The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an international treaty to secure action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures for their control. There are currently 153 Parties to the Convention and it is governed by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) which adopts International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). At the 1st Session of the CPM, held in Rome on 3-7 April 2006, one ISPM was revised and three new ISPMs were adopted, including ISPM No. 27 entitled "Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests". This standard provides guidance on the structure and content of the IPPC diagnostic protocols for regulated pests, including information and guidance on methods (e.g. based on biochemical or molecular properties of the pest) that lead to identification of the pest. The ISPM is now available on the web. See https://www.ippc.int/id/133651?language=en (in English and French, with Arabic, Chinese and Spanish coming soon) or contact [email protected] for more information.

13/07/2006