Plant health section - international cooperation

EDUCATION, TESTING app. equip.

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PHYTOSANITARY INSPECTION

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Plant Health Section

IV. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Republic of Slovenia became a member of a number of international organisations and party to more conventions within the following organisations:

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO)
World Trade Organisation (WTO)

Plant protection field demands an explicit international cooperation:

As a party to the International Plant Protection Convention - IPPC attends meetings of the ICPM - Interim Commission for Phytosanitary Measures. Sixth meeting of the ICPM commission was held from 29 March until 2 April 2004 in Rome at the headquarters of FAO organisation. Delegations of more than 100 countries participated at the meeting, and as observers, also representatives of regional plant protection organisations (EPPO, NAPPO, COSAVE...), WTO, EU and international professional organisations. On the basis of amended text of IPPC, adopted at FAO conference in 1997, a commission for phytosanitary measures was established (Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures -ICPM), which will, pending establishment of a new working body (CPM), serve as a joint managing body for coordination of interests and establishment of standards in the phytosanitary field. Meetings are hled once a year. Members of the ICPM commission are representatives of countries parties to the convention, which are to agree, together with the secretariat of the convention, for priorities in adopting international standards.
World Trade Organisation (WTO), which by 1 January 1995 replaced the previous General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), was oriented in further promotion of international trade. Slovenia has ratified the agreement by an act on 20 June 1995 and has thus become the original member of WTO by 30 July 1995. On the basis of adopted and already valid agreements, including the Agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures within the framework of WTO, by which Slovenia is bound as from 30 July 1995O, open boundaries of international trade in goods are opening even more. Signatory States to the WTO, including Slovenia, undertake by the agreement that they will not hinder international trade, if not necessary, by taking measures in the field of phytosanitary and veterinary protection. Phytosanitary authorities and plant protection services of signatory states are therefore given even bigger responsibilities. Equal participation in international trade is conditioned by setting up control of health condition of plants, which are subject of trade. This agreement provides for that member states should base their phytosanitary measures (control and methods of work) on international standards, such as standards on the basis of International Plant Protection Convention - IPPC (Rome 1954, 1979 and 1991) or standards adopted within the framework of regional plant protection organisations, operating within the International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. EPPO).
International Plant Protection Convention - IPPC and regional organisations operating under the auspices of the same, such as European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation - EPPO, and SPS within WTO, which is binding upon Slovenia as from 30 July 1995, contribute to even bigger opening of the boundaries of international trade in goods. Signatory states to WTO, including Slovenia, undertake by the agreement that they will not hinder international trade, if not necessary, by taking measures in the field of phytosanitary and veterinary protection. Phytosanitary authorities and plant protection services of signatory states are therefore given even bigger responsibilities. Equal participation in international trade is conditioned by setting up control of health condition of plants, which are subject of trade. This agreement provides for that member states should base their phytosanitary measures (control and methods of work) on international standards, such as standards on the basis of International Plant Protection Convention - IPPC (Rome 1954, 1979 and 1991) or standards adopted within the framework of regional plant protection organisations, operating within the International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. EPPO).