1.1 Attendance
The twenty-third session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 4 to 8 August 2003. Thirty-nine (39) delegates from 19 member countries of the commission, namely, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga and Viet Nam attended the meeting. One delegate from Japan and two from the United States of America attended as observers. There were five observers from Malaysia. There were also representatives of five Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) present. The list of participants is attached as annex I.
1.2 Introductory remarks by Dato’ Ismail Ibrahim, Director-General of Agriculture, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee (presented by Dato’ Sofian Mohd. Salleh, Director of Human Resource Development)
In his address, Dato’ Ismail Ibrahim welcomed all participants to this biennial meeting and noted that this is the third time that Malaysia has been given the honour to host the APPPC session. The previous two sessions hosted by Malaysia were in 1967 and 1991.
Dato’ Ismail Ibrahim emphasized that the APPPC should play an important role to guide and harmonize the implementation of all the phytosanitary standards and other plant protection activities within the region. With the recent revision of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the enforcement of the new agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures under the World Trade Organization (WTO), the area of cooperation of the new agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) under the Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific region is further enhanced. Hence, it is imperative that regional cooperation be strengthened through capacity building programmes and information networking among member countries.
Dato’ Ismail Ibrahim also noted that the Commission has established three Standing Committees on plant quarantine, integrated pest management (IPM) and pesticides.
1.3 Opening remarks by Dam Quoc Tru, Chairperson of the 22nd session of APPPC
Dam Quac Tru thanked the Government of Malaysia for hosting the 23rd session of the APPPC. Mr Tru outlined four main activities of the APPPC over the past two years. The activities are:
i. Contact with the concerned authorities of the APPPC member governments in pursuance of the acceptance of the revised Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific region.
ii. Technical progress towards the successful completion of 22 years of the IPM project in rice; and on-going IPM projects in vegetables and cotton.
iii. Work with phytosanitary standards include:
a. Development of regional standards: guidelines for the development of heat disinfestations treatments of fruit fly host commodities and training requirements for plant quarantine inspectors.
b. Participation in the meetings of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) and Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs) annual meetings, etc.
c. The development of an FAO technical cooperation programme (TCP) project on South American leaf blight (SALB) in line with the revised Agreement of the Commission.
iv. In the complex area of synthetic chemical pesticides, the secretariat of the Commission contributed towards organizing the first pesticides regulatory harmonization workshop of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in 2002, and the second pesticide regulatory harmonization workshop of ASEAN countries scheduled to be held in August 2003. In addition, the Commission in cooperation with concerned institutions and organizations organized the third Triennial Conference on Biopesticides in 2002.
1.4 Welcome address by N.A. Van der Graaff, Chief, Plant Protection Service, FAO, Rome
Dr Van der Graaff welcomed all delegates and observers to the meeting and expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson of APPPC from Viet Nam.
He then stated his observations about the activities supported by the Commission and its relation to global plant protection issues. He noted the successful implementation of IPM in Asia, particularly, IPM in rice. The IPM programme is now extended to cotton and vegetables. He also mentioned that more attention has been given to phytosanitary issues as required under the WTO SPS Agreement. Work had also started on the establishment of regional standards for phytosanitary measures.
He also noted that initial work had started on a new information system for the APPPC in the region, in line with the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP).
Dr Van der Graaff discussed FAO’s technical cooperation programme (TCP) to support and strengthen plant quarantine activities at national and regional levels. It was noted that the ICPM has developed a business plan to accelerate the adoption and implementation of the international phytosanitary standards.
Concerns over the improper use of pesticides including the management of synthetic pesticides and the importance of harmonizing pesticide regulations and management were highlighted. It was mentioned that substantial attention will be given to the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention on prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade, expected to be enforced early 2004.
He reminded the meeting that the actual cooperation on plant protection issues, within the framework of APPPC, is the responsibility of its members.
1.5 Inaugural address by the Honourable Dato’ Dr Mohd Effendi Norwawi, Minister of Agriculture Malaysia (presented by Dato’ Abu Bakar Taib, Parlimentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture)
In his address, His Excellency Dato’ Dr Mohd. Effendi Norwawi extended a warm welcome to delegates, observers and guests to the opening of the 23rd APPPC meeting.
The Minister noted that agriculture in the twenty-first century will not only need to produce enough food for a growing and increasingly urbanized population, but will also remain a key factor in alleviating hunger by providing income and employment to farmers. It needs to address issues on protection of the environment, concern for food safety and quality, and the enhancement of rural livelihoods.
In his speech, the Minister covered a number of areas of importance including globalization and international trade; the role of IPPC in relation to the SPS Agreement; the need for APPPC to be self-financing; importance of capacity building; regional minimum residue level (MRL); IPM on fruits and vegetables and genetically modified crops and foods.
Finally, he stressed that APPPC member countries must continue to give attention to developing the agriculture sector, especially on effective plant protection strategies to facilitate international trade so they become part of a modern, energetic and competitive region.
