<p>The 28th Session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission is being held in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 23-27 September 2013. The objectives are to review the activities of the Commission carried out during the past biennium (2012-2013) and the overall plant protection situation at national and regional levels and to discuss the programme of work for the forthcoming biennium (2014-2015).</p>
<p>The APPPC Working Group met in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13-15 May 2013 to prepare the Commission’s 2014-15 work programme. The recommendations to be presented to the 28th session of the APPPC included: (1) further work on ISPM 15 and 14; (2) the beginning of implementation work on ISPM 31 with a survey; (3) work of ISPM6 implementation concerning pest surveillance data management; (4) regional workshops on draft ISPMs; (5) information exchange programme on pest status, phytosanitary treatments, PRA and capacity development projects; (6) a work programme planning group meeting in 2015; (7) the development of RSPMs on alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation and pest risk management for seed production for vegetable and flower seeds; (8) an implementation survey on RSPMs; (9) the continuation of SALB work; and (10) pre-CPM consultations. Workshops on IPM and pesticides will also be discussed at the 28th session of the APPPC. The costs of the 2014-15 work programme was estimated for consideration at the 28th session of the APPPC. As well, it was proposed that the session consider a raise of 5% in the level of mandatory contributions. The meeting also reviewed recent APPPC events, the 8th meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) and the recent meeting of the IPPC Standards Committee (SC). In addition, the meeting considered the current status of three work areas including plant quarantine, IPM and pesticides. Discussion topics included ISPM 6 regional workshop and symposium, draft ISPM regional workshop, information exchange, development of RSPMs on fumigation and irradiation, SALB workshop and pre-CPM consultation.</p>
<p>The APPPC Working Group met in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13-15 May 2013 to prepare the Commission’s 2014-15 work programme. The recommendations to be presented to the 28th session of the APPPC included: (1) further work on ISPM 15 and 14; (2) the beginning of implementation work on ISPM 31 with a survey; (3) work of ISPM6 implementation concerning pest surveillance data management; (4) regional workshops on draft ISPMs; (5) information exchange programme on pest status, phytosanitary treatments, PRA and capacity development projects; (6) a work programme planning group meeting in 2015; (7) the development of RSPMs on alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation and pest risk management for seed production for vegetable and flower seeds; (8) an implementation survey on RSPMs; (9) the continuation of SALB work; and (10) pre-CPM consultations. Workshops on IPM and pesticides will also be discussed at the 28th session of the APPPC. The costs of the 2014-15 work programme was estimated for consideration at the 28th session of the APPPC. As well, it was proposed that the session consider a raise of 5% in the level of mandatory contributions. The meeting also reviewed recent APPPC events, the 8th meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) and the recent meeting of the IPPC Standards Committee (SC). In addition, the meeting considered the current status of three work areas including plant quarantine, IPM and pesticides. Discussion topics included ISPM 6 regional workshop and symposium, draft ISPM regional workshop, information exchange, development of RSPMs on fumigation and irradiation, SALB workshop and pre-CPM consultation.</p>
<p>The signing ceremony for the 3-year FAO project “Support to Capacity Development in Implementation of Plant Pest Surveillance and Information management in South-East Asian Countries” took place on 25 April 2013. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea contributed nearly US$ 1.8 million towards this project to strengthen the capacity of NPPOs (National Plant Protection Organizations) of developing countries in the South-East Asian region. The project will address plant pest surveillance and pest identification needs for the purpose of updating their regulated pests list and supporting Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) in accordance with the IPPC international standards for phytosanitary measures. For more details, please visit https://ephyto.ippc.int/news/republic-korea-contributes-towards-phytosanitary-capacity-development-south-east-asian</p>
<p>The signing ceremony for the 3-year FAO project “Support to Capacity Development in Implementation of Plant Pest Surveillance and Information management in South-East Asian Countries” took place on 25 April 2013. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea contributed nearly US$ 1.8 million towards this project to strengthen the capacity of NPPOs (National Plant Protection Organizations) of developing countries in the South-East Asian region. The project will address plant pest surveillance and pest identification needs for the purpose of updating their regulated pests list and supporting Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) in accordance with the IPPC international standards for phytosanitary measures. For more details, please visit https://ephyto.ippc.int/news/republic-korea-contributes-towards-phytosanitary-capacity-development-south-east-asian</p>
<p>Philippines’ NPPO, the Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) of the Bureau of Plant Industry, organized a training workshop on the use of the International Plant Protection Portal (IPP) in Quezon City, Philippines, from 14-15 March 2013. The Philippines' Plant Protection Profile was also discussed and reviewed at this workshop in order to update the information in light of the upcoming APPPC meeting in September 2013. The workshop was attended by 51 participants. The exemplary initiative help increase the information exchange capacity of the NPPO.</p>
