The Regional Office for the Near East of the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is organizing in collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention, a regional workshop to review the International Draft Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). 

The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. at Flamenco Hotel, Aboul Feda Street, Zamalek, Cairo, during the period from 18 - 22 July, 2009, with the participation of experts from the National Plant Protection Organizations from fifteen countries of the region: Egypt, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. 

It is worth to note that this is the seventh annual workshop to be convened in the Near East Region to review the International Phytosanitary Standards. 

The workshop aims at reviewing six of the International Draft Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, including: 

(1) Diagnostic Protocol on Thrips palmi;
(2) Seven cold treatments for fruit flies;
(3) Revision of ISPM No. 7: Export certification system;
(4) Revision of ISPM No. 12: Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates;
(5) Draft ISPM: Design and operation of post-entry quarantine stations; and
(6) Glossary of phytosanitary terms (Amendment to ISPM No. 5). 

The comments gathered during the workshop will be submitted to the Commission for Phytosanitary Measures for endorsement.