INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
ISPM 17
PEST REPORTING
(2002)
Produced by the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention
© FAO 2011
Publication history
This is not an official part of the standard
1999-10 ICPM-2 added topic Pest reporting (1999-003)
2000-09 EWG developed draft text
2000-11 ICPM-3 noted as high priority topic
2001-05 ISC-3 revised draft text and approved for MC
2001-06 Sent for MC
2001-11 ISC-4 revised draft text for adoption
2002-03 ICPM-4 adopted standard
ISPM 17. 2002. Pest reporting. Rome, IPPC, FAO.
Publication history: Last modified August 2011
CONTENTS
Adoption............................................................................................................................................ 17-5
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................. 17-5
Scope ................................................................................................................................................. 17-5
References ......................................................................................................................................... 17-5
Definitions......................................................................................................................................... 17-5
Outline of Requirements .................................................................................................................... 17-5
REQUIREMENTS............................................................................................................................ 17-7
1. Provisions of the IPPC Regarding Pest Reporting...................................................................... 17-7
2. Purpose of Pest Reporting........................................................................................................... 17-7
3. National Responsibilities ............................................................................................................ 17-7
3.1 Surveillance................................................................................................................. 17-8
3.2 Sources of information................................................................................................ 17-8
3.3 Verification and analysis............................................................................................. 17-8
3.4 Motivation for domestic reporting .............................................................................. 17-8
4. Reporting Obligations................................................................................................................. 17-8
4.1 Reporting of immediate or potential danger................................................................ 17-8
4.2 Other pest reports ........................................................................................................ 17-9
4.3 Reporting of changed status, absence or correction of earlier reports ........................ 17-9
4.4 Reporting of pests in imported consignments ............................................................. 17-9
5. Initiation of Reports .................................................................................................................... 17-9
5.1 Occurrence .................................................................................................................. 17-9
5.2 Outbreak...................................................................................................................... 17-9
5.3 Spread......................................................................................................................... 17-9
5.4 Successful eradication............................................................................................... 17-10
5.5 Establishment of pest free area.................................................................................. 17-10
6. Pest Reporting.......................................................................................................................... 17-10
6.1 Content of reports...................................................................................................... 17-10
6.2 Timing of reporting................................................................................................... 17-10
6.3 Mechanism of reporting and destination of reports................................................... 17-10
6.4 Good reporting practices ........................................................................................... 17-11
6.5 Confidentiality........................................................................................................... 17-11
6.6 Language ................................................................................................................... 17-11
7. Additional Information ............................................................................................................. 17-11
8. Review ..................................................................................................................................... 17-11
9. Documentation......................................................................................................................... 17-11
Adoption
This standard was adopted by the Fourth Session of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002.
INTRODUCTION
Scope
This standard describes the responsibilities of and requirements for contracting parties in reporting the occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests in areas for which they are responsible. It also provides guidance on reporting successful eradication of pests and establishment of pest free areas.
References
IPPC. 1997. International Plant Protection Convention. Rome, IPPC, FAO.
ISPM 2. 1995. Guidelines for pest risk analysis. Rome, IPPC, FAO. [published 1996] [revised; now ISPM 2: 2007]
ISPM 4. 1995. Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas. Rome, IPPC, FAO. [published 1996]
ISPM 5. Glossary of phytosanitary terms. Rome, IPPC, FAO.
ISPM 6. 1997. Guidelines for surveillance. Rome, IPPC, FAO.
ISPM 8. 1998. Determination of pest status in an area. Rome, IPPC, FAO.
ISPM 9. 1998. Guidelines for pest eradication programmes. Rome, IPPC, FAO.
ISPM 11. 2001. Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests. Rome, IPPC, FAO. [revised; now ISPM 11:2004]
ISPM 13. 2001. Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action. Rome, IPPC, FAO.
Definitions
Definitions of phytosanitary terms used in the present standard can be found in ISPM 5 (Glossary of phytosanitary terms).
Outline of Requirements
The International Plant Protection Convention requires countries to report on the occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests with the purpose of communicating immediate or potential danger. National plant protection organizations (NPPOs) have the responsibility to collect pest information by surveillance and to verify the pest records thus collected. Occurrence, outbreak or spread of pests that are known (on the basis of observation, previous experience, or pest risk analysis (PRA)) to be of immediate or potential danger should be reported to other countries, in particular to neighbouring countries and trading partners.
Pest reports should contain information on the identity of the pest, location, pest status, and nature of the immediate or potential danger. They should be provided without undue delay, preferably through electronic means, through direct communication, openly available publication and/or the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP)
1
Reports of successful eradication, the establishment of pest free areas and other information may also be provided utilizing the same reporting procedure.
1 The IPP is the electronic mechanism provided by the IPPC Secretariat to facilitate the exchange of official phytosanitary information (including pest reporting) between NPPOs, regional plant protection organizations (RPPOs), and/or the IPPC Secretariat.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Provisions of the IPPC Regarding Pest Reporting
The IPPC, in relation to its main purpose of “securing common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products,” (Article I.1) requires countries to make provision, to the best of their ability, for an official national plant protection organization (Article IV.1) whose responsibilities include the following:
the surveillance of growing plants, including both areas under cultivation (inter alia fields, plantations, nurseries, gardens, greenhouses and laboratories) and wild flora, and of plants and plant products in storage or in transportation, particularly with the object of reporting the occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests, and of controlling those pests, including the reporting referred to under Article VIII paragraph 1(a); … [Article IV.2(b)].
Countries are responsible for the distribution of information within their territories regarding regulated pests (Article IV.3(a)), and they are required to the best of their ability, to “conduct surveillance for pests and develop and maintain adequate information on pest status in order to support categorization of pests, and for the development of appropriate phytosanitary measures. This information shall be made available to contracting parties, on request.” (Article VII.2(j)) They are required to “designate a contact point for the exchange of information connected with the implementation” of the IPPC (Article VIII.2).
With these systems in operation, countries are able to fulfil the requirement under the IPPC to cooperate with one another to the fullest practicable extent in achieving the aims of the Convention (Article VIII.1), and in particular to “cooperate in the exchange of information on plant pests, particularly the reporting of the occurrence, outbreak or spread of pests that may be of immediate or potential danger, in accordance with such procedures as may be established by the Commission” (Article VIII.1(a)).
2. Purpose of Pest Reporting
The main purpose of pest reporting is to communicate immediate or potential danger. Immediate or potential danger normally arises from the occurrence, outbreak or spread of a pest that is a quarantine pest in the country in which it is detected, or a quarantine pest for neighbouring countries and trading partners.
The provision of reliable and prompt pest reports confirms the operation of effective surveillance and reporting systems within countries.
Pest reporting allows countries to adjust as necessary their phytosanitary requirements and actions to take into account any changes in risk. It provides useful current and historical information for operation of phytosanitary systems. Accurate information on pest status facilitates technical justification of measures and helps to minimize unjustified interference with trade. Every country needs pest reports for these purposes, and can only obtain them by the cooperation of other countries. Phytosanitary actions taken by importing countries based on pest reports should be commensurate with the risk and technically justified.
3. National Responsibilities
NPPOs should make provision to ensure the collection, verification and analysis of domestic pest reports.
3.1 Surveillance
Pest reporting depends on the establishment, within countries, of national systems for surveillance, as required by the Article IV.2(b) of the IPPC. Information for pest reporting may be derived from either of the two types of pest surveillance systems defined in ISPM 6:1997, general surveillance or specific surveys. Systems should be put in place to ensure that such information is sent to and collected by the NPPO. The surveillance and collection systems should operate on an ongoing and timely basis. Surveillance should be conducted in accordance with ISPM 6:1997.
3.2 Sources of information
Information for pest reporting may be obtained directly by the NPPO or may be available to the NPPO from a variety of other sources (research institutions and journals, websites, growers and their journals, other NPPOs etc.). General surveillance by the NPPO includes the review of information from other sources.
3.3 Verification and analysis
NPPOs should put in place systems for verification of domestic pest reports from official and other sources (including those brought to their attention by other countries). This should be done by confirming the identification of the pest concerned and making a preliminary determination of its geographical distribution– and thus establishing its “pest status” in the country, according to ISPM 8:1998. NPPOs should also put in place systems of PRA to determine whether new or unexpected pest situations constitute an immediate or potential danger to their country (i.e. the reporting country), requiring phytosanitary action. PRA may also be used to identify, as appropriate, whether the situations that have been reported may be of concern to other countries.
3.4 Motivation for domestic reporting
Where possible, countries should provide incentives for domestic reporting. Growers and others may be required officially to report on new or unexpected pest situations and may be encouraged in this, for example, by publicity, community action, rewards or penalties.
4. Reporting Obligations
The obligation identified under the IPPC (Article VIII.1(a)) is to report the occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests that may be of immediate or potential danger. Countries may optionally make other pest reports. Such reporting satisfies the general recommendation under the IPPC to cooperate in achieving the objectives of the Convention but is not a specific obligation. This standard also considers such other cases of pest reporting.
4.1 Reporting of immediate or potential danger
An immediate danger is considered to be one that has already been identified (pest already regulated) or is obvious on the basis of observation or previous experience. A potential danger is one that is identified as the result of a PRA.
Immediate and potential danger of a pest found in the reporting country normally lead to phytosanitary or emergency action in that country.
The occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests which is of immediate or potential danger to the reporting country may be of immediate or potential danger to other countries. There is an obligation to report it to other countries.
Countries have an obligation to report occurrence, outbreak or spread of pests that are not of danger to them but are known to be regulated by or of immediate danger to other countries. This will concern trading partners (for relevant pathways) and neighbouring countries to which the pest could spread without trade.
4.2 Other pest reports
Countries may also, as appropriate, use the same reporting systems to provide pest reports on other pests, or to report to other countries, if this contributes usefully to the exchange of information on plant pests foreseen under Article VIII of the IPPC. They may also enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements on pest reporting, e.g. through RPPOs.
4.3 Reporting of changed status, absence or correction of earlier reports
Countries may also report cases where immediate or potential danger has changed or is absent (including in particular pest absence). Where there has been an earlier report indicating immediate or potential danger and it later appears that the report was incorrect or circumstances change so that the risk changes or disappears, countries should report the change. Countries may also report that all or part of their territory has been categorized as a pest free area, according to ISPM 4:1995, or report successful eradication according to ISPM 9:1998, or changes in host range or in the pest status of a pest according to one of the descriptions in ISPM 8:1998.
4.4 Reporting of pests in imported consignments
Reporting the pests detected in imported consignments is covered by the ISPM 13:2001 and not by this standard.
5. Initiation of Reports
Pest reports are initiated by the occurrence, outbreak, spread or successful eradication of pests, or any other new or unexpected pest situation.
5.1 Occurrence
Occurrence should normally be reported where the presence of a pest is newly determined, which is known to be a regulated pest by neighbouring countries or trading partners (for relevant pathways).
5.2 Outbreak
An outbreak refers to a recently detected pest population. An outbreak should be reported when its presence corresponds at least to the status of “Transient: actionable” in ISPM 8:1998. This means that it should be reported even when the pest may survive in the immediate future, but is not expected to establish.
The term outbreak also applies to an unexpected situation associated with an established pest which results in a significant increase in phytosanitary risk to the reporting country, neighbouring countries or trading partners, particularly if it is known that the pest is a regulated pest. Such unexpected situations could include a rapid increase in the pest population, changes in host range the development of a new, more vigorous strain or biotype, or the detection of a new pathway.
5.3 Spread
Spread concerns an established pest that expands its geographical distribution, resulting in a significant increase in risk to the reporting country, neighbouring countries or trading partners, particularly if it is known that the pest is regulated.
5.4 Successful eradication
Eradication may be reported when it is successful, that is when an established or transient pest is eliminated from an area and the absence of that pest is verified (see ISPM 9:1998).
5.5 Establishment of pest free area
The establishment of a pest free area may be reported where this constitutes a change in the pest status in that area (see ISPM 4:1995).
6. Pest Reporting
6.1 Content of reports
A pest report should clearly indicate:
- the identity of the pest with scientific name (where possible, to the species level, and below species level, if known and relevant)
- the date of the report
- host(s) or articles concerned (as appropriate)
- the status of the pest under ISPM 8:1998
- geographical distribution of the pest (including a map, if appropriate)
- the nature of the immediate or potential danger, or other reason for reporting.
It may also indicate the phytosanitary measures applied or required, their purpose, and any other information as indicated for pest records in ISPM 8:1998.
If all the information is not available on the pest situation then a preliminary report should be made and updates made, as further information becomes available.
6.2 Timing of reporting
Reports on occurrence, outbreak and spread should be provided without undue delay. This is especially important when the risk of immediate spread is high. It is recognized that the operation of the national systems for surveillance and reporting (see section 3), and in particular the processes of verification and analysis, require a certain time, but this should be kept to a minimum.
Reports should be updated, as new and more complete information becomes available.
6.3 Mechanism of reporting and destination of reports
Pest reports which are obligations under the IPPC should be made by NPPOs using at least one of the following three systems:
- direct communication to official contact points (mail, facsimile or e-mail) – countries are encouraged to use electronic means of pest reporting to facilitate wide and prompt distribution of information
- publication on an openly available, official national website (such a website may be designated as part of an official contact point) – precise information on the website access address to the pest reports should be made available to other countries, or at least to the Secretariat
- the International Phytosanitary Portal (IPP).
In addition, for pests of known and immediate danger to other countries, direct communication to those countries, by mail or e–mail, is recommended in any case.
Countries may also address pest reports to RPPOs, to privately contracted reporting systems, through bilaterally agreed reporting systems, or in any other manner acceptable to the countries involved. Whatever reporting system is used, the NPPO should retain responsibility for the reports.
Publication of pest reports in a scientific journal, or in an official journal or gazette that typically has limited distribution, does not meet the requirements of this standard.
6.4 Good reporting practices
Countries should follow the “good reporting practices” set out in ISPM 8:1998.
If the status of a pest in a country is questioned by another country, then an attempt should be made to resolve the matter bilaterally, in the first instance.
6.5 Confidentiality
Pest reports should not be confidential. However, national systems for surveillance, domestic reporting, verification, and analysis may contain confidential information.
Countries may have in place requirements regarding confidentiality of certain information, e.g. identity of growers. National requirements should not affect basic reporting obligations (content of reports, timeliness).
Confidentiality in bilateral arrangements should not conflict with international reporting obligations.
6.6 Language
There are no IPPC obligations in relation to the language used for pest reporting, except where countries request information under Article VII.2(j), when one of the five official languages of FAO should be used for the reply. Countries are encouraged to provide pest reports also in English, in particular for purposes of global electronic reporting.
7. Additional Information
On the basis of pest reports, countries may request additional information through official contact points. The reporting country, to the best of its ability, should report information required under Article VII.2(j).
8. Review
NPPOs should undertake periodic review of their pest surveillance and reporting systems to ensure that they are meeting their reporting obligations and to identify possibilities for improving reliability and timeliness. They should make adjustments as appropriate.
9. Documentation
National pest surveillance and reporting systems should be adequately described and documented and this information should be made available to other countries on request (see ISPM 6:1997).
