IGTC representatives are in Rome this week to attend the annual meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The week-long agenda for IPPC’s 184 Contracting Party Governments is chaired by Cote d’Ivoire and vice-chaired by USA. The overarching objective is to further IPPC’s objective to protect the world's plant resources from the spread and introduction of pests, and promote safe trade.

An IGTC briefing paper for CPM is on the IPPC website here and includes these priorities:

• Adoption of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) that encourage all Parties to more effectively manage contaminating pests to enhance food security and protect the world’s biodiversity; manage pests in exporting countries to minimize the movement of quarantine pests in international trade of grain; implement aligned and robust international phytosanitary standards based on sound science and risk assessments to facilitate trade and improve food security; and minimise the risk of the movement of quarantine pests during trade.
• Support for grain trade personnel around the world as they contribute to the successful implementation of the ePhyto Solution. IGTC will continue its service as the Co-Chair of the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) along with the International Seed Federation (ISF). Recruitment to have more plant product sectors included in this group has been a priority. In addition, IGTC is addressing the long-term sustainability of the ePhyto Solution via the IPPC’s Focus Group on Sustainable Funding.
• Alignment of work programmes with other rules-based and standard-setting bodies such as WTO and Codex Alimentarius. This includes the implementation of the SPS Declaration adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and preparations for the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in late February 2024.
• Monitoring of decisions taken by IPPC Contracting Parties to institutionalize its own Dispute Settlement Procedures in the field of phytosanitary standard setting.
• Work by IPPC to leverage expertise from industry associations in its standard-setting work. This includes a new partnership agreement to be based on the signature of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for a term of 3-5 years.
• Ongoing support from industry for the International Day of Plant Health now celebrated on 12 May annually. Continued availability of IGTC as one of IPPC’s recognized and established external cooperators, including in the implementation of the IPPC’s new Communications Strategy for 2023-2030.

While in Rome the IGTC delegation will also  liaise  with FAO experts on plant production technologies; national government representatives; and the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) of the ePhyto Solution. 

Pictured: Mariya-Khrystyna Koziy (IGTC Geneva Envoy), Shawna Enz Cross (IGTC ePhyto Working Group Co-Lead), Krista Thomas (IGTC LLP Team Lead)