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FAO: New standards to reduce global plant pests, diseases spreading
05.04.2019 12:48 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
As of this week, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures’ (CPM) annual meeting has taken place within Rome, FAO reports.
It is to be admitted, CPM is the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) - the only international body charged with setting and implementing phytosanitary standards recognized by governments around the world and the World Trade Organization-SPS agreement to facilitate safe trade and protect plant health.
As to the report, within the meeting, CPM has adopted new international standards to prevent pests from crossing borders and spreading: protocols to block highly invasive pests such as Xylella fastidiosa and the oriental fruit fly.
It is to be admitted, FAO estimates that annually 2040% of global total crop output are lost to pests. Each year, plant diseases cost the global economy around $220 billion, and invasive insects around US$70 milliard.
As to the report, the new standards adopted this week include: 1) a new standard to provide guidance on improved fumigation methods (in response to growing concerns over fumigants that can be harmful to human health and the environment). The standard sets requirements for temperature, duration, fumigants’ quantity to make fumigation effective, and puts forward solutions to lessen fumigation’s environmental impact - for example, by using recapture technology to reduce gas emissions. 2) Diagnostics protocols that describe procedures and methods for the official diagnosis of six pests, including Xylella fastidiosa and the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). 3) Commodity and pathway standards to support the setting up of ground rules for countries to commence trade also with the aim of introducing new opportunities for developing countries. 4) Recommendations on high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies, which are in the early stages of development, to detect regulated pests or previously unknown pests, such as new viruses that affect cassava plants.
It is to be admitted, as of today, CPM has adopted more than 100 International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), covering all areas of plant quarantine.
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