Organized by the African Union (AU) Commission, the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee and 24th General Assembly of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) will assess the level of implementation of the recommendations of previous meetings, and adopt forthcoming programmes for 2012. The IAPSC was created under the aegis of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the mandate to: prevent the introduction of crop pests and diseases into Africa; assist AU members in controlling and eradicating existing diseases; discourage and stop the uncontrolled commercialization and distribution of agro pharmaceuticals and chemicals in Africa; prevent damage to human health through toxic residues; guide member States on the implications of using biotechnologies for plant protection; and represent and assist African countries in the context of the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization. Challenges to be addressed at this meeting include: the long term strategies to react to increased threats from exotic pests due to increased trade and climate change; sustaining Africa's phytosanitary science capability in the face of declining resources and an erosion of the scientific basis; and improving coordination of national plant protection organizations and research programmes.  

dates: 25-29 April 2011   location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia   www: http://au.int/en/sites/default/files/Concept_note_of_Steering_Committee_Meeting_and_24th_General_Assembly%5B1%5D.pdf