The Biological Weapons Convention Consideration of …httpAssets)/65403365059BC… · The Biological Weapons Convention Consideration of the ... • FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible

13 June 2005 Mtg of Experts to BWC Geneva

The Biological Weapons Convention

Consideration of the content, promulgation and

adoption

of codes of conduct for scientists

Meeting of Experts

Geneva, 13-24 June 2005

IPPC Secretariat

FAO of the UN

Rome

Italy


FAO Codes of Conduct

• International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of

Pesticides

• FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

• International Code of Conduct for Germplasm Collecting and

Transfer

• [Draft Code of Conduct on Biotechnology as it relates to Genetic

Resources to Food and Agriculture]

• [ISPM 3: Code of conduct for the import and release of exotic

biological control agents] – revised and replaced by ISPM 03

(2005): Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms


International Code of Conduct on the

Distribution and Use of Pesticides

• Adopted by FAO Conference in 1985 and updated 2002

• It is the worldwide guidance document on pesticide management

for all public and private entities engaged in, or associated with,

the distribution and use of pesticides

• Voluntary code with 3 principal players

1 Governments

All of FAO’s Members have pledged together to make the Code a

success




• 2 The Pesticide Industry

The pesticide industry has made a clear commitment to ensure the

responsible and ethical management of its pesticide products from

initial development – use in the field – eventual disposal

• 3 Civil Society Organizations

A range of non-governmental organizations, environmental and

consumer groups, trade unions and farmers' associations have

participated in establishing the Code




• The entities addressed by the Code include:

– international organizations,

– governments of exporting and importing countries,

– pesticide industry,

– application equipment industry,

– traders,

– food industry,

– users, and

– public-sector organizations such as environmental groups,

consumer groups and trade unions.



Distribution and Use of PesticidesText of the Code covers (in 12 Articles)

1. Objectives of the Code

To establish voluntary standards of conduct for all public and private entities engaged in or associated with the distribution and use of pesticides, particularly where there is inadequate or no national legislation to regulate pesticides

2. Terms and definitions

3. Pesticide management

4. Testing of pesticides

5. Reducing health and environment risks

6. Regulatory and technical requirements




Text of the Code covers (in 12 Articles) Cont.

7. Availability and use

8. Distribution and trade

9. Information exchange

10. Labeling, packaging, storage and disposal

11. Advertising

12. Monitoring and observance of the Code


ISPM 03: Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release

of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms

Formerly - “Code of Conduct for the Import and Release of exotic

biological control organisms”

• Code of conduct

– adopted in 1995 (before the revision of the IPPC in 1997)

– revised (2005) in order to become consistent with:

• the revised IPPC (takes into account internationally approved

principles governing the protection of the environment)

• the other international standards for phytosanitary measures

• (WTO SPS Agreement)

• Revised standard

– broadly follows the same structure as the original ISPM No. 3

– content is based primarily on risk management relating to the use of

biological control agents and other beneficial organisms


ISPM 03: Guidelines for the export, shipment, …

and other beneficial organisms

Most of the standard is based on the premise that a biological control agent/beneficial organism may be a potential pest itself

Objectives of the standard

• facilitate the safe export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms by providing guidelines for all public and private bodies involved, particularly through the development of national legislation where it does not exist.

• describes the need for cooperation between importing and exporting countries so that:

• benefits to be derived from using biological control agents or other beneficial organisms are achieved with minimal adverse effects

• practices which ensure efficient and safe use while minimizing environmental risks due to improper handling or use are promoted


ISPM 03 – Requirements of the Std

1. Contracting parties (to the IPPC)

• Designate an authority with appropriate competencies

(usually their NPPO) to be responsible for both:

• export certification, and

• regulating the import or release of biological control agents and

other beneficial organisms, subject to relevant phytosanitary

measures and procedures


ISPM 03 – Requirements of the Std (cont.)

2. Responsibilities of the importing NPPO

• Pest risk analysis

• carry out pest risk analysis prior to import or release (may need to

be imported for research and evaluation in secure facilities prior to

release)

• If already present in the country, regulation may only be needed to

ensure there is no contamination or infestation of the organism, or

that interbreeding with local genotypes of the same species does

not result in new phytosanitary risks

• consider possible impacts on the environment

• Establish appropriate phytosanitary measures

• import, shipment, quarantine facilities (including approval of

research facilities - containment and disposal) release



2. Responsibilities of the importing NPPO (cont.)

• Upon import

• Inspection - should take place at an officially nominated quarantine facility.

• Quarantine - should ensure that the organisms are cultured or reared in quarantine (i.e. if appropriate), for as long as considered necessary.

• Release - may allow the organisms to be passed directly for release, provided that all conditions have been complied with and required documentary evidence is made available

• Release

• should authorize and audit official requirements related to the release of (e.g. under glass)

• Documentation – should be sufficient to allow trace-back



2. Responsibilities of the importing NPPO (cont.)

• Release (cont)

• Monitoring and evaluation - may monitor the release in order to evaluate and, as necessary, respond to the impact on the target & non-target organisms. (Where appropriate, include a marking system - e.g. sterile insects)

• Emergency measures - responsible for developing (and adopting) emergency plans or procedures, as appropriate

• Communication - should ensure that local users, farmers, farmer organizations and other affected parties, are kept sufficiently informed and educated on the appropriate measures for their use.

• Reporting - should abide by any reporting obligations under the IPPC, e.g. where an organism has shown pest characteristics.



3. Responsibilities of the exporting NPPO

• Compliance

• ensure that the phytosanitary import requirements of the importing country are met

• phytosanitary certificates (if required) to be issued in accordance with ISPM No. 12: Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates

• Appropriate documentation accompanies the consignment

• Packaging

• is secure in order to prevent escape of the contents

• Sterile insect technique

• organisms have been treated to achieve the required sterility for SIT purposes (e.g. using irradiation with the required minimum absorbed dose).


International Plant Protection Convention

• an international treaty relating to plant health

• deposited with the Director-General of the FAO since its initial

adoption by the Conference of FAO at its Sixth Session in 1951



Purpose

- to secure 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



• 137 contracting parties

(18.06.05) across seven FAO

regions currently adhere

• provides a framework and a

forum for international

cooperation, harmonization and

technical exchange between

contracting parties



Implementation - involves the collaboration of:

i National plant protection organizations - the official services established by governments to discharge the functions specified by the IPPC and

ii Regional plant protection organizations - may function as coordinating bodies on a regional level for participation in the activities to achieve theobjectives of the IPPC)



• extends to the protection of

natural flora and plant products

• includes both direct and

indirect damage by pests, thus

including weeds

• provisions extend to cover

conveyances, containers,

storage places, soil and other

objects or material capable of

harbouring plant pests


The 1997 revision of the IPPC

• undertaken to reflect contemporary phytosanitary concepts and the role of the IPPC in relation to the Uruguay Round Agreementsof the WTO, particularly the SPS Agreement

• SPS Agreement identifies the IPPC as the organisation providing international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPM)

• provides for the establishment of a Commission on Phytosanitary Measures - will serve as the global agreement's new governing body

• Functions of the Commission

- To promote the full implementation of the objectives of the IPPC

- Includes inter alia

“ … establish and keep under review, the necessary institutionalarrangements and procedures for the development and adoption of international standards, and to adopt international standards;”


FAO International Standards for

Phytosanitary Measures (2005)

01: Principles of plant quarantine as related to international trade

02: Guidelines for pest risk analysis

03 (2005): Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of

biological control agents and other beneficial organisms

04: Requirements for the establishment of Pest Free Areas

05: Glossary of phytosanitary terms 2002

06: Guidelines for surveillance

07: Export certification system

08: Determination of pest status in an area

09: Guidelines for pest eradication programmes



Phytosanitary Measures (2005)10: Requirements for the establishment of pest free places of

production and pest free production sites

11 (2004): Pest Risk Analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms

11: Rev. 1 (2003): Pest Risk Analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks

12: Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates

13: Guidelines for notification of non-compliance and emergency action

14: The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk management

15: Certification mark

15: Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade



Phytosanitary Measures (2005)

16: Regulated non-quarantine pests: concepts and application

17: Pest reporting

18: Guidelines for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure

19: Guidelines on lists of regulated pests

20: Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system

21: Pest risk analysis for regulated non quarantine pests

22: Requirements for the establishment of areas of low pest

prevalence

23: Guidelines for inspection

24: Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence

of phytosanitary measures

Documents

The Biological Weapons Convention Consideration of …httpAssets)/65403365059BC… · The Biological Weapons Convention Consideration of the ... • FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible