9 April 2013: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat announced the launch of an online training course titled, ‘Trade in forest commodities and the role of phytosanitary measures.’

The course provides a checklist to help producers comply with phytosanitary requirements in international markets, as well as a list of the most common pests. It is intended to protect the export value of global wood and furniture trade estimated at US$ 200 billion.

The course is based on the 2011 ‘Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry’ and is organized around five modules: what is the problem; what are forest commodities and associated pest risks; what information is needed to import and export forest commodities; the who, what, why and how of phytosanitary measures; and frequently asked questions. [Trade in Forest Commodities and the Role of Phytosanitary Measures Course] [FAO Press Release] [IISD RS Story on Implementation of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures Guide]