The International Forestry Quarantine Research Group Holds its 21st Annual Meeting in FAO HQ

Rome, 04 November 2024. The 21st Annual meeting of the International Forest Quarantine Research Group (IFQRG) convened in FAO HQ. Hosted by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the meeting will take place the week of November 4-8, 2024.

This year’s meeting, marks the first face-to-face meeting since 2018, brings together global experts to advance plant health by addressing phytosanitary issues and solutions related to the trade of forest products. While virtual meetings were successfully held during the COVID pandemic, the in-person format will allow for deeper interaction amongst more than 30 participants from 15 countries. Two virtual sessions are also scheduled during the meeting.

The mission of IFQRG is to provide scientific analysis, foster discussions, and encourage collaborative research to support the global plant health community, particularly in managing the phytosanitary challenges in the trade of forest products. The membership includes global representation from scientific, industrial and phytosanitary organizations.

The agenda for the 21st IFQRG meeting will focus on various pressing topics, including the research to support international standards development, research underlying submissions for phytosanitary treatments, molecular tools for detection and diagnostics, the development and assessment of forest product treatments. An additional session will be focused on phytosanitary considerations related to the international movement of wood chips and wood packaging materials.

Wood chip manufacturing and wood packaging material – pallets. ©Thomas Schroder

There will also be a special session to launch the FAO “Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry - Volume 2”, the newly completed revision of the highly popular Guide first published in 2011. This newly updated guide, with its clear and concise guidance, is expected to further support pest management and promote understanding of the role of the IPPC in forestry.

Since its inception in 2004, IFQRG has had a long–standing relationship with the IPPC and its subsidiary bodies in responding to scientific inquiries from the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) and the Standards Committee. Through these partnerships, IFQRG has played a significant role in providing science support for the development of standards, particularly ISPM 15 on the regulation of wood packaging material in international trade, where treatment guidance was provided for its revision in 2009. IFQRG also coordinated the development of guidance material for the newest ISPM-15 treatment (dielectric heating) and provided it to the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC).

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) larva used in heat treatment testing to address wood borers in forest products. ©Meghan Noseworthy

The IFQRG's research and analysis were essential in revising ISPM 15, offering scientific support for updates to the methyl bromide schedule, setting bark thresholds on wood packaging material, advancing research and operational applications of dielectric heat and sulfuryl fluoride treatments, and providing data and discussions that formed the scientific foundation for creating an Annex outlining criteria for ISPM 15 treatment development. As global trade continues to expand, the work of IFQRG and its collaboration with the IPPC remains essential in protecting the world’s forests and supporting the development of effective phytosanitary standards to protect plant health.