International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is involved with the development of regional standards for phytosanitary measures (RSPMs) and international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs). These activities are carried out primarily through the International Standards Unit, which also verifies the Canadian phytosanitary policies are consistent with these standards and international obligations. In addition, the unit provides advice on regional and international standards to stakeholders and conducts annual consultations on draft international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs).

Canada is a member of North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), a trilateral Regional Plant Protection Organization as provided for in the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). NAPPO's objectives include the coordination of efforts between Canada, the United States and Mexico to protect their plant resources from the entry, establishment and spread of regulated plant pests, while facilitating intra- and inter-regional trade.

Canada is a Contracting Party to the IPPC, an international treaty with the purpose of securing common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures for their control. The work of the IPPC is governed by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) which, among other things, adopts ISPMs. The IPPC Secretariat coordinates the activities of the Convention and is hosted by FAO.

Draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), draft diagnostic protocol and draft cold treatments for country consultation - 2009

Each year, the IPPC conducts consultations with contracting parties on draft ISPMs and other documents. This year, the IPPC has released six draft documents for country consultation. These draft documents will be considered for adoption at the Fifth Session of the CPM in March 2010. The draft documents for consultation this year are as below.

(Note: clicking on the link will download the draft documents directly from the IPPC web site)

• Revision of ISPM No. 7: Export certification system
• Revision of ISPM No. 12: Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates
• Draft ISPM: Design and operation of post-entry quarantine stations
• Glossary of phytosanitary term (Amendment to ISPM No. 5)
• Diagnostic Protocol on Thrips palmi

8 cold treatments for fruit flies:

• Cold treatment of Citrus sinensis for Ceratitis capitata
• Cold treatment of Citrus reticulata × Citrus sinensis for Ceratitis capitata
• Cold treatment of Citrus sinensis for Bactrocera tryoni
• Cold treatment of Citrus reticulata × Citrus sinensis for Bactrocera tryoni
• Cold treatment of Citrus limon for Bactrocera tryoni
• Cold treatment of Citrus paradisi for Ceratitis capitata
• Cold treatment of Citrus reticulata cultivars and hybrids for Ceratitis capitata
• Cold treatment of Citrus limon for Ceratitis capitata

The IPPC will accept from each contracting party only one set of comments for each standard, diagnostic protocol or cold treatments. Comments on draft IPPC documents that are currently undergoing consultation should be submitted electronically to Marie-Claude Forest or to Steve Côté by September 4th at the latest.

The key acts and regulations we enforce are:

• Plant Protection Act
• Plant Protection Regulations

Additional IPPC and NAPPO information can be found at:

• International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (adopted standards)
• International Plant Protection Convention (text of convention itself)
• IPPC contracting parties and links to their NPPO official contact points
• IPPC Commission on Phytosanitary Measures - reports of all sessions
• IPPC Dispute Settlement Procedure
• IPPC news
• IPPC Standards Committee - reports
• NAPPO's Phytosanitary Alert System
• NAPPO's Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
• Regional Plant Protection Organizations