15th Technical Consultation of RPPOs

Sigatoka, Fiji, 2003-09-29/10-03

The 15th Technical Consultation took place in Sigatoka (Fiji Islands) on September 29 to October 3, 2003 and was organized by the Pacific Plant Protection Organization (PPPO).
The Technical Consultation agreed that there was widespread support for increasing funding of the IPPC Secretariat of FAO but that there was a need for ongoing pressure by the ICPM members to achieve this increase.
The last Interim Commission for Phytosanitary Measures in 2004, decided that a focus group would be established to examine the current standard setting mechanism with a view to improve it, and recommend a fast track procedure for the adoption of standards for phytosanitary measures to accelerate the process of ISPM development.

Fiji

All pictures by F. Petter

The Technical Consultation examined the report of this Focus group and acknowledged the excellent analysis and innovative suggestions of the document. The Technical Consultation made a number of suggestions to be communicated to the Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance Working Group later in October 2003.

Updated information regarding the Status of ISPM 15 was provided by the IPPC Secretariat. The RPPOs had exchanges of view on the following topics:

Regional consultation processes for draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
Regional dispute settlement mechanisms
Risk reduction associated with the importation of propagative plant material
Concept of regional pest list, alert lists
Regional cooperation in PRA
Role of RPPOs in pest reporting

The Technical Consultation also discussed the issue of capacity building to implement ISPMs.

The Technical Consultation agreed that it was important for countries to identify their own problems in implementing ISPMs and it was agreed that this would be a regular agenda item for the Technical Consultation of RPPOs.

		The Technical Consultation was followed by a Workshop on market access from the Pacific Islands organized by PPPO and technical visits to mango and eggplant exporting premises.

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