Ask an Expert: International Plant Protection Convention

The IPPC Standard Setting Work Programme as adopted by the most recent session of IPPC’s Commission on Phytosanitary Measures indicates that the IPPC intends to develop an ISPM (International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures) on the International Movement of Grain. What is the intended scope and objective of this ISPM? How would it relate to other standards and industry practices in this area?

Dear Ms. Nfor,

The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) discussed two issues:  the need for an ISPM on international movement of grain, and as a separate issue the need for an open-ended workshop (OEWS) on international movement of grain.

In the case of a potential ISPM on international movement of grain, the topic was added to the standard setting work program in 2008.  However, a specification for the ISPM has not yet been drafted.  Until a specification is developed and agreed by the CPM, it is difficult to say exactly what will or will not be addressed in the standard, in particular with regard to phytosanitary risks associated with LMOs/GMOs. 

Phytosanitary risks associated with genetically modified products are addressed in two different ISPM--ISPM No. 2 (Framework for pest risk analysis) and ISPM No. 11 (Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms).  These are available on the IPPC website http://www.ippc.int . 

Any standard drafted to address phytosanitary risks associated with international movement of grain would apply to quarantine pests, according to the IPPC definition. As the IPPC considers that guidance on assessing phytosanitary risks of LMOs/GMOs as quarantine pests is provided in ISPMs No. 2 and 11, any new ISPM will be consistent with requirements in ISPMs No. 2 and 11.

As mentioned above, the CPM also agreed that an OEWS, pending the availability of external resources, would be a useful forum for discussing phytosanitary issues related to international movement of grain.  The Bureau of the CPM will meet later this year to develop the terms of reference for the OEWS.