Section 12
STRATEGIC DIRECTION NO. 6: PROMOTION OF IPPC AND COOPERATION
WITH RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
12.1 Cooperation with the CBD
145. The Secretariat introduced a document [1] reviewing the collaboration between the IPPC and CBD, and which included a draft decision on “threats to biodiversity posed by alien species: actions within the framework of the IPPC.” It suggested possible further activities on the matter, building upon the outcome of the Workshop on Invasive Alien Species in 2003 in Braunschweig (Germany).
146. The Commission expressed its support for the collaboration between the IPPC and the CBD, and welcomed the paper and its focus. It believed that collaboration helped to prevent duplication or conflicting principles and frameworks where international phytosanitary issues were concerned, and lent support to the achievement of goals of mutual interest and importance to ICPM members.
147. A friends of the Chair group was convened to consider comments to the draft decision, including to more fully focus its text in light of the scope of the IPPC. The working group developed a revised text which was presented to plenary. The ICPM adopted the following decision:
1. Noting that invasive alien species that are pests of plants have significant adverse effects on wild as well as cultivated plants world-wide;
2. Noting the important current and potential role of the IPPC to address the problem of invasive alien species that harm plants, in light of the mandate of the IPPC to protect wild as well as cultivated plants, and the well-developed structures to guard against pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) established under the framework of the IPPC over a period of several decades;
3. Noting that action in this regard may be an important contribution to the conservation of biodiversity, through the protection of wild flora and their habitats and ecosystems, and of agricultural biodiversity;
4. Welcoming the publication of the Proceedings of the Workshop on Invasive Alien Species held in Braunschweig, Germany in September 2003;
5. Desiring to enhance cooperation between the IPPC and the CBD on matters relating to, inter alia, invasive alien species, and to further strengthen activities in this area within the framework of the IPPC, in a manner that complements work under the CBD and other instruments;
6. Desiring to build upon the recommendations made at the workshop in Braunschweig, as reflected in the proceedings of the workshop, and to strengthen international momentum to address this important issue;
7. Recommended that contracting parties and NPPOs, as appropriate:
a) Enhance plant protection laws and policies, where needed, to include the protection of wild flora and biodiversity from pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species);
b) Promote the IPPC and participate in broader national strategies to address threats to biodiversity posed by invasive alien species, so that maximum advantage can be taken of existing structures and capacities under the IPPC;
c) Reinforce efforts to apply and utilize relevant ISPMs and related phytosanitary measures to address threats to biodiversity posed by invasive alien species that are pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species);
d) Give particular attention, when carrying out pest risk analysis, to the possibility that introduced plants could act as invasive alien species, taking into consideration available information on the types of plants for which this has already occurred;
e) Enhance linkages between environmental, plant protection and agricultural authorities and related ministries, in order to articulate and achieve common goals in work involving the protection of plants and biodiversity from, invasive alien species;
f) Improve communication between national CBD focal points and IPPC contact points;
g) Collect, where appropriate, information on the alien invasions of pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species), and forward this to the CBD national focal points, to assist in monitoring progress towards the 2010 biodiversity targets outlined in the COP-7 Decision VII/30;
h) Establish or adapt existing pest alert systems to include all pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) that threaten the environment and biological diversity, including those affecting uncultivated/unmanaged plants, wild flora, habitats and ecosystems, and ensure that relevant agencies and officials have access to lists of plants, plant products, other regulated articles and trade pathways that may carry such pests;
i) Report to the IPPC Secretariat on actions and progress on the above recommendations.
8. Supported, within the framework of the IPPC, actions to:
a) Further clarify opportunities to address issues of invasive alien species that are pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) within the context of the IPPC, and the benefits of doing so;
b) Address concerns relating to threats to biodiversity and the environment from pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) and their pathways in the development of new or revised ISPMs and related phytosanitary measures;
c) Include potential pathways of invasive alien species that are pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) as a criterion for the selection of topics and priorities for future standards;
d) In the context of technical assistance initiatives under the IPPC, enhance the capacity of developing countries to address pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) that threaten the environment and biological diversity.
9. Requested the Secretariat to provide available and relevant information on alien invasions of pests of plants (including plants that are invasive alien species) to the CBD Secretariat, to assist in monitoring progress towards the 2010 biodiversity targets outlined in the COP-7 Decision VII/30.
10. Requested the Secretariat to support the implementation of this Decision as a priority for work under the IPPC, within available resources.
11. Welcomed the collaboration between the IPPC and the CBD in developing mechanisms to address the threats posed by invasive alien species, and requests the Secretariat to develop a joint work programme with the Secretariat of the CBD in support of these efforts.
12. Invited the CBD, in addressing the threats posed by invasive alien species, to continue to take into account work under the IPPC for the protection of plants and its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity.
12.2 Collaboration between OIE, Codex Alimentarius Commission and the IPPC [2]
149. The Chairperson noted that, at ICPM-6, he had proposed a closer cooperation between OIE, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the IPPC. The SPTA had discussed the strategically important issue and recommended a process for initiating contacts with the two organizations and had proposed a three-step procedure.
150. The ICPM:
1. Considered the recommendations of the SPTA on a closer collaboration with OIE and Codex Alimentarius.
2. Adjusted and adopted the following three steps for initiating contacts with the OIE and Codex Alimentarius:
a) ICPM Bureau initiates contacts with the OIE and Codex Alimentarius
b) Meetings as necessary between IPPC, Codex Alimentarius and OIE to identify potential topics and priorities and develop draft procedures for cooperation.
c) Adoption by ICPM of the potential topics, priorities and draft procedures.
3. Requested a report on the progress of this matter at ICPM-8.
12.3 Coordination among United Nations Bodies on Quarantine and Pre-Shipment Uses of Methyl Bromide [3]
151. Several members stressed the importance of cooperation between the Montreal Protocol and the IPPC, as among other things this could reduce the possibility of duplication and /or overlap in research into alternatives to methyl bromide (MeBr) use for quarantine purposes.
152. Several members raised their concerns about a possible temporary disruption of trade from countries with insufficient capacities for treatments (MeBr and heat treatment) as adopted as part of ISPM No. 15. It was noted that the importation of treated wood or wood packaging material from another country may offer a short term solution for countries that did not have treatment facilities.
153. Several members requested that the work in the development of alternatives to MeBr be accelerated. It was stressed that it would be the responsibility of members to encourage the intensification of research and participate in the work of the International Forest Quarantine Research Group (IFQRG).
154. The Secretariat informed the ICPM that alternatives to MeBr was already on the work programme and that the Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments had allocated one day at the end of their next meeting to discuss the topic.
155. Several questions were raised about the implementation of ISPM No. 15. One member noted that most of these questions had already been addressed at the IPPC workshop on the practical application of ISPM No. 15 held in Vancouver earlier in the year. The Secretariat noted that the presentations and workbook were posted on the IPP (www.ippc.int) and that questions and answers were posted on the IFQRG website (www.forestry-quarantine.org ) which was also linked to the IPP.
156. Some members expressed their concern about the decision XVI/11 (from the 16th meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol) and the possible results for international trade, because approved treatments in ISPM No. 15 may be considered as pre-shipment treatments and not as quarantine treatments.
157. The ICPM:
1. Noted the decision of the meeting of parties to the Montreal Protocol attached as Annex 1 of ICPM 2005/21.
2. Agreed that the IPPC Secretariat should cooperate with the Secretariat to the Montreal Protocol, as appropriate, to coordinate work on the issue.
3. Encouraged countries to liaise with their appropriate research organizations and stress the importance and urgency in developing alternatives to MeBr for use for quarantine purposes.
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