ANNEX 1: Comments on the Scope of the IPPC in regard to Environmental Risks

The full range of pests covered by the IPPC extends beyond pests directly affecting cultivated plants. The coverage of the IPPC definition of plant pests includes weeds and other species that have indirect effects on plants, and the Convention applies to the protection of wild flora. The scope of the IPPC also extends to organisms which are pests because they:

- directly affect uncultivated/unmanaged plants

Introduction of these pests may have few commercial consequences, and therefore they have been less likely to be evaluated, regulated and/or placed under official control. An example of this type of pest is Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi).

- indirectly affect plants

In addition to pests that directly affect host plants, there are those, like most weeds/invasive plants, which affect plants primarily by other processes such as competition (e.g. for cultivated plants: Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) [weed of agricultural crops], or for uncultivated/unmanaged plants: purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) [competitor in natural and semi-natural habitats]).

- indirectly affect plants through effects on other organisms

Some pests may primarily affect other organisms, but thereby cause deleterious effects on plant species, or plant health in habitats or ecosystems. Examples include parasites of beneficial organisms, such as biological control agents.

To protect the environment and biological diversity without creating disguised barriers to trade, environmental risks and risks to biological diversity should be analyzed in a PRA.

For further information on international standards, guidelines and recommendations concerning phytosanitary measures, and the complete list of current publications, please contact the:

SECRETARIAT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (ISPMS)

International Plant Protection Convention, 1997. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 1: Principles of plant quarantine as related to international trade, 1995. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 2: Guidelines for pest risk analysis, 1996. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 3: Code of conduct for the import and release of exotic biological control agents, 1996. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 4: Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas, 1996. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms, 2003. FAO, Rome.

Glossary Supplement No. 1: Guidelines on the interpretation and application of the concept of official control for regulated pests, 2001. FAO, Rome.

Glossary Supplement No. 2: Guidelines on the understanding of potential economic importance and related terms including reference to environmental considerations, 2003. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 6: Guidelines for surveillance, 1997. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 7: Export certification system, 1997. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 8: Determination of pest status in an area, 1998. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 9: Guidelines for pest eradication programmes, 1998. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 10: Requirements for the establishment of pest free places of production and pest free production sites, 1999. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 11 Rev. 1: Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks, 2003. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 12: Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates, 2001. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 13: Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action, 2001. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 14: The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk management, 2002. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 15: Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade, 2002. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 16: Regulated non-quarantine pests: concept and application, 2002. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 17: Pest reporting, 2002. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 18: Guidelines for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure, 2003. FAO, Rome.

ISPM No. 19: Guidelines on lists of regulated pests, 2003. FAO, Rome.