Egypt vice chairman of UN plant protection convention

Egypt has been elected deputy chairman of the United Nations International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) for a two-year term, according to a report submitted to Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation El-Sayed el-Qoseir.

The choice was made during the 17th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-17), held in UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Headquarters, Rome on 27-31 March.

According to the report, submitted by Head of the ministry’s Central Department of Agricultural Quarantine, Ahmed Al-Attar, who attended the Rome meetings, Egypt was selected for the major international post from among 184 countries members in the IPPC.

After the two years, Egypt will be the frontrunner for the post of the IPPC chief, Attar said.

The unprecedented achievement is likely to boost Egypt’s position in the field of phytosanitary and agricultural quarantine at the international level, he said.

It will also help the Egyptian exports to find their way more swiftly and rapidly into several major markets, in addition to the effective contribution in eliminating many obstacles to exports, in addition to taking part in relevant international decision-making, he said.

The IPPC is a 1951 multilateral treaty with the FAO to secure co-ordinated, effective action to prevent and to control pests to plants and plant products.

It is also the only international standard setting organisation for plant health recognised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

The CPM is the IPPC main governing body that holds sessions annually. The CPM promotes the full implementation of the Convention’s objectives, including reviewing the state of plant protection in the world and actions to control the international spread of pests and their introduction into endangered areas, establishing and keeping under review the necessary institutional arrangements and procedures for the development and adoption of international standards, and adopting international standards.