Asia pacific Plant Protection Commission

Why is in news? Workshop on Systems Approach for Management of Fruits Flies on Mango jointly being organized by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Asia pacific Plant Protection Commission

The Asia pacific Plant Protection Commission unanimously elected India as chair of the Standing Committee on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the biennium 2023-24 during the 32^nd Session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) held in Bangkok during November 2022.

Accordingly, the APPPC Workshop on Systems Approach for the management of fruit flies on mango has been scheduled from 19-23 June, 2023 at Hotel Fortune Select Exotica, Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

It has emphasised on the production of pest free as well as residue free fruits and vegetables for getting market worldwide so that farmer’s income can be increased.

International Plant Protection Convention:

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is a 1951 multilateral treaty overseen by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

It aims to secure coordinated, effective action to prevent and to control the introduction and spread of pests of plants and plant products.

The Convention extends beyond the protection of cultivated plants to the protection of natural flora and plant products.

It also takes into consideration both direct and indirect damage by pests, so it includes weeds.

IPPC promulgates International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).

The Convention created a governing body consisting of each party, known as the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, which oversees the implementation of the convention.

As of August 2017, the convention has 183 parties, being 180 United Nations member states and the Cook Islands, Niue, and the European Union.

The convention is recognized by the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) as the only international standard setting body for plant health.

While the IPPC's primary focus is on plants and plant products moving in international trade, the convention also covers research materials, biological control organisms, germ plasm banks, containment facilities, food aid, emergency aid and anything else that can act as a vector for the spread of plant pests – for example, containers, packaging materials, soil, vehicles, vessels and machinery.

The IPPC was created by member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO).

The IPPC places emphasis on three core areas: international standard setting, information exchange and capacity development for the implementation of the IPPC and associated international phytosanitary standards.

The Secretariat of the IPPC is housed at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, and is responsible for the coordination of core activities under the IPPC work program.

Asia pacific Plant Protection Commission:

The Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region (formerly the Plant Protection Agreement for South-East Asia and Pacific Region) was approved by the 23rd Session of the FAO Council in November 1955 and entered into force on 2 July 1956.

Currently, there are 25 countries are the members: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa (Western), Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Viet Nam

The Commission administers the Regional Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and the Pacific.

It reviews the plant protection situation at the national level in member countries, and also at the regional level.

It coordinating and promoting development of regional plant protection systems, assisting member countries to develop effective plant protection regimes, setting standards for phytosanitary measures, and facilitating information sharing are among its key objectives.

A total of 25 countries are members and the APPPC meets at least once every two years.