Canada's role in international plant protection

International Plant Protection Convention

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is Canada's representative to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Canada is a Contracting Party to the IPPC, an international treaty that establishes a common approach to preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests, and promotes appropriate measures for their control.

The work of the IPPC Secretariat is governed by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which adopts International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). The IPPC Secretariat coordinates the activities of the Convention and is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

North American Plant Protection Organization

Canada is a member of North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), a trilateral Regional Plant Protection Organization established under the IPPC. NAPPO's mission is to provide a forum for public and private sectors in Canada, the United States and Mexico to collaborate in developing science-based standards to protect agricultural, forest and other plant resources against regulated plant pests, while facilitating trade. This mission includes developing Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM).

Consultations

Each year, the IPPC and NAPPO conducts consultations with contracting parties. Canada has the opportunity to review and comment on draft ISPMs and Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols, as well as on specifications for ISPMs.

The CFIA is responsible for submitting comments on behalf of Canada to the IPPC. IPPC member consultation on draft ISPMs and Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols started on July 1, 2020 and ended on September 30, 2020, while consultation on draft specifications for ISPMs started on July 1, 2020 and ended on August 31, 2020.

2021 NAPPO country consultation

The NAPPO Secretariat has opened the country consultation period for the 5 NAPPO documents identified below:

• Revision of the Regional Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 22 (RSPM 22) - Guidelines for the construction and operation of a containment facility for insects and mites used as biological control agents.
• Revision of the Regional Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 35 (RSPM 35) - Guidelines for the movement of stone and pome fruit trees and grapevines into a NAPPO member country.
• Revision of the Regional Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 38 (RSPM 38) - Importation of certain wooden and bamboo commodities into a NAPPO member country.
• NAPPO Science & Technology Document - Contaminating organisms affecting trade in wood commodities and forestry products.
• NAPPO Position Document - AGM (Lymantria albescens, Lymantria umbrosa, Lymantria postalba, Lymantria dispar japonica and Lymantria dispar asiatica) specified risk periods in regulated countries.

The NAPPO country consultation provides an opportunity for stakeholders to comment and review new or revised NAPPO products. Access all the information needed to participate in the NAPPO Country Consultation.

In accordance with NAPPO procedures, the NAPPO Country Consultation will be open for:

• 90 days (May 17 to August 17, 2021) for the 3 regional standards - RSPM 22, RSPM 35 and RSPM 38.
• 60 days (May 17 to July 16, 2021) for the Science and Technology Document and the Position Document.

Instructions on how to submit comments on the various NAPPO documents that are undergoing consultation can be found on the NAPPO website.

Additional IPPC and NAPPO information

• International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (adopted standards)
• International Plant Protection Convention (text of the convention)
• IPPC contracting parties and links to their NPPO official contact points
• NAPPO's Phytosanitary Alert System
• NAPPO's Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
• Regional Plant Protection Organizations