CPM Bureau End of Year Teleconference for 2016 held in Rome

The CPM Bureau held its annual end of year teleconference on 6 December 2016. The meeting was chaired by Ms Lois Ransom, the CPM Chair from Australia, and opened by Mr Jingyuan Xia, the IPPC Secretary. There were two key topics discussed during the meeting: 1) the Bureau s review and approval of the IPPC Secretariat work plan and budget for 2017; and 2) the final discussions and decisions on the agenda for CPM-12 to be held from 5-11 April 2017 in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The Bureau also received oral updates on a number of issues including the most recent meetings of the SC, the TC-RPPOS, the first meeting of the steering committee for the International Year of Plant Health in 2020 (IYPH 2020) as well as the ePhyto project.

During the discussions on CPM-12, the Bureau was provided a report on a site visit conducted by the Secretariat to the Incheon area to gain an understanding and appreciation for the logistical arrangements. The Bureau was assured that all is in good order and that the Republic of Korea is doing an excellent job in getting preparations underway. The Bureau also endorsed moving forward with a CPM document proposing two ideas for sustainable funding for the IPPC Secretariat.

Finally, the Bureau was presented with a new IPPC website homepage, which intended to provide a uniform look for all of the FAO s website and well-received by the Bureau members. The one caveat that was expressed during the meeting was the page must have a strong presentation of the IPPC identity including the logo and references to the IYPH 2020 effort.

The next meeting of the CPM Bureau will take place in advance of CPM-12 in April 2017 in Incheon, Republic of Korea.