IPPC Standards Committee advances key Phytosanitary Standards at November 2024 meeting

Rome, 22 November 2024. The Standards Committee (SC) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) concluded its week-long meeting, held from 18 to 22 November 2024, with significant advancements in the development of international phytosanitary standards. The SC reviewed and recommended two draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) for adoption, approved two key specifications, and highlighted critical steps in protecting global plant health while facilitating safe trade.

SC Recommends draft ISPMs for Adoption at CPM-19

Draft Annex to ISPM 46: International Movement of Fresh Mangifera indica Fruit

The first specific commodity standard that the SC approved for adoption at CPM-19 in 2025 is the draft standard on the trade of the fresh mango fruit, stewarded by Joanne Wilson (New Zealand). This draft provides harmonized phytosanitary measures for the trade of mango fruit, a critical global commodity. The annex outlines pest-specific measures and guidance to help national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) mitigate pest risks.

Wilson highlighted the annex's potential impact “This annex ensures a balance between safe trade and plant health, offering clear guidance for the international movement of mango fruit,” she stated.

Draft Annex to ISPM 39: Use of Systems Approaches in Managing the Pest Risk Associated with the Movement of Wood

The SC also recommended the annex to ISPM 39, stewarded by Steve Côté (Canada), for adoption at CPM-19. The document provides NPPOs with a framework for managing pest risks associated with the international movement of wood using systems approaches, from pre-planting to post-harvest and transport. Côté emphasized the annex’s significance “This annex provides countries with innovative tools to manage pest risks, protecting forests and promoting sustainable trade of wood,” he stated.

SC Approves Specifications

Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid (2021-020)

The SC considered and revised the Specification on Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid before its submission to CPM-19 with a request for the CPM to decide whether the development of an ISPM should proceed. This draft specification was an outcome of the CPM Focus Group on the provision of safe food and other humanitarian aid and seeks to address pest risks linked to humanitarian aid pathways in disaster scenarios. “This specification seeks to demonstrate that an ISPM could bridge a current gap and support the timely provision of humanitarian aid while also accommodating plant health,” said Sophie Peterson, the SC Chair and Vice-Chair for this CPM focus group.

Revision of the Draft Reorganized Pest Risk Analysis ISPM (2023-037)

The SC approved the Specification on Revision of the Draft Reorganized Pest Risk Analysis ISPM. The new specification aims to streamline the pest risk analysis (PRA) process, outlining its principles and requirements in a clear way to facilitate the implementation of the revised standard. The PRA is an important process that evaluates biological or other scientific and economic evidence to determine whether an organism is a pest, whether it should be regulated, and the strength of any phytosanitary measures to be taken against it.

The new specification also takes into account new challenges such as climate change and economic, social and environmental consequences. Masahiro Sai, the steward for this revision, stated “This effort modernizes pest risk analysis, making it more robust and adaptable to emerging global challenges.”

The SC’s approval of the draft specifications marks a crucial step in the IPPC standard-setting process. While the approval of the Specification on Revision of the Draft Reorganized Pest Risk Analysis ISPM will progress with the call for the Expert Working Group (EWG) to draft the text, the Specification on Safe Provision of Food and Other Humanitarian Aid will be presented to the CPM and discuss whether to proceed with ISPM.

Looking Ahead

With the SC’s recommendations, the draft ISPMs and specifications will proceed through IPPC processes, with the call for the EWG and eventual adoption discussions scheduled for CPM-19 in 2025. These advancements align with the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020–2030, supporting safe trade and global plant health.

SC Chair, Sophie Peterson, reflected on the meeting’s achievements “The SC’s de]dication to finding common ground on critical phytosanitary topics ensures that our standards address global challenges effectively and remain fit-for-purpose. This week’s progress represents a significant step toward a healthier and safer future for global trade,” she stated.

Standards Committee meeting ©IPPC