International Plant Protection Convention in the United States

Title of Convention

New Revised Text of the International Plant Protection Convention

About the Revised Text of the International Plant Protection Convention

The purpose of the New Revised Text of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), adopted in 1997, is to secure common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate means for their control. The Convention was originally adopted in 1951and the purpose of the 1997 amendments is to reflect responsibilities arising under the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. The UK ratified the Convention in 1953 and now needs to accept the 1997 amendments.

The EC is not party to the 1951 Convention. One of the 1997 amendments opens the possibility for member organisations of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to become contracting parties. The EC is a member of the FAO. A decision on EC membership will be taken once the amendments to the Convention have been accepted by the required two-thirds of existing members to trigger its entry into force.

No new legislation will be required to implement the amendments to the Conventionin EU members. The requirements of the Convention are already given effect in EU members law, which implements Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into Member States of the European Community of organisms harmful to plants and plant products and against their spread within the Community.