Report of the Thirty-second Session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission

Abstract

The thirty-second session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) was held on 7–11 November 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. The session of the Commission adopted the APPPC six-year Strategic Plan 2022–2028 and its biennium work programme 2023–2024, as well as approved the publication of the revised APPPC Regional Standard Setting Procedural Guidelines and Regional Implementation Guidance (RIG) for Phytosanitary Procedures for Seed Certification.

The session reviewed the implementation of the workplan activities during 2020–2022 adopted at the 31st session and the financial report. Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly affected the implementation of the planned activities throughout the period, APPPC had planned and implemented various activities with support from the member countries. Based on the discussion of three Standing Committees on Plant Quarantine, Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Management, the session adopted the proposed budget for the 2023–2024 biennium to implement the programmes for the strategic objectives and goals of the APPPC, those included organization of capacity development workshop under the work programmes of Standing Committees and the development of Regional Standard for Phytosanitary Measures led by Standard Committee. The session also invited the participants to consider 1983 and 1999 amendments to the Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific region in pursuance of acceptance of amendments by members.

For the effective operation of the regional system, the session approved the establishment of the APPPC Advisory Group to support the administration, management and monitoring of the APPPC biennium work programme. The session agreed to implement its biennium work programme effectively toward accomplishing the strategic objectives of the APPPC Strategic Plan. The next session of the Commission will be hosted by China in 2024.