the submissions sent by national and regional plant protection organizations (NPPOs and RPPOs) in response to a call for treatments from the IPPC Secretariat. Indeed, the call for PTs is still open and interested parties can click here for more information.

The TPPT also reviewed the objection to the Heat treatment of wood using dielectric heating (2007-114) and prepared a recommendation to be revised by the Standards Committee (SC). Twelve draft PTs were discussed during the meeting; and the following draft PTs were recommended to the SC for approval for first consultation (2020):

1. Irradiation treatment for Tortricidae on fruits (2017-011)
2. Cold treatment for Thaumatotibia leucotreta on Citrus sinensis (2017-029)
3. Cold treatment for Bactrocera zonata on Citrus sinensis (2017-013)
4. Vapour heat modified atmosphere treatment for Cydia pomonella and Grapholita molesta in fruit of Malus pumila and Prunus persica (2017-038)

The TPPT then discussed the links between the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030 and the TPPT s work and how they can contribute to help implement the framework. They reviewed liaison activities with the Ozone Secretariat and the Phytosanitary Measures Research Group (PMRG) and looked at ways to improve collaboration.

Based on results of a research conducted by the joint FAO/IAEA Division, participants agreed to recommend to the SC to lift the restriction from irradiating fruit flies on commodities stored in modified atmosphere. Indeed, the research shows that there is no difference in the efficacy of treatments using phytosanitary irradiation doses.

About the Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments (TPPT)

The TPPT, formed by worldwide experts, is the drafting group for phytosanitary treatments as annexes to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests) and draft ISPMs on treatment requirements. Its main objective is to develop scientifically sound phytosanitary treatments to facilitate safe trade among contracting parties, under the guidance of the SC.

To learn more about the TPPT and see the meeting report (which will soon be posted) see: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/expert-drafting-groups/technical-panels/technical-panel-phytosanitary-treatments/