Industry feedback on International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) are a vital activity under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), which aims to protect the world’s plants, agricultural products and natural resources from plant pests. IPPC standards are recognised by the World Trade Organisation as international benchmarks for phytosanitary measures used in international trade in plant commodities.
The benefits of ISPMs include safeguarding global food security, facilitating safe trade and protecting the environment. ISPMs ensure that measures are scientifically justified, encourage fair trade and are not used as trade barriers for plants, plant products or other regulated items.
To ensure global applicability, the IPPC’s Standards Committee (SC) oversees the development of ISPMs, which are then adopted by the contracting parties at the annual meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, the governing body of the IPPC. Australia is one of the members for the southwest Pacific on the SC and currently holds the Chair role until 2027.
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has opened the country consultation round for a number of draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) and Specifications.
These documents are draft international standards that have been released to contracting parties to the IPPC and the public for international review and comment. The draft documents out for consultation in 2024 are:
| Type | Draft for consultation |
| International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) | Annex to ISPM 23: Field inspection Link |
| Revision of ISPM 26: Establishment and maintenance of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae) Link | |
| Annex to ISPM 38: Design and use of systems approaches for phytosanitary certification of seeds Link | |
| Annex to ISPM 39: Use of systems approaches in managing the pest risk associated with the movement of wood (Second consultation) Link | |
| Annex to ISPM 46: International movement of fresh Mangifera indica fruit (Second consultation) Link | |
|
Diagnostic Protocol Annexes to ISPM 27 (Diagnostic protocol for regulated pests) |
Meloidogyne mali Link |
|
Phytosanitary Treatments Annexes to ISPM 28 (Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests) |
Irradiation treatment for Pseudococcus baliteus Link |
| Irradiation treatment for Planococcus lilacinus Link | |
| Irradiation treatment for Paracoccus marginatus Link | |
| Combination of irradiation and modified atmosphere treatment for Trogoderma granarium Link | |
|
Specifications Terms of reference for the group responsible for drafting or revising IPPC standards, guidelines or implementation material. |
Revision of the draft reorganized pest risk analysis ISPM Link |
| Safe provision of food and other humanitarian aid Link |
PHA’s plant industry Members are invited to provide comments on the draft ISPMs before Monday 12 August. View the fact sheet for additional background to the country consultation process and detailed instructions for providing comment to the IPPC.
