Canada's role in international plant protection

International Plant Protection Convention

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is Canada's representative under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Canada is a Contracting Party to the IPPC, an international treaty that establishes a common approach to preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests, and promotes appropriate measures for their control.

The work of the IPPC is governed by its Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which adopts International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). The IPPC's Secretariat coordinates the activities of the IPPC and is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

North American Plant Protection Organization

Canada is a member of North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), a trilateral Regional Plant Protection Organization established under the IPPC. NAPPO's mission is to provide a forum for public and private sectors in Canada, the United States and Mexico to collaborate in developing science-based standards to protect agricultural, forest and other plant resources against regulated plant pests, while facilitating trade. This mission includes developing Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM).

Consultations

Each year, the IPPC and NAPPO conduct consultations with contracting parties. The CFIA is responsible for obtaining and submitting comments on behalf of Canada.

For details on how to participate in these consultations, see Consultations and engagement.

IPPC

Canada has the opportunity to review and comment on the following draft documents:

• ISPMs, diagnostic protocols and phytosanitary treatments
  • annually, July 1 to September 30
• Specifications for ISPMs
  • annually, July 1 to August 31
• Implementation and capacity development documents: specifications for guides, training materials and documents
  • annually, July 1 to August 31

NAPPO

Currently, there are no open NAPPO country consultations.

Additional IPPC and NAPPO information

• International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (adopted standards)
• International Plant Protection Convention (text of the convention)
• IPPC contracting parties and links to their NPPO official contact points
• NAPPO's Phytosanitary Alert System
• NAPPO's Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
• Regional Plant Protection Organizations