The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) hosted meetings of two regional bodies to further regional action on plant protection and the implementation of international phytosanitary standards.
29 June 2012: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) hosted a meeting of the the Pacific Plant Protection Organization (PPPO), a regional plant protection organization recognized by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and a Regional Technical Meeting of Plant Protection (RTMPP) to discuss phytosanitary issues including pest and disease control, quarantine measures, international trade and implementation of international standards.
PPPO members addressed its strategic development framework and business plan, which will identify funding sources for the PPPO Secretariat, as well as the formalization of regional standard setting procedures.
PPPO and RTMPP provide guidance on issues relating to plant protection, biosecurity and trade-related phytosanitary issues for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) and ensure that biosecurity requirements of PICTs comply with international standards to facilitate regional and international trade. PPPO also supports phytosanitary capacity building for its members for pest monitoring and management. [SPC Press Release]