Objective: To help countries assess the risks of LMOs and determine whether some should be considered as weeds or other organisms that damage plants in order to reduce the risks of releasing LMOs that are weedy and likeky to harm crops and plant ecosystems. The guidelines will also help to harmonize and standardize the way countries analyse risks that LMOs may pose to plant health.  

Scope/level of support: These Guidelines constitute one of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It is recognized as the basis for phytosanitary measures applied by Members of the World Trade Organization under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. A country may now use the guidelines to determine which LMOs pose a threat and, if necessary, can subsequently prohibit or restrict their import and domestic use. The guidelines provide details for the conduct of pest risk analysis (PRA) to determine if pests are quarantine pests. They describe the integrated processes to be used for risk assessment as well as the selection of risk management options. The guidelines include supplementary text on environmental risks is marked with "S1" and the supplementary text on LMOs is marked with "S2". They include details regarding the analysis of risks of plant pests to the environment and biological diversity, including those risks affecting uncultivated/unmanaged plants, wild flora, habitats and ecosystems contained in the PRA area. Some explanatory comments on the scope of the IPPC in regard to environmental risks are given in Annex 1.   The Standard also includes guidance on evaluating potential phytosanitary risks to plants and plant products posed by living modified organisms (LMOs). This guidance does not alter the scope of ISPM No. 11 but is intended to clarify issues related to the PRA for LMOs. Some explanatory comments on the scope of the IPPC in regard to PRA for LMOs are given in Annex 2.