EPPO Workshop for Phytosanitary Inspectors 
Vilnius, LT, 2009-11-10/12
The EPPO Workshop for Phytosanitary Inspectors took place in Vilnius at the kind invitation of the Lithuanian NPPO. More than 50 participants from 23 countries participated in the Workshop to exchange information and experience on inspections of wood packaging material and implementation of ISPM 15, post-import inspections and the phytosanitary security of consignments after the issuance of phytosanitary certificates.
Mr Morkevicius (Head of the NPPO of Lithuania) welcomed the participants to Vilnius and stressed the importance of the work achieved by the phytosanitary inspectors which is at the basis of the whole plant health system. Ms Necajeva (NPPO of Lithuania) also welcomed the participants and presented the structure and functions of the Lithuanian NPPO. The EPPO Secretariat made introductory talks on its information services, the preparation EPPO’s inspection standards, and the general contents and requirements of ISPM 15.
Numerous presentations were made by the participants to explain how inspections of Wood Packaging Material (WPM) were carried out in practice and how ISPM 15 was being implemented in their countries. Participants could exchange information on:
- phytosanitary inspections which are performed on imported consignments accompanied with WPM (e.g. how to target inspections, how to perform inspections in seaports, airports, border crossings, railway stations, which measures should taken in case of non-compliance);
- production of ISPM 15-compliant WPM at national level (e.g. registration and inspection of WPM producing companies, wood treatment methods used, calibration of treatment equipment, measures taken in case of non-compliance).
The Workshop concluded that the harmonization of measures taken in the case of non-compliance with ISPM 15 was necessary. It also stressed that better collaboration between NPPOs and shippers is needed to improve compliance of WPM with ISPM 15.
Courtesy: NPPO of Lithuania
Presentations and discussions also took place on post-import inspections (at place of destination and after custom clearance). The advantages and disadvantages of post-import inspections were illustrated with the actual cases of Bemisia tabaci and Anoplophora species found on imports in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, respectively. Finally, inspectors exchanged their views on how NPPOs could ensure the phytosanitary security of consignments after the issuance of phytosanitary certificates. This topic was illustrated with the example of a system using seals which has recently been developed by the Polish NPPO, in close collaboration with the customs, to ensure that consignments could not be altered after phytosanitary certification. This system is being implemented on the basis of a bilateral agreement with one importing country. General thoughts about the necessity and the practical use of security systems were also presented by Mr Finelli (IT). During the discussions, it was explained that in Russia and Ukraine, consignments intended to be exported from regions other than the region of production are accompanied by an internal ‘quarantine certificate’. The export certificate is issued at the place of export on the basis of this document and an additional inspection immediately before export. The Workshop considered that security systems cannot be developed for all types of consignments, and that a risk-based approach was necessary.
Warm thanks are due to Mr Morkevicius, Ms Necajeva, Mr Kucinskas and their colleagues from the Lithuanian NPPO for the fine organization of the Workshop, the most interesting visit to an enterprise producing, treating and marking wood pallets, and for the friendly dinner where participants could enjoy traditional Lithuanian food.
Presentations
Introduction
Presentation of the Lithuanian NPPO
Lidija Necajeva - State Plant Protection Service, VilniusEPPO’s information services
Anne-Sophie Roy - EPPOEPPO inspection standards
Françoise Petter - EPPO
Inspection of wood packaging material
Presentation of ISPM No. 15
Andrei Orlinski - EPPOInspection of wood packing material: how is inspection of wood-packaging material done at import? How are companies producing/treating wood packing material registered and controlled?
Anja Bjornsson - SEThe use of integrated computerised port inventory systems, to pass or not to pass, that is the question
Stephen Mears - GBControl of imported wood packaging material in Latvia
Kristina Romanova - LVImport control of wood packaging material and registration and control of wood packaging material producing companies
Vaclovas Kucinskas - LTImplementation of ISPM No. 15
Vitaliy Zheleznyak - UAInspections of imported WPM in the Netherlands: problems, solutions and findings
Thorwald Geuze, Peter Mocking - NLControl of wood packing material in Germany specified in Brandenburg
Angelika Haenisch - DECertification system for WPM treatment, inspection and export experiences
Petr Harasta - CZImplementation and use of IPPC mark in Italy
Franco Finelli, Davide Paradiso, Anna Piana - ITInspection of WPM at import, and registration and control of companies that process WPM in Spain
Belen Martinez Martinez - ESRegistration and control of wood treatment facility. Treatment types and treated products (W, WPN, Bark)
Maria-Clara Serra - PTImplementation of ISPM No. 15 in Russia
Sergey Karmazin - RUListen to the sound made by an exotic insect boring into a bed head
Do you think that you could have a peaceful sleep
Post import inspection
Post entry inspection versus post import inspections: a comparison
Dan Munro - GB
Post entry inspections on Acer species: cause, approach and findingsView videos: larva of Anoplophora chinensis - adult of Anoplophora chinensis
Thorwald Geuze, Peter Mocking - NL
Ensuring phytosanitary security of consignments after certification
Polish experience
Dorota Buzon - PLItalian experience
Franco Finelli - IT