NPPO Operations Module 1 The NPPO Functions and

NPPO Operations Module 1 The NPPO Functions and IPPC Obligations

Module 1 What will I learn? The definition, functions and obligations of an NPPO and contracting party under the IPPC § The IPPC and NPPO § NPPO Definition and functions § Strategic framework for fulfilling NPPO functions

The International Plant Protection Convention International Standards, Guidelines and Recommendations for Plant Health § To prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products § To cooperate in controlling pests of plants and plant products

IPPC historical timeline 12 Country Agreement IPPC text Revised Phylloxera vastatrix Convention 1881 182 Contracting Parties, RPPOs. WTO and CBD recognized 1951 Original Text Adopted 1952 Plant Health Agreement 1979 1997 2015 IPPC revised WTO – SPS Agreement (1995)

IPPC revision Revised in 1997 to align the Convention with the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

The new revised text of the IPPC Article 1: Purpose and Responsibility To secure common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products and to promote appropriate measures for their control, the contracting parties undertake to adopt the legislative, technical and administrative measures specified in this Convention and in supplementary agreements

The NPPO § The “Official service established by a government (contracting party) to discharge the functions specified by the IPPC [FAO, 1990; formerly plant protection organization (national)]” § The competent and legally responsible entity for implementing the functions outlined in the IPPC § The establishment of a functional NPPO is a national obligation for all contracting parties to the IPPC.

Responsibilities of the NPPO § To issue phytosanitary certificates § To survey growing plants, particularly with the object of reporting the occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests and controlling them

Responsibilities of the NPPO § To inspect consignments of plants and other regulated articles moving in international traffic § The disinfestation / disinfection of consignments of plants and other regulated articles moving in international traffic

Responsibilities of the NPPO § To protect endangered areas and the designation, maintenance and surveillance of pest free areas and areas of low pest prevalence § To conduct pest risk analyses

Responsibilities of the NPPO § To ensure that the phytosanitary security of consignments after certification with regard to composition, substitution and re-infestation is maintained prior to export § Training and development of NPPO staff

Contracting parties § Contracting parties refer to countries / governments that have ratified the IPPC and have accepted the new revised text (1997) of the IPPC. § Contracting parties are required to establish an NPPO as the competent body responsible for national plant protection.

Contracting party obligations Among the many obligations of IPPC contracting parties, the following are highlighted: § To set up and administer an NPPO to undertake the responsibilities described in IPPC Article IV. 2 § To designate an official IPPC contact point

Contracting party obligations § To submit a description of the NPPO and of any changes in that organization to the IPPC Secretariat § To provide a description of the NPPO’s organizational arrangements for plant protection to another contracting party, upon request § To perform other functions as required for implementating the IPPC

Contracting party obligations § To issue phytosanitary regulations § Shall not require phytosanitary measures for non-regulated pests § To distribute information on regulated pests and the means of their prevention and control § To carry out research and investigation in the field of plant protection

Contracting party obligations § To conduct surveillance for pests and develop and maintain adequate information on pest status in order to support categorization of pests and the development of appropriate phytosanitary measures § To publish and transmit phytosanitary requirements, restrictions and prohibitions to any other contracting party or parties that they believe may be directly affected by such measures

Contracting party obligations § To make available the rationale for phytosanitary requirements, restrictions and prohibitions to any contracting party, upon request § To respect the model phytosanitary certificate as set out in the IPPC § To require that additional declarations are technically justified

Exercise 1. 1 Is there a legally designated NPPO in your country? Study the IPPC text to understand the relationship between the IPPC and NPPOs. Do you have an official contact point as required by the IPPC? To what extent is your NPPO represented at the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures?

Exercise 1. 2 Consider the responsibilities of an NPPO and the obligations of a contracting party as defined by the IPPC. Which of these responsibilities does your NPPO perform? What are the obligations of a contracting party?