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COVID-19 Related Information

The global COVID-19 pandemic is spreading quickly and is a global problem calling for a global response. In view of providing relevant information to the IPPC community, the IPPC Secretariat developed a thematic page with the following five key messages:

	1. Overview on General Impacts and Mitigation Strategies. The emergence and declaration of COVID-19 as pandemic in early 2020 evoked an unprecedented reaction from the global community that lead countries to enforce lockdowns and movement restrictions. At the IPPC level, these containment measures significantly affected its major pre-planned global events and activities at various levels, including the convening of the CPM-15 and it's ministerial segment and the promotion of the IYPH 2020, which was declared by UNGA in December 2018. To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the planned events, the IPPC is critically considering rescheduling its major pre-planned global events coupled with intensification of reliance of digital implementation of some global activities when feasible.
	2. Impacts on Food Security and Mitigation Strategies. Plants are a primary source of income for nearly half of the global population and make up 80% of the food we eat. The current COVID-19 outbreak experience highlights the need to ensure that plants are protected from the ravages of plant pests. One of the potential consequences of this global emergency is the possibility of disrupted trade and compromised access to a safe and stable supply of food. Therefore, ensuring safe supply of fresh food and protecting plants from pests is now more important than ever. While COVID-19 is affecting human health worldwide, plant pests and diseases continue to pose a threat to food production. It is particularly important at this time to remember that a threat to plant health is a threat to the health and prosperity of people, especially the most vulnerable. In this critical situation, we are all vulnerable and protecting plant health becomes vital for our own wellbeing. This is the noble goal for which the IPPC was created, as expressed by the IYPH slogan: “protecting plants, protecting life”.
	3. Impacts on Safe Trade and Mitigation Strategies. Viruses and diseases do not take passports when moving from one country to another. With globalization and the resulting increase in international travel and trade, plant pests and diseases of different kinds are more likely to be moved across borders with consignments and travelers and spread unintentionally at alarming rates. The current COVID-19 outbreak is showing us that the world must be extra careful with travel of people and be ready to tackle any emergency. In the area of plant health we must also facilitate the safe trade of plants, plant products and other items, such as sea containers that can allow pests to be spread. Detection or quarantine are indispensable security measures to contain an epidemic - be it a human, animal or plant health emergency. The IPPC Secretariat also suggests making use of the IPPC electronic certification (ePhyto) wherever possible. NPPOs and inspection staff may refer to the WHO and FAO official guidance.
	4. Impacts on Quarantine staff’s Health and Mitigation Strategies. The COVID-19 global outbreak is showing the world how adopting preventive measures is essential to secure countries from the introduction and spread of devastating human diseases and that applies to the health of humans, animals and plants. Application of science-based preventive actions, including quarantine measures to contain invasive virus threats are indispensable to protect the health of people, animals and plants alike. Quarantine staff or Inspectors of consignments at the borders may be exposed to sanitary risks that are not addressed. For health and safety concerns regarding consignments, please refer to the WHO guidelines on how to protect human health during the COVID-19 outbreak: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
	5. Communication, Partnership and Solidarity. Global coordination is essential to tackle COVID-19. It is time for the international community to act more decisively in a coordinated manner. The international community must take notice and develop a rapid and coordinated response. Adopting divergent measures could be even more catastrophic for countries living in an emergency. Prevention, Preparedness, Public health, Political leadership and People are the top 5 P-words the WHO DG called the world to focus on when considering this COVID-19 pandemic. The plant health community can learn a lot from this and that is why it is important for countries to follow the IPPC International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures when setting their national phytosanitary measures, thus harmonizing measures at a global level. Sharing knowledge and best practices is essential to face global crises and combat common enemies. We strongly encourage you to take technically justified measures to protect Plant Health as another warning from the current emergency.

IPPC global messages:

Key messages from the IPPC Secretariat on plant health and COVID-19

Date: 19 Mar 2020 The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an inter-governmental treaty signed by 184 countries, aiming at protecting the world's plant resources from the spread and introduction of pests, and promoting safe trade. The Convention introduced International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) as its main tool to achieve its goals, making it the sole global standard setting organization for plant health. The IPPC Secretariat has developed a series of key IPPC-relevant messages and answers addressing the recent COVID-19 outbreak and lessons that can be learned from it for the global phytosanitary community. Read more

Guidance to NPPOs for Mitigating Impacts of COVID-19 Crisis on Plant Health from the CPM Bureau and the IPPC Secretariat

In this unprecedented crisis of COVID-19, our first concern is always to ensure that our families, friends and colleagues are protected and safe; this includes looking after ourselves. The Bureau of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), together with the Secretariat to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), are not standing idle but continue to work on our goals of minimizing the introduction and spread of plant pests, and facilitating the safe trade of plant commodities, in particular focused on ensuring that the food supply chain continues to work efficiently. Read more

Message from the IPPC Secretary on Overcoming the Difficult Time Imposed by COVID-19

Dear Colleagues of the IPPC Community,
The WHO, yesterday, declared the evolving global COVID-19 outbreak a “pandemic”, an indication that we are in the midst of a situation that none of us has ever experienced before. To be sure, there is worry and concern, and the IPPC Secretariat wants you all to know that we are hoping for the best, doing everything we can in a positive way in this crisis and wishing the best for all of us. We strongly urge you to take good care of yourselves, your families, your colleagues, and your friends, by taking all recommended preventive and protective measures against COVID-19. Read more