Webinar highlights role of new IPPC guides and e-learning courses in strengthening phytosanitary capacity

Rome, 9 November 2023. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat successfully held a webinar to introduce a range of new IPPC guides and e-learning courses to strengthen the knowledge and technical capacity of members of the global plant health community. The two-hour webinar, held on 19 October 2023, provided a platform for the global phytosanitary community to explore IPPC guides and e-learning courses published in 2022 and 2023 and the value they can bring to the phytosanitary community.

The webinar brought together over 200 participants, including officers from national and regional plant protection organizations (NPPOs and RPPOs), international organizations, industry associations, development partners, and donors. It was coordinated by the Implementation and Facilitation Unit (IFU), which is responsible for implementation and capacity development within the IPPC Secretariat.

Four new IPPC guides were presented during the webinar: Guide to the regulation of wood packaging material, Emergency: A guide for developing contingency plans for outbreaks of quarantine pests, Prevention, preparedness and response guidelines for Fusarium Tropical Race 4 of banana, and the recently published IPPC guide on E-commerce: A guide to managing the pest risk posed by good ordered online and distributed through postal and courier pathways.

The IPPC e-learning courses, published in 2022, focus on pest risk analysis, Surveillance and reporting obligations, certification, and inspection.

The webinar included demonstrations to help participants explore the content and interactive elements of the e-learning courses.

To make them accessible to more people, the IPPC Secretariat welcomes financial and in-kind contributions to support translating the IPPC guides and e-learning courses into official FAO languages.

By incorporating technically precise and reliable information, insightful case studies and best practices, the new ICD materials empower NPPOs to better implement the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), the Convention, and recommendations of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). These comprehensive tools for self-directed learning or training were developed in collaboration with international phytosanitary experts and can be accessed for free.

The highlight of the webinar was the session in which three NPPO representatives- Francisco Gutierrez from Belize, Justina Chivanga from the Zambia and Steve Côté from Canada, shared their experiences using the IPPC ICD materials and the benefits to their NPPOs.

During the panel discussion moderated by Sarah Brunel, the IFU Lead at the IPPC Secretariat, webinar participants actively engaged the panelists and called for inclusion of the IPPC guides and training materials in university programmes and curricula. They also expressed interest in the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluations (PCE) process and how to become PCE facilitators. Finally, they recognized the importance of the IPPC Secretariat developing ICDs and called for donor support towards creating new ICD materials.

In his remarks, Osama El-Lissy, IPPC Secretary, emphasized the importance of international cooperation and knowledge sharing to protect plant health.

"This IPPC webinar is a testament to the power of international cooperation and knowledge dissemination," he said. "For standards to be effective in safeguarding global food security, facilitating safe trade, and protecting the environment, they need to be implemented effectively. The IPPC guides and e-learning courses are essential tools for its implementation," he added.

A recording of the webinar and presentations made are available HERE.

Related information:

IPPC guides and training materials

How IPPC guides and training materials are developed