Negotiation of Phytosanitary

Requirements

Judy Macias

APHIS PPQ Phytosanitary Issues Management

Seventh Annual Phytosanitary Irradiation Forum

March 21-22, 2017

Overview:

• USDA APHIS PPQ PIM

• Role of PIM in International

Trade

• Export Market

Access/Expansion Process

• Establishment of

Phytosanitary Requirements

• Challenges/ Future Needs

APHIS PPQ Phytosanitary Issues Management

• Is the recognized National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)

for the United States under the International Plant Protection

Convention (IPPC)

• Serves as the primary point of contact for communications with other

NPPOs concerning phytosanitary issues

• Works to remove technical trade barriers and resolve

import/export phytosanitary issues for plants/plant products

• International Trade Focus on:

– New market access

– Market retention

– Market expansion

• International standard setting

Where PIM Fits in the APHIS Overview

Kevin SheaAPHIS Administrator

InternationalServices

VeterinaryServices

Plant Protection& Quarantine

Wildlife Services Animal CareBiotechnology

RegulatoryServices

Policy & ProgramDevelopment

MRP BusinessServices

Legislative &Public Affairs

Phytosanitary Issues Management

APHIS

Plant Protection &

Quarantine (PPQ)

March 2017

Policy Management

Science and Technology

Field Operations

Osama El‐Lissy

Deputy Administrator

(includes PIM staff)

(includes Export Services staff)

PIM Responsibilities

Bilateral plant health discussions

International standard setting

Market Access Request Process

• Imports

• Exports

Market retention/expansion

Country and Commodity Portfolios

Overview of Market Access/Expansion Process for

U.S. Exports

• Industry sector provides an official request to PIM for

new/expanded market access

• PIM gathers supporting technical information and submits

the request to the designated NPPO inform

• The NPPO may conduct a pest risk analysis

• PIM negotiates with the foreign NPPO to reach agreement

on the pests of concern, the risk mitigation measures, and

phytosanitary entry requirements (including the

development of operational work plans for export when

appropriate)

• The NPPO may conduct one or more site visits to the export

production area during the process

World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the

Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the

SPS Agreement

Important Principles:

• Every country has the right to establish its own appropriate level

of phytosanitary protection.

• The appropriate level of protection (or acceptable level of risk)

must be based upon scientific principles and evidence.

• The responsibility to analyze risk and to justify SPS measures

lies with the importing country.

– However in reality, there is a sharing of obligations between the

importing and exporting countries regarding the provision of

scientific evidence and justification

Pest Risk Analysis

“the evaluation of the likelihood of entry, establishment

or spread of a pest or disease within the territory of an

importing Member, according to the sanitary or

phytosanitary measures which might be applied,

and of the associated potential biological and economic

consequences”

Information Sharing During Pest

Risk Analysis Process

STAKEHOLDERS

NPPO PIM

Pest Risk Management Process

• The evaluation and selection of options to reduce the risk of

the introduction of a pest occurs during the pest risk

management process.

• Risk management options may include:

– the application of one or more phytosanitary measures, and/or

– the application of standard industry production, harvest, packing and

transportation processes

• Phytosanitary measures are defined as :

– Any legislation, regulation, or official procedure having the purpose to

prevent the introduction and/or spread of quarantine pests, or to limit the

economic impact of regulated non-quarantine pests.

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Plant Health Technical Bilateral Meetings

Plant Health Technical Bilateral

Meetings

NPPO Site Visits

May be required as part of the market

access process

May also be required after market

access is achieved

Phytosanitary Requirements

Depend upon:

• Commodity

• Origin

• Destination Country

• Associated Pests

• Bilaterally Negotiated

Agreements

Examples of Phytosanitary Requirements

• Commercially produced

product

• Surveillance

• Phytosanitary inspection and

certification

• Pre-harvest treatment

• Post-harvest treatment

• Combination of integrated

measures (systems

approach)

Common Post-Harvest Treatment Options

1. Fungicide

➢ Dip, drench or fog

2. Cold treatment or Heat treatment

➢ Prior to export or in-transit

3. Fumigation

➢ Prior to export or upon arrival

4. Irradiation

➢ Prior to export or upon arrival

5. Combination

Challenges

Irradiation Framework Equivalency Work Plans(FEWP) - by country and date of signature

Country Signature Date

Thailand January 2006

India February 2006

Mexico May 2006

Philippines July 2007

Vietnam July 2007

Laos July 2007

Malaysia July 2007

South Africa October 2008

Pakistan May 2010

Peru September 2012

Australia November 2014

Dominican Republic June 2015

Grenada March 2016

Ecuador January 2017

Other Challenges

PIM Staff as of March 2016

Limited Resources = Need to Prioritize

• Regular Communications between PIM and Industry

Sector Representatives

– Industry sectors provide prioritized lists

– Industry sectors provide input on bilateral plant health

meeting agenda items for issues related to new, expanded,

or retention of market access for their commodity

• Commodity Sector Stakeholder meetings

Questions?