Paul Mayaka

Posted on Tue, 15 Feb 2022, 21:44 Commodity standards for phytosanitary measures are crucial to safeguard plant-based agriculture, protect the environment and facilitate safe trade. The development of commodity and pathway-specific standards is a key component of the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030. Included amongst the key programmes of the IPPC development agenda for 2020-2030, the adoption of commodity-specific standards is expected to facilitate and accelerate trade negotiations and simplify safe trade in plant products by 2030. The IPPC standard setting work will focus more and more on commodity- or pathway-specific topics in the near future. Seven pathways standards have been already adopted over the past few years, covering wood packaging material, movement of seed, wood, growing media, as well as used vehicles, machinery and equipment. A draft International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures on Commodity specific standards will be presented for adoption at the sixteenth session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measure (CPM-16) in April 2022 and will include annexes for specific commodities. To learn more about these standards and the work of the IPPC on this direction, national and regional plant protection organizations are invited to attend the IPPC webinar on Commodity Standards that will take place on Wednesday, 16 February. This will be a unique opportunity to find out why commodity-based standards are so important and what the global plant health community is doing to develop and implement these standards at the global level. The event will also provide a platform to discuss potential partnerships and networks for the development of specific commodity standards. Phytosanitary and standard setting experts from different regions of the world will address key issues around the concept and principles of commodity standards and the work of the global plant health community in the upcoming years. They will also focus on potential benefits and challenges countries can meet while implementing these standards, especially developing and least developed countries. The draft ISPM that will be presented at CPM-16 and the work of the Technical Panel for Commodity Standards around it will be also central in the discussion. Interested participants can register to the morning session from 9 to 11 am (Rome time) or the evening session from 5 to 7 pm (Rome time). The webinar will be in English with interpretation in all the other UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish). Register to the morning session Register to the afternoon session Learn more about the programme of the event….. Commodity standards, a webinar explains new directions in the IPPC work – International Plant Protection Convention

Feb 12, 2022, 07:12 AM IST India and Australia plan to finalise an Interim Trade Agreement in the next 30 days. The deal will cover goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs procedure, and legal and Institutional issues. The two sides have accommodated and respected each other’s sensitivities, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and Australia’s trade, tourism and investment minister Dan Tehan said in New Delhi on Friday. “The good part of this friendship is that we have respected each other’s sensitivities,” Goyal said at a joint press conference after concluding their 3-day talks. “And the agreement is only a win-win with absolutely no negatives for both sides… So it’s a win-win agreement, which will satisfy the interests of people and businesses on both sides.” The two nations are expected to sign the interim agreement in March and the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is expected to be concluded in 12 months thereafter. Read more at:https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-australia-trade-agreement-to-respect-each-others-sensitivities-piyush-goyal-oz-minister/articleshow/89516159.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Posted on Thu, 03 Feb 2022, 12:50 Rome, 28 January 2022. The Expert Working Group (EWG) for the Annex Criteria for the determination of host status of fruit to fruit flies based on available information convened their virtual meeting to draft an annex to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures n. 37 (ISPM 37) on Determination of host status of fruit to fruit flies (Tephritidae). The IPPC international standards have been a basis for the application and harmonization of acceptable and technically justified measures applied in international trade. The ISPM 37 describes requirements for determining the host status of a particular fruit to an economically important Tephritidae fruit fly species and designates three categories of host status. The intention of this annex is to promote consistent harmonization of terms used by risk analysts and the phytosanitary community with the ones defined in ISPM 37. It also provides guidance to evaluate criteria consistently when reviewing information and determining fruit fly host status in pest risk analysis. Over the years, literature published on fruit fly host lists has challenged pest risk analysts uncertainty pertaining to these resources. The annex will be crucial to help prevent future trade challenges over whether National Plant Protection Organizations should regulate a particular product based on variable fruit fly host status. The Annex developed by the EWG is planned to be presented to the Standards Committee (SC) in May where it will be considered for approval for first consultation from 1 July to 30 September 2022. The meeting report of the EWG once ready, will be available at the following link: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/expert-drafting-groups/expert-working-groups/

Source: Zim clinches lucrative citrus deal | The Herald Sweet oranges Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter Zimbabwe can now export fruits to China after the two countries signed the citrus phytosanitary protocol, in a development expected to broaden export destinations for the fruits and remove over reliance on South Africa and the European market. The phytosanitary protocol requires that a cold chain system for the export of fresh citrus fruits to China be put in place like any other country including the European Union (EU) for the management of False Codling Moth and other pests. This cold chain is required to begin at the port as opposed to the initial requirement for cooling to begin on the farm. China was represented by the General Administration of Customs of China, Minister Ni Yuefeng while Zimbabwe was represented by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Anxious Masuka. Varieties of fresh citrus to be exported to China from Zimbabwe include sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lemon (Citrus limon and Citrus aurantifolia) and sour orange (Citrus aurantium). Acting chief director for Department of Research and Specialist Services Dr Dumisani Kutywayo confirmed the developments. “The General Administration of Customs of the Peoples’ Republic of China signed first and we followed suit. “We are now educating stakeholders on the requirements to export fresh fruits to China. Local stakeholders from the citrus industry have accepted the favourable terms,” he said. In a post on micro-blogging site, Twitter, the Chinese embassy in Harare said: “The sweet & juicy Zimbabwean citrus will join the Chinese market as the citrus export protocol have just been signed. We are implementing President Xi’s pledge that China will open a green channel for the export of African agricultural products. It’ll benefit more Zimbabwean farmers.” The finalisation of the protocol will provide an impetus towards the conclusion of partnerships and out grower arrangements with Chinese companies that are eager to export the products to China. The signing of the trade protocol will also cement trade relations between the two nations and will open the door for other products some that we were not exporting hence will lead to an increase in agriculture contribution to the export basket. China imports the grade b and c citrus as well and this will help Zimbabwe export those grades that are deemed inferior by traditional markets. The request for the citrus fruits export protocol between Zimbabwe and China started 2015 when Zimbabwe was seeking a market for Shashi Citrus smallholder farmers. China requested for Pest Risk Assessment information for the export of fresh citrus fruits from Zimbabwe to China. When Zimbabwe submitted the information, Chinese experts came to Zimbabwe in 2018 for a pre-shipment inspection of the citrus fields to check for consistence of the pests associated with citrus in Zimbabwe and also for pack shade adherence to required pack shade standards. Chinese experts declared False Codling Moth (FCM), and Natal fruit flies as pests of concern. From 2019 until 2020, negotiations went on until a protocol was recently signed between the two countries after agreeing on greed measures to take care of the concerns of plant biosecurity. China has also agreed out of the protocol framework to provide technical assistance to Zimbabwe regarding fresh citrus exports to the Chinese market. This initiative will improve local capacity for monitoring and surveillance of citrus plantations for insect pests and diseases. Meanwhile all orchards and packing houses that wish to export citrus to China have been advised to register with the Ministry of Lands for approval by both the Ministry and approved by both the MLAFWRD and the GACC. The finalisation of the protocol will provide an impetus towards the conclusion of partnerships and out grower arrangements with Chinese companies that are eager to export the products to China. The signing of the trade protocol will also cement trade relations between the two nations and will open the door for other products some that we were not exporting hence will lead to an increase in agriculture contribution to the export basket. The request for the citrus fruits export protocol between Zimbabwe and China started 2015 when Zimbabwe was seeking a market for Shashi Citrus smallholder farmers. China requested for Pest Risk Assessment information for the export of fresh citrus fruits from Zimbabwe to China. When Zimbabwe submitted the information, Chinese experts came to Zimbabwe in 2018 for a pre-shipment inspection of the citrus fields to check for consistence of the pests associated with citrus in Zimbabwe and also for pack shade adherence to required pack shade standards. Chinese experts declared False Codling Moth (FCM), and Natal fruit flies as pests of concern. From 2019 until 2020, negotiations went on until a protocol was recently signed between the two countries after agreeing on greed measures to take care of the concerns of plant biosecurity. China has also agreed out of the protocol framework to provide technical assistance to Zimbabwe regarding fresh citrus exports to the Chinese market. This initiative will improve local capacity for monitoring and surveillance of citrus plantations for insect pests and diseases. Meanwhile, all orchards and packing houses that wish to export citrus to China have been advised to register with the Ministry of Lands for approval by both the Ministry and approved by both the MLAFWRD and the GACC. Zim clinches lucrative citrus deal – Zimbabwe Situation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Plant Protection Department (PPD) has reached an agreement with the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources on the use of metsulfuron methyl for cut flowers exported to Australia instead of glyphosate, which has been banned in Vietnam since June 2021. The Plant Protection Department (PPD) has coordinated with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam to hold a ceremony to announce a new phytosanitary measure for Vietnam’s cut flowers exported to Australia. The metsulfuron methyl will be used to treat cut chrysanthemum sprouts before being exported to Australia from March 1. Vice head of the PPD Nguyen Thi Thu Huong said that basically, chrysanthemum exports to Australia will not need import license of the country, but must be treated with metsulfuron methyl, 200g per kg, at a dose of 0.67g per liter. After the resumption of Vietnam’s flower shipments to Australia, the sides will continue keeping watch on safety and effectiveness of metsulfuron methyl on the batches for the next six months, she added. Australia has been among important traditional markets of Vietnamese flowers for 23 years. Vietnam ships nearly 30 million bunches of flowers and foliage to the Oceania nation each year, raking in 5.2 million USD./. Vietnamese cut flowers to be exported to Australia again (dangcongsan.vn)

Posted on Mon, 24 Jan 2022, 07:46 On IPPC Website Rome, 21 January 2022. Kick starting the New Year, the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) held its annual meeting to reflect on the IPPC mission and the impact it had on the global plant health community in 2021. Welcoming the IPPC team was IPPC Secretariat Officer-in-Charge for Daily Matters Mr Avetik Nersisyan, followed by opening remarks and staff recognition with FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) Director, Mr Jingyuan Xia. Topics on the major impact of the IPPC 2021 operations were presented by team leads: Ms Moreira from the Standard Setting Unit (SSU), Ms Brunel from Implementation Facilitation Unit (IFU), Mr Deng from Integration and Support Team (IST), Mr Fedchock from ePhyto Group and Mr Benovic from the IPPC Work Plan and Budget. After a brief break, there was a group discussion moderated by Mr Fedchock on strengthening the “One IPPC” concept for Better Impact around the four betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. In concluding the meeting, inspirational remarks by NSP Director Xia underlined communication, collaboration and teamwork as foundational values towards achieving a dynamic impact of the IPPC in 2022 among other messages of inspiration to the IPPC team. Impact of the International Plant Protection Convention mission presented in 2021 annual meeting – International Plant Protection Convention (ippc.int)