The ippc and Alien Invasive Species Dealing with Alien Invasive Species since 1952

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Dealing with Alien Invasive Species since 1952

• Ralf Lopian

• Senior Advisor

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland

• Chairman of the ICPM

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species

• Contents:

• Definitions and Abbreviations
• Responsibilities
• IPPC activities concerning Alien Invasive Species
• Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards
• Discussion and Conclusions

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Abbreviations (1)

• CBD – Convention on Biological Diversity; it has three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. Activities with direct phytosanitary impacts are its provisions on ”Alien Species” and ”Alien Invasive Species”.

• IPPC – International Plant Protection Convention; its aim is to secure a 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.

• ICPM – Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the IPPC

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Abbreviations (2)

• RPPOs – Regional Plant Protection Organizations; RPPOs function as the coordinating bodies in the geographical areas covered and shall participate in various activities to achieve the objectives of the IPPC ().

• EPPO – European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization; it is the Regional Plant Protection Organization responsible for cooperation in plant protection in the European and Mediterranean region ().

• SPS – Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization (WTO); its main field of work is the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures in relation to trade .

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Definitions (1)

• [Plant] Pest - Any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent [directly or indirectly] injurious to plants or plant products [IPPC, 1997]

• Quarantine [Plant] Pest – A pest of potential economic importance to the area endangered thereby and not yet present there, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled [IPPC, 1997]

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Definitions (2)

• Alien Species - a species, subspecies or lower taxon, introduced outside its natural past or present distribution; includes any part, gametes, seeds, eggs, or propagules of such species that might survive and subsequently reproduce [CBD, 2003]

• Invasive Alien Species (=Alien Invasive Species) – an alien species whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity [CBD, 2003]

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Plant Pests and AISs

• Criteria of a Quarantine Pest

• Any organism

• Injurious to plants

• Having a potential economic (environmental) impact

• Not present, or if present not widely distributed and being officially controlled

• Not included

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Responsibilities: Overlapping Mandates (1)

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Responsibilities: Overlapping Mandates (2)

• Areas of overlap between IPPC and Guiding Principles are:

• providing legal and and regulatory frameworks
• building capacity and technical assistance for developing countries
• assessing and managing potential plant pest risks
• protecting areas that may be threatened by plant pests
• applying measures to prevent the unintentional introduction of plant pests

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Responsibilities: Overlapping Mandates (3)

• Areas of overlap are (continued):

• certifying that risk managemant procedures have been applied
• assessing and managing the intentional introduction of organisms that may be plant pests
• exchanging of scientific and regulatory information relevant to plant pests
• cooperating between countriess to minimize the impact of plant pests
• detecting, controlling and eradicating pests in agricultural and wild flora

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species IPPC activities concerning Alien Invasive Species (1)

• 1999: the second meeting of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM 2) created an informal open-ended working group to consider issues regarding GMOs, biosecurity and invasive species.

• 2001: based on the recommendations of the working group ICPM 3 decided that:

• species that may be invasive and that directly or indirectly affect plants or plant products should be assessed, monitored and managed, if necessary, according to IPPC provisions
• alien invasive species that are plant pests and that are not present (if present then limited distribution + official control) should be considered quarantine pests and should be subjected to measures according to IPPC provisions

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species IPPC activities concerning Alien Invasive Species (2)

• that the IPPC is directly relevant to article 8(h) of the CBD (Prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species)
• many provisions and standards of the IPPC are directly relevant to, or overlap with the Interim Guiding Principles (Now: Guiding Principles) of the CBD
• standards should be reviewed to ensure that they adequately address environmental risks of plant pests
• a supplement to ISPM 11 (International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures No.11: Pest Risk Analysis for quarantine pests) be developed to address in detail the environmental risks of plant pests

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species IPPC activities concerning Alien Invasive Species (3)

• the IPPC Secretariat cooperates with the CBD on Alien Invasive Species related matters
• IPPC Secretariat to seek observers status with CBD
• IPPC Secretariat to attend relevant meetings of the CBD and to invite the CBD to attend relevant IPPC meetings
• IPPC Secretariat to cooperate with other standard setting bodies to ensure that common areas of interest are adequately covered

Phytosanitary Aspects of Biotechnology and Alien Invasive Species IPPC activities concerning Alien Invasive Species (4)

• In 2003 the ICPM adopted:
• a supplementary standard to ISPM 11 (PRA of Quarantine Pests) on environmental risk of plant pests
• a supplementary standard to ISPM 5 (Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms) providing guidelines on the understanding of ”potential economic importance” and related terms including reference to environmental considerations

Phytosanitary Aspects of Biotechnology and Alien Invasive Species IPPC activities concerning Alien Invasive Species (5)

• In 2003 the IPPC Secretariat and the CBD Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in order to:
• promote synergy
• avoid overlaps
• avoid unnecessary duplication
• ensure effective cooperation in joint activities

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards (1)

• IPPC and/or Standard provisions

• IPPC: Art. VII (2a) (potential

• contradiction)

• ISPM 11: (partial application)

• IPPC: general aim of IPPC (full

• application)

• ISPM 11: supplement on

• environmental risks

• ISPM 5: supplement on potential

• economic importance

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards (2)

• IPPC and/or Standard provisions

• IPPC: general aim of IPPC (full

• application)

• ISPM 3: biocontrol agents

• ISPM 6: surveillance

• ISPM 17: pest reporting

• ISPM 19: pest listing

• IPPC: Art. IV (2b) & Art. IV (3b)

• ISPM 6: surveillance

• ISPM 8: pest status

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards (3)

• IPPC and/or Standard provisions

• IPPC: not covered (Art. IV, 3a provides very limited coverage)

• IPPC: especially Art. VII

• ISPM 1: principles

• ISPM 7: export certification system

• ISPM 12: phytosanitary certificates

• ISPM 13: non-compliance & emergency action

• ISPM 14: integrated measures

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards (4)

• IPPC and/or Standard provisions

• IPPC: especially Art. VIII

• ISPM 1: principles

• ISPM 6: surveillance

• ISPM 8: pest status

• ISPM 13: non-compliance & emergency action

• ISPM 17: pest reporting

• ISPM 19: pest listing

• IPPC: especially Art. XX; PCE; FAO structure a bonus

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards (5)

• IPPC and/or Standard provisions

• IPPC: especially Art. VII

• ISPM 1: principles

• ISPM 2: PRA

• ISPM 3: biocontrol agents

• ISPM 11: PRA for quarantine pests

• IPPC: especially Art. VII

• ISPM 1: principles

• ISPM 2: PRA

• ISPM 11: PRA for quarantine pests

• ISPM 14: integrated measures

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards (6)

• IPPC and/or Standard provisions

• IPPC: Art. I (partially)

• IPPC: Art. I

• ISPM 9: pest eradication programmes

• IPPC: especially Art. I

• ISPM 4: pest free areas

• ISPM 9: pest eradication prog.

• ISPM 10: pest free places of production

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Relationship between Guiding Principles and the IPPC and its Standards (6)

• IPPC and/or Standard provisions

• IPPC: Art. I

• ISPM 14: integrated measures

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Discussion (1)

• Do we need active involvement of plant health authorities for Alien Invasive Species?

• Avoid duplication of activities on an international and national level
• Long experience on assessing and managing biological risks related to introduced organisms
• Well developed infrastructures on national levels for surveying organisms
• Minimizing negative trade impacts

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Discussion (2)

• Is there a need for a well structured international regulatory framework for Alien Invasive Species?

• Avoid duplication of activities, contradicting approaches and confusion of competences in international agreements
• Establishment of clear hierachies of competences as in national legislation of many countries
• Improve cooperation of international organizations
• Minimizing negative trade impacts

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Discussion (3)

• What are countries responsibilities in establishing an international regulatory framework for Alien Invasive Species?

• Countries should ratify the relevant international agreements
• National coordination of strategies concerning international agreements
• Request international organizations to cooperate in their activities

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Discussion (4)

• What are possible future activities for Alien Invasive Species?

• Declaration of competences for international organizations
• Resolving possible contradicting provisions in international agreements (WTO/SPS; CBD; IPPC)
• Providing Technical Assistance to developing countries
• IPPC to intensify its TA activities
• CBD to contribute to IPPC TA activities (IPPC Trust Fund)

The IPPC and Alien Invasive Species Conclusions

• Phytosanitary authorities, know-how and structures have a clear mandate and function in the field of biotechnology and alien invasive species.

• An international regulatory framework for alien invasive species should be established setting clear competences and hierachies for international organizations in this field.

• All countries should ratify the relevant international agreements and fully participate in their activities.

• Providing Technical Assistance to developing countries