Previous calls for papers and studies

The Commodity Standard for apple fruits (Malus domestica) is taking shape!

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) secretariat is calling for information material to support the development of international commodity standards for apples fruits (Malus domestica) (2023-024) for consumption as annex to ISPM 46.

We invite all IPPC contracting parties and Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs) to submit data on pests associated with apples, including pest risk analyses (PRAs), technical measures, and phytosanitary measures as defined by their national or regional legislation.

Your contributions are vital for developing robust international standards and enhancing global cooperation in plant health!

To streamline this process, a new submission form has been developed by the IPPC Technical Panel on Commodity Standards (TPCS) – now in excel format (posted below).

NEW Deadline: 31 October 2025.

How to apply: Submitters should use the Submission Form (now in Excel file) for Information Materials for Commodity Standards (Agreed by the Standards Committee in May 2022, 2024, and revised by the TPCS in 2025).

Submissions will only be accepted from official contact points from IPPC contracting parties and regional plant protection organizations. Any other discussion paper can be submitted to the [email protected]

As the TPCS is planned to meet in December 2025 to draft this standard annex, it is expected that the first version will be presented to the IPPC Standards Committee in 2026 for first consultation period.

Please refer to:

• ISPM 46 (Commodity-specific standards for phytosanitary measures): https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/91184/

• Specification TP 6 (https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/89276/); and

• TPCS webpage (https://www.ippc.int/en/commission/standards-committee/technical-panels/technical-panel-on-commodity-standards/)

Submissions are now due 31 October 2025. (new deadline)

Any information, please contact [email protected]

You may also try contact Emmanuel Krah [email protected] or Adriana Moreira [email protected].

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS – PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY!

For this call, submissions can be submitted both by e-mail only.

All NPPOs, RPPOs and international organizations are invited to provide information material.

Any other information can be submitted as a discussion paper that will be forwarded to the IPPC Technical Panel on Commodity Standards and the IPPC Standards Committee.

Submission by e-mail (only)

Submission will be accepted from contracting parties, national or regional plant protection organizations (NPPOs or RPPOs) through their respective NPPO or RPPO official IPPC Contact Point. Submissions must be accompanied by the following documentation:

• Scope. Please note the scope of the call and of the commodity standard is Malus domestica fresh fruit for consumption. The pests’ lists should be regulated for the specific commodity.

• Completed Submission Form of Information Materials for Commodity Standards – (only excel file provided in this page as developed by the TPCS). All sections should be completed to be the best extent as possible and in English language.

• Additional or supporting documents. Please attach any supporting documentation to your email (pest risk analysis, national or regional decrees, import conditions, treatment schedules, clear regulation about the pest of concern, etc).

Moreover:

• Email address of the IPPC Official Contact Point or RPPO - please provide the email address. Make sure that your email address is correct, as you will receive an email receipt confirmation from the IPPC Secretariat once the secretariat reviews the information provided.

• Submitter’s name - please capitalize your last name. Example: Anna GOLD

• Submitter’s email address - please provide the correct email address of the submitter. They will also receive a confirmation to that email address.

• Submitter’s mobile number - please provide a telephone number where the Secretariat can reach the nominee as needed. Please use a "+" in front of the number and not use parentheses. Example: +391234567890. The calling code of your county can be found here: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/international-calling-codes.htm

Notes: Please save all documents, the Submission Form of Information Materials and additional documents with your country or RPPO name at the end of the file name. Example: InformationMaterialApples1_New Zealand

Submissions should be sent to the IPPC secretariat by e-mail [email protected] by 31 October 2025.

We want to hear from you!

NEW Submission Form Information Materials for Commodity Standards

2023-08 Call for discussion papers on Field Inspection (2021-018) to ISPM 23 (Guidelines for inspection)

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is calling for discussion papers in preparation for the meeting of the Expert Working Group (EWG) on Field Inspection (2021-018) to ISPM 23 (Guidelines for inspection), which will take place from 16 - 20 October 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.

The EWG will work according to Specification 74 on the Annex Field inspection (2021-018) to ISPM 23 (Guidelines for inspection) (https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/91862/).

IPPC contracting parties and other interested parties are invited to submit discussion papers by 11 September 2023 to the IPPC Secretariat ([email protected]) with a copy to Mr Artur Shamilov ([email protected]), for the EWG to consider.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

2023-04 Call for discussion papers on the Revision of ISPM 26 (Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae))

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is calling for discussion papers in preparation for the meeting of the Expert Working Group (EWG) on the Revision of ISPM 26 (Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae)), which will take place from 10 to 14 July 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

The EWG will work according to Specification 75 on the Revision of ISPM 26 (Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae)) (https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/91863/).

IPPC contracting parties and other interested parties are invited to submit discussion papers by 26 May 2023 to the IPPC Secretariat ([email protected]) with a copy to Ms Janka Kiss ([email protected]), for the EWG to consider.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

2022-12 Call for information material and case studies on food and other humanitarian aid being able to carry plant pests

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is calling for information material and case studies on food and other humanitarian aid being able to carry plant pests. These will support the work of the IPPC and the CPM Focus Group on Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid.

Recipient and donor countries and agencies are welcome to share your experiences!

Submissions are due on 25 January 2023.

If you have information material or any case study that you think can contribute to this important topic, please e-mail them by 25 January 2023 to the IPPC Secretariat (Ms Adriana Moreira ([email protected]).

Why to participate?

The IPPC recognizes the necessity for international co-operation to prevent the global spread of plant pests. In emergency crisis situations, affected countries can be temporarily constrained in their ability to implement their phytosanitary responsibilities. Contracting parties that are donors of aid do have capacity at that time and thus their commitment to comply with Article IV of the IPPC becomes more critical.

All donations are more than welcome, especially in emergencies situations and to vulnerable people. Saving lives are the utmost importance for all. However, it is known that disasters impacts in agriculture threaten all three pillars of sustainable development: social, environmental, economic.

Countries have faced challenges to manage pest risk effectively during an emergency situation, for example receiving aid from other countries when natural disasters happened. It has been recognized that the provision of aid supplies could bring pests which causes long-term impacts on the economy, environment and communities.

The need to manage pest risk effectively becomes even more crucial when it comes to countries experiencing a humanitarian disaster. Once invasive pests and diseases are established in a new area, their eradication may be extremely difficult and in most cases, it entails additional resources and efforts for managing the pest outbreak.

See also the Focus Group webpage: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/governance/cpm/cpm-focus-group-reports/cpm-focus-group-on-safe-provision-of-food-and-other-humanitarian-aid/

2022-08 Call for discussion papers on the Reorganization and revision of pest risk analysis (PRA) standards

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is calling for discussion papers in preparation for the meeting of the Expert Working Group (EWG) on the Reorganization and revision of pest risk analysis standards, which will take place from 7 to 11 November 2022 in Milan, Italy.

The EWG will work according to Specification 72 on the Reorganization and revision of pest risk analysis standards (https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/90498/).

IPPC contracting parties and other interested parties are invited to submit discussion papers by 30 September 2022 to the IPPC Secretariat ([email protected]) with a copy to Ms Janka Kiss ([email protected]) and Ms Erika Mangili André ([email protected]), for the EWG to consider.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

2022-07 Call for information material on mango fruits

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is calling for information material on mango fruits for the development of an annex to ISPM 46 (Commodity-specific standards for phytosanitary measures) by the Technical Panel on Commodity Standards (TPCS), including:

• Existing pest risk analysis, existing phytosanitary measures and related information (e.g., regional and national standards) that are relevant to the standard under development (mango fruit), together with production practices;
• Technical information on the commodity (mango fruit), relevant pests and phytosanitary measures.

If you have information material that you think would be suitable for the above purposes, please e-mail them by 30 September 2022 to the IPPC Secretariat (Ms Adriana Moreira ([email protected]) with a copy to Ms Erika Mangili André ([email protected])).

We want to hear from you!

• You are more than welcome to contribute to the development of the IPPC standards.
• Let’s make it together in this new direction of commodity-specific standards.