Updates from the May 2019 IPPC Standards Committee SC) meeting

Participants at the May 2019 Standards Committee meeting. © FAO

10 May 2019, Rome - The 33rd meeting of the IPPC Standards Committee (SC) took place from 6 to 10 May 2019 at FAO headquarters in Rome. The meeting opened with discussions on the phytosanitary term detection survey and the draft standard Guidance on Pest Risk Management. Discussions focused on including more guidance on selecting pest risk management options; and the criteria for deciding on appropriate phytosanitary measures.

Participants decided that the draft standard needed further work and to present it again at the next SC meeting. The SC approved the revision on the term detection survey. However, as it was the only term proposed in the amendments, the SC decided to defer the consultation period to 2020.

Participants then received updates on the work of each of the technical panels under the SC. They agreed to add four glossary terms, six diagnostic protocols (DPs) and one phytosanitary treatment (PT) to the technical panels work programmes.

The SC also discussed key issues from the recent meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-14), such as: commodity and pathways standards; authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions; the draft ISPM; the technical panels work and how they relate to the IPPC 2020-2030 Strategic Framework; and the development of standards. They also discussed the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) and the SC s collaboration with the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC).

The SC noted that the IYPH is an important opportunity to raise awareness of plant health and the IPPC s role in protecting plant health. However, members were concerned about the suggestion of reducing the number of SC and IC meetings in 2020. They highlighted that this would have a considerable impact on standard setting and implementation activities - the two most important areas of work for the IPPC Convention.

Finally, the IC representative to the SC reported on progress made and that the collaboration between the two committees was proceeding well. Several areas of collaboration were highlighted, including the joint Task force on topics (TFT) and the new Framework for standards and implementation. Both committees noted their intention to work together on a revised surveillance project.

The SC Chairperson ended the meeting by saying that active participation was fundamental for the work of the SC. He noted that it was therefore important to provide interpretation services at future SC meetings so that all members could participate more fully.

The final SC report will be posted at: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/standards-committee/

© FAO