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Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service, P/BAG 7, Chilanga, Zambia.

Year: 2022

13 Apr 22

IITA calls for the use of technology in the fight against fall armyworm

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture IITA has welcomed members of the public to make use their premises in search for technology in fight against Fall Armyworm.  Speaking during the field day on fall armyworm control organised by Syngenta, in CHONGWE, IITA Southern Africa Director DAVID CHIKOYE says IITA is a public organisation that offers free international agricultural extension services.  And chief Agriculture Research Officer under the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute ZARI, Dr Patrick Chikotihascommended IITA and Syngenta for developing technologies which is help the small scale farmers against crop losses. IITA calls for the use of technology in the fight against fall armyworm – Ministry of Agriculture
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12 Apr 22

CPM approves transition of Implementation Review and Support System to the IPPC Observatory

Posted on Tue, 12 Apr 2022, 08:07 Rome, 12 April 2022. The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) has approved the transition of the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC’s) Implementation Review and Support System (IRSS) to the IPPC Observatory, during the CPM-16 meeting that is taking place virtually on 5,7, 21 April 2022. The IPPC Observatory will be a sustainably funded system aimed at improving contracting parties’ implementation of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the International Standards of Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) and CPM recommendations. The IRSS was initially established to verify contracting parties’ compliance with the IPPC and to gauge uptake of the ISPMs. Adopted at the third CPM session in 2008, the IRSS was designed to identify gaps in implementation and address them through assistance and facilitation. The IRSS programme has been implemented by the IPPC Secretariate on a project cycle basis since 2011 and funded mainly by the European Commission. The current third cycle funding ends in May 2022. In October 2020, the IPPC Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) proposed options to move IRSS from a project-driven activity to a system integrated within the IPPC Secretariat. The proposal was for the IPPC Observatory to have multiple funding sources, a clearer purpose, a long-term vision, and work and communications plans that are not necessarily tied to a project life cycle. The move thus signals a name change and a new identity so that contracting parties can be better informed on how they can benefit and contribute to the work of the IPPC Observatory. The transition allows the IPPC Observatory to have a more focused scope. It will continue to monitor implementation, identify challenges, and best practices, and provide recommendations to the CPM to address implementation issues. The IPPC Observatory will, however, relinquish IRSS’s previous support function. With an allocated base funding from the IPPC Secretariat and with dedicated full-time staff, the IPPC Observatory will function better under the IPPC Secretariat while being guided by the IC Sub-group. A three-year work plan, a resource mobilization plan and a communications strategy adapted to target audiences will be in place to guide the IPPC Observatory’s work. “We are very pleased that the CPM has approved the IC’s recommendations for the IRSS to transition to the IPPC Observatory,” said Sarah Brunel, IPPC Implementation and Facilitation Unit Officer-in-Charge of daily matters. “Contracting parties can expect a more efficient and harmonized mechanism for monitoring the implementation of standards and CPM recommendations every 3-5 years. Through a streamlined process, contracting parties will also be able to submit new topics on which the IPPC Observatory can conduct in-depth studies. “Under the IPPC Observatory, survey designs will be improved and data collection will be streamlined. Results of surveys and studies, including best practices and key messages will be communicated in a timely manner so that contracting parties can use the information to develop or adjust their national phytosanitary plans. The results of surveys will thus be more readily available to help improve implementation of the Convention, its standards and CPM recommendations,” Sarah Brunel added. The IPPC Observatory will be guided by core principles including transparency, impartiality and independence, work plan-driven and based on set terms of reference, and espouse continuous improvement based on feedback. In addition, the IPPC Observatory will contribute to measure the achievements and realization of the objectives in the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030 by collecting baseline data and through ongoing monitoring. The CPM Bureau further approved the proposal for the IPPC Secretariat to enable the effective operationalization of the IPPC Observatory and encouraged contracting parties to contribute to its funding. CPM approves transition of Implementation Review and Support System to the IPPC Observatory – International Plant Protection Convention
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PEST INFORMATION VITAL TO FARMERS

By DORCAS KABUYA CHAABA PEST and disease outbreaks can be devastating to farmers especially in Sub-Saharan Africa were the majority of people depend on agriculture for food, nutritional and income security thereby hampering the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 1 and 2. In the recent past, countries like Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe were affected by the African Migratory Red Locusts were millions of dollars were spent in an effort to combat the outbreak through purchase of pesticides and aerial spraying. The African Migratory Red Locusts are said to breed faster in conditions of drought followed by rain and rapid vegetation growth. This goes without saying that pest outbreaks are becoming increasingly unpredictable due to climate change, as such farmers need pest information services if they are to break even in their agricultural ventures and take appropriate action. To address these plant health challenges which come with change in climate, the Ministry of Agriculture working with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), has been implementing the Pest Risk Information Service (PRISE) project, through sending pest alert messages to farmers. Department of Agriculture Director, Moses Mwale, notes that crop loss through pests currently stands at around 40 percent stating that the PRISE programme complemented government’s extension service delivery. Mr Mwale stated that the Ministry of Agriculture through its departments will continue providing all the necessary support in implementing the PRISE project so that farmers can carry out timely pest management measures. “Increasing the resilience of smallholder farmers to pest outbreaks is noble, Pests can decimate crops and are estimated to cause around 40 percent loss and impede food supply chains and safe international trade in plant and plant products,” Mr Mwale added. He further said the project acts as an early warning system for farmers by sending pest alert of selected pests, noting that the gesture was commendable especially in the era of climate change and variability when pests are frequent. “I encourage partners to continue the work and most of all to include more pests that occur in Zambia such as the Fall Armyworm (FAW) and Red Locusts, which can be quite devastating to crops,” Mr Mwale appealed. Mr Mwale said this during the PRISE stakeholders meeting to map the wayforward on the sustainability of the project. The PRISE project is meant to develop early warning system to help cut crop losses resulting from pests using cutting-edge space infrastructure, Earth observation data and state-of- the-art modelling techniques. CABI Southern Africa Regional Representative, Noah Phiri noted that the PRISE project is operating using another CABI led project called Plantwise, a programme that tackle pests and their associated crop losses.      Dr Phiri noted that the project is meant to determine how extreme weather patterns can affect farmers and providing the appropriate remedial measures. “Farming is the only source of livelihood for the majority of the people living in different parts of Zambia. However, insect pests and diseases pose a huge economic challenges, as they apart from feeding on the crops and contributing to quantity losses, also create the entry point for fungal diseases,” he explained. Dr Phiri recognised the extension officers for their instrumental role in disseminating the pest alert messages to the farmers. “The pest alert messages were not only Plant Doctors but other extension staff not covered under the Plantwise project including Policy Makers through the Zambia Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (ZIAMIS) platform,” he narrated. Chibombo District Crops Officer, Tiwonge Mihova, noted that with the PRISE project, farmers are informed while in advance of a looming pest outbreak and seek advice from their local extension officer and are able to prepare. Ms Mihova noted extension officers not only disseminate pest alerts to farmers but also encourage the farmers to follow the best agronomic practices which inhibit pest infestation. Meanwhile, Obby Nkani, a beneficiary farmer from Kapiri Mposhi District, commended the implementers of the project in helping farmers mitigate crop loss through pests. “This programme will benefit a lot of farmers as they are made aware of the kind of pests to expect in the farming season, in this way more pests’ information will be covered and shared,” he stated. Farmers who receive adequate and timely pest information are in a position to control and take preventive measures thereby contributing increasing crop production and productivity. In attendance were representatives from National Association for Smallholder Farmers in Zambia (NASFAZ), Smart Zambia, Conservation Farming Unit (CFU), Self Help Africa (SHA), Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services (PQPS), Department of Agriculture (both Headquarters and district staff). Others were Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), Agricultural lecturers from The University of Zambia School of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development College (NRDC), Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) –NAIS
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10 Apr 22

Let’s Talk About…IPPC Phytosanitary Treatments The International Phytosanitary Community Adopts 5 New Phytosanitary Treatments

Posted on Fri, 08 Apr 2022, 15:59 Rome, 8 April 2022. The 16th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) adopted on Tuesday, 5 April 2022 five new phytosanitary treatments (Annexes to ISPM 28) to broaden the pest management options countries may use to mitigate the risk and support safe trade. The IPPC Strategic Framework refers to the development of commodity- and pathway-specific standards. One of its recommendations is to intensify activities relating to the adoption of new phytosanitary treatments. One way to cover more commodities for larger groups of pests is to develop more generic treatments that have a broader scope than treatments for singular pests. Phytosanitary treatments are developed by the Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments (TPPT), a group of experts in treatment research who are delegated by their countries to review submitted treatment proposals and the associated research, striving to develop the best quality, scientifically sound phytosanitary treatments. The criteria for a new phytosanitary treatment is laid out in ISPM 28. The TPPT worked to develop a method that considers the efficacy of the treatment against the most tolerant species of a pest group to establish the efficacy of the treatment of the pest group. There are already adopted annexes to ISPM 28 for larger insect groups, and now the irradiation treatment for the Tortricidae genus (a family of moths) on fruits is the next step in this direction. As David Opatowski, the Standard Committee Steward of the TPPT remarked, “The broadened scope of the phytosanitary treatments is hoped to offer a wider selection of pest management options to contracting parties and thus facilitate market access and safe trade.” Countries are welcome and encouraged to propose new topics for phytosanitary treatments through an ongoing, open call. Submissions should include research supporting the efficacy of the treatment. The following new phytosanitary treatments were adopted by the CPM-16 (available here as CPM 2022/24_05, 06, 07, 08, 09). They will be posted soon on the adopted standards page: 1. PT 40 (Irradiation treatment for Tortricidae on fruits) (2017-011) as Annex 40 to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests) 2. PT 41 (Cold treatment for Bactrocera zonata on Citrus sinensis) (2017-013) as Annex 41 to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests) 3. PT 42 (Irradiation treatment for Zeugodacus tau or fruit fly) (2017-025) as Annex 42 to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests) 4. PT 43 (Irradiation treatment for Sternochetus frigidus) (2017-036) as Annex 43 to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests) 5. PT 44 (Vapour heat–modified atmosphere treatment for Cydia pomonella and Grapholita molesta on Malus pumila and Prunus persica) (2017-037 and 2017-038) as Annex 44 to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests The CPM also agreed to the recommendation made by the Standards Committee to expedite the development of phytosanitary treatments. They adopted the adjusted Standard Setting Procedure that allows recommending phytosanitary treatments for adoption after only one consultation in cases where there are no significant issues raised, and no significant amendments to the text during the first consultation period. Relevant links Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments (TPPT) https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/expert-drafting-groups/technical-panels/technical-panel-phytosanitary-treatments/ Phytosanitary treatments on-going call https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/calls-treatments/ Adopted Standards page: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/ispms/Standards Committee recommendations to the CPM – Adjustments to the Standard Setting Process to facilitate the development of phytosanitary treatments https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/90672/
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10 Apr 22

The United Nations Announces the International Day of Plant Health

Posted on Fri, 08 Apr 2022, 15:35 Rome 7 April 2022 – The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat reported at the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) virtual meeting about the United Nations’s decision to observe the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) on 12 May each year. The CPM-16 welcomed the decision, which is one of the most significant legacies of the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). This was in addition to the first ever International Plant Health Conference (IPHC) slated for 21-23 September 2022, in London. The original International Year of Plant Health 2020 plan included an International Plant Health Conference in Helsinki in November 2020. However, the conference was ultimately canceled because of the COVID pandemic. In July 2021, the IYPH International Steering Committee suggested the IPHC takes place during the week of 9-13 May 2022, in concurrence with the first ever International Day of Plant Health (IDPH). The government of Zambia, with a proposal from its national plant protection organization, championed the idea for IDPH on 12 May each year to be observed by the international community. The IPPC Secretariat is coordinating the first ever International Plant Health Conference, a hybrid event co-hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland……
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10 Apr 22

Two Million ePhytos Exchanged as Demand Soars

Posted on Fri, 08 Apr 2022, 15:26 The International Plant Protection Convention’s Phyto Solution has exchanged over 2 million digital phytosanitary certificates or ePhytos from inception to date. On average, this translates to more than 100,000certificates exchanged each month. Moreover, as of 1 April 2022, 108 countries have registered in the ePhyto system, with sixty-five exchanging in full production and 40 using the web-based GeNS system. The update was provided by Craig Fedchock, IPPC Senior Advisor and ePhyto Programme Director at the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-16) virtual meeting second on 7 April 2022 and attended by more than 330 stakeholders and Contracting Parties. Craig added that a resource mobilization meeting would be held on 27 April 2022, and a webpage of Arabic language would be introduced soon. The IPPC ePhyto solution is a tool that transitions the conventional paper phytosanitary certificate information into a digital phytosanitary certificate or “ePhyto”. This electronic exchange between countries makes trade safer, easier, faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Contracting parties can exchange ePhytos with any other country on the system using their own national systems or using the web-based GeNS system. The GeNS allows countries without their own system to produce, send and receive ePhytos through the HUB. The ePhyto HUB is the core of the system that facilitates the exchange of ePhytos between National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs). Capacity building ramped up One of the reasons for the success of the ePhyto Solution is attributed to increased awareness and training of stakeholders along the ePhyto system value chain. The IPPC Secretariat conducted a series of workshops and webinars with representatives of the ePhyto Industry Advisory Group. Regional webinars were held for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the near East and North Africa, and the South African Region in cooperation with the FAO regional offices in Budapest, Cairo and Harare. Individual national events took place with the Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Dominican Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Bahamas, and Costa Rica. Partnerships key to Success Led by the IPPC Secretariat’s ePhyto Team, the ePhyto revolution has been a success thanks to partnerships formed among governments, industry and international organizations working together to build and support an inexpensive, efficient and money-saving tool to facilitate trade for any IPPC Contracting Party wishing to do so. “The ePhyto solution is growing rapidly. We have strong partnerships with industry and a number of international organizations. The relationships we have formed are unique in the world in that we are all working seamlessly toward the goal of facilitating safe and efficient trade in plants and plant products”, says Mr. Fedchock. Partners include the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, a key collaboration in the implementation of the ePhyto Solution in developing and less-developed countries. The Alliance is engaged in ’s ePhyto projects have been earmarked in countries as diverse as Morocco, Nigeria, Madagascar, Jordan, Cameroon, and Fiji, among others. The Alliance is unique in that it brings together a coalition of both government and the private sector to introduce, implement and train in the use of the IPPC ePhyto solution becoming a virtual extension of the Secretariat and the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC). The combination of the Alliance, the IPPC Secretariat ePhyto Team and the IT providers, UNICC, has resulted in a partnership of very diverse entities working together seamlessly to provide a modern, improved trade environment for both producers and consumers of plants and plant products. For more information, please read https://www.ephytoexchange.org/landing/
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10 Apr 22

Let’s talk about commodity standards – CPM adopts standards on safe trade in plants and plant products

Posted on Fri, 08 Apr 2022, 10:19 Rome, 8 April 2022. The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) adopted yesterday the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) number 46 on Commodity-Specific Standards. Commodity-specific standards are crucial in protecting plant-based agriculture, safeguarding the environment and natural resources against invasive pests and facilitating safe trade. They offer a strategic value in that they harmonize phytosanitary measures, optimize efficiency of resources and provide consistency to contracting parties. “The adoption of the overarching commodity standards not only reinforces the relevance of the IPPC to modern international trade policies and practices, but it is also a landmark step towards delivering one of the eight development agenda items of the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020–2030,” said Samuel Bishop, Standards Committee member for Europe and steward for the ISPM, and the Head of International Plant Health of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is envisaged that the adoption of specific commodity standards, along with harmonized phytosanitary measures, will facilitate and accelerate trade negotiations and simplify safe trade in plant products by 2030, as outlined in the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Strategic Framework 2020-2030. This key result supports the achievement of relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including SDG 2 – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, among others. The overarching standard ISPM 46 applies to commodities being moved through international trade. The standards are designed to support the development of phytosanitary import requirements where measures are technically justified to facilitate safe trade. Contracting parties should thus, consider available commodity standards when developing phytosanitary import requirements, including pest lists and options for phytosanitary measures. As the IPPC takes on a new direction by putting greater focus on commodity- or pathway-specific topics, it was recognized that the international phytosanitary community might view this as a challenge. The CPM had agreed on the principles around commodity standards and it highlighted the sovereign authority of contracting parties and that no additional obligations are imposed on importing countries by commodity standards, over and above the obligations already identified in the IPPC. Following the IPPC Standard Setting Procedure, comments were solicited from national and regional plant protection organizations on the draft standard through an open and transparent process. The IPPC Standards Committee reviewed the comments provided by the IPPC community thoroughly after which, the draft standard was presented for adoption at the CPM-16. The IPPC Secretariat also organized a webinar earlier this year to increase the understanding of the IPPC commodity standards and its key principles. “The overarching standards will pave the way for the IPPC to continue to add tremendous value to countries and communities as new global commodity standards simplify safe trade between countries,” said Joanne Wilson, Standards Committee member for Southwest Pacific region and assistant steward of the ISPM 46. She is also the Principal Adviser to the Animal and Plant Health Directorate of New Zealand. “I’m especially excited for developing countries who will be able to use commodity standards as a basis to start trading more quickly,” Joanne Wilson added. The newly adopted commodity standards, or ISPM 46, will be available soon on the IPPC International Phytosanitary Portal. Related information: Commodity standards, a webinar explains new directions in the IPPC work CPM-16 document with the adopted text of the ISPM 46
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