2454 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

Evaluation of the Community Plant Health Regime: Final Report
DG SANCO Evaluation Framework Contract Lot 3 (Food Chain)
indirect and indirect damage” 66 . Between 2000 and 2003, the IPPC clarified its scope further
and aligned to CBD work in this area 67 . Following these clarifications, as it stands, the IPPC
clearly states that consideration of the economic importance of a pest (ISPM 5) includes impact
on plant ecosystems and the scope includes indirect impact, but effects should be exerted
primarily on plants (ISPM 11):
ISPM 5: pest is ―Any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent
injurious to plants or plant products‖;
ISPM 11: section 2.3.1 (Pest effects) covers both direct and indirect effects, but
“environmental effects and consequences considered should result from effects on plants”
(i.e. “the regulation of plants solely on the basis of their effects on other organisms or
systems (e.g. on human or animal health) is outside the scope of this standard”). The scope
includes: pests affecting uncultivated/unmanaged plants; weeds and/or invasive plants;
and, pests affecting plants through effects on other organisms
It is noted that it is not an obligation for IPPC contracting parties to address this scope 68 ,
although it is generally considered as a matter of principle that signatories will comply. Also, the
SPS Agreement (Annex A: Definitions) includes forests and wild flora in the definition of ‗plant‘
and weeds in the definition of ‗pests‘.
EPPO followed the IPPC approach and is effectively operating based on this clarified scope. In
line with the IPPC and the Bern Convention, EPPO is currently developing a cooperative
Europe-wide strategy to protect the EPPO region against invasive alien plants. Invasive plant
species are broadly defined by the EPPO as weeds which can harm both cultivated crops by their
competition, and biodiversity in the wild uncultivated environment. Traditionally, the EPPO –
like the EU - has given priority to pests of cultivated plants, i.e. insects, nematodes, fungi,
bacteria, viruses, but increasingly it has also been concerned with IAS. To this end, in 2002 the
EPPO established an ad hoc international Panel of experts on IAS 69 with the task of identifying
invasive plant species which may present a risk to the EPPO region and to propose management
options. The number of plants that can be considered as potential pest species is very large and
the Panel is elaborating a prioritization process for all known, or potential invasive alien plants in
the EPPO region.
In most third countries, the ongoing practice is for invasive plant pests (weeds) and their impacts
as well as the wider impact of IAS on the environment to be included in the scope of the
66 Article II, Appendix I, Resolution 12/97, 39 th session of the Committee on Agriculture, FAO, Rome, 7-18
November 1997.
67 To avoid conflicting developments within the IPPC and the CBD regarding IAS and plant pests, the secretariats of
the two conventions have established a Memorandum of Cooperation and developed a joint work plan as was called
for by the Conference of Parties to the CBD at its seventh meeting.
68 Preamble to Appendix I, Resolution 12/97, cited above.
69 The Panel meets twice a year and has the following aims: to provide information on invasive alien species for the
EPPO region, particularly plants; to pilot studies on risk analysis of specific invasive alien species; to recommend
measures to prevent their introduction and spread; to recommend measures to eradicate, suppress and contain
invasive species already introduced. The members of this Panel come from 14 European and Mediterranean
countries, of which 10 are EU MS: Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel,
Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 55