CPM14

Side Session 3 - Facilitating Safe Trade for Plants and Plant Products- WTO TFA

Iran Room (FAO Headquarters)
03.04.2019
 Rome time

This side session is aimed to raise awareness of IPPC contracting parties and stakeholders about the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement and how it relates to IPPC activities, in particular the Facilitating Safe Trade Action Plan of the IPPC, as presented during the CPM-14 plenary session.


The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force on 22 February 2017. It contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit and sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area as it contains unique special and differential treatment (SDT) measures that link the requirement to implement with the capacity of developing countries and least developed countries (LDC) to do so.


The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is the international organization for plant health recognized by the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (the SPS Agreement). Through the development of international standards and programmes that enable their implementation the IPPC promotes common and effective actions to prevent the spread and introduction of plant pests and appropriate measures for their control, thus facilitating safe trade of IPPC contracting parties. The new IPPC Strategic Framework (2020-2030) describes key priorities to facilitate safe trade, including elements such as ePhyto, e-Commerce and commodity and pathway standards, which are reflected in the action plan for facilitating safe trade for plants and plant products, discussed at CPM-14 (CPM 2019/33 ).


However, there is still a need for increasing awareness and understanding among IPPC contracting parties on the WTO TFA and how countries can effectively implement it in collaboration with other border agencies and within their SPS frameworks. The side session will provide an opportunity for IPPC Contracting parties and relevant stakeholders to share their experiences with implementation of the WTO TFA and exchange information on the Facilitating Safe Trade Action Plan of the IPPC.


Hashtags: #CPM14 #PlantHealth

Topics: Plants
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