13.07.2021 WTO two-day workshop on risk management
Ahead of July's World Trade Organization SPS Committee meeting between global governments, an open public workshop is being held on "Risk Assessment, Risk Management and Risk Communication".

The sessions were led by experts from the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and Codex Alimentarius, as well as leaders of government representations on the WTO's SPS Committee, and the WTO Secretariat.

IGTC congratulates the organizers on a successful event that highlighted:

• Consumers, regulators and the food supply chain know that safety is paramount.
• Public private cooperation is needed to support jurisdictions with proven effective, resilient, and responsible risk management regimes to meet the highest of standard for food safety.
• International standards, a transparent rules-based trading system and the scientific community have a key role to play in ensuring safety and supporting risk assessment, management and communication.

More about the event here.

29.06.2021 IGTC President speaks at UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Independent Dialogue on plant health
IGTC President Gary C. Martin has spoken alongside the governments of Finland, Thailand, Republic of Korea, Kenya, Libya and USA (APHIS) at an event on plant health and global food security. The event took place in the context of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) series of webinars on the United Nations International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) and the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS).

The IGTC President's presentation focussed on "facilitating safe trade of grain" and the progress that has been made to promote commercial and official practices that provide for safe products, manage plant pests and disease and secure resilient, reliable, responsive and robust supply of plant products.

During his presentation, Gary applauded the work of Regional and National Plant Protection Organizations in implementing the IPPC, improving official practices and providing for transparent phytosanitary requirements.

It was also highlighted that IGTC prioritizes the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as an important instrument to facilitate safe trade and underpin a global rules-based trading system through standard setting to the benefit of the sector.

The IGTC presentation can be viewed here