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This website is designed to guide users through the
area of international treaties, conventions, standards and guidelines
applicable to biotechnology. |
Title: International Plant Protection Convention |
Summary of Provisions:This Convention aims to avoid the spread and introduction of plant pests and diseases and promotes international cooperation for this purpose. State parties are required to have National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs) as a central point for implementing the Convention and for reporting to the IPPC's Secretariat. The IPPC Secretariat's functions include standard setting, facilitation of information exchange and provision of technical assistance. State parties are obligated to "regulate very strictly import and export of plants and plant products" (http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/register/reg-009.rrr.html) and also to give reports to the Secretariat and to issue phytosanitary certificates. The IPPC Secretariat is also involved in the application of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO's) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS agreement), through its role in setting and implementing phytosanitary standards. Summary of Development:The Convention was originally signed in 1951. A second text was adopted in 1979 and a third revision took place in 1997. The third text is a response to the role given to the IPPC Secretariat (established in 1992) of setting standards for the WTO's SPS agreement. It also formalised the Secretariat and established a Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (http://ippc.int/). The IPPC secretariat has recently established a working group on "Phytosanitary Aspects of Genetically Modified Organisms, Biosafety and Invasive Species" (http://ippc.int/) recognising their significance to the Convention. Current Status:The 1997 revised text entered into force on 2nd October 2005. As of March 2009, there were 170 States Parties to the Convention. International Plant Protection Convention Related Summaries on the Genomics Gateway Site:Food and Agriculture Organisation Page last updated 26th March 2009. Comments/enquiries to catherine.rhodes-2 'at' manchester.ac.uk |