93rd Meeting of the Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs

Milan (IT), 2026-04-14/16

 

 

 

The EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs provides a forum for EPPO Member Countries and their NPPOs to exchange information and develop harmonised views and positions on matters related to the International Plant Protection Convention. It also facilitates the preparation of member governments for the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. The list of the Panel Members and their terms of Reference is accessible on the EPPO website.

 

The 93rd meeting of the EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs was held in Milan (IT) on 2026-04-14/16 at the kind invitation of Regional Lombardia (Italian NPPO) and it was chaired by Mr Horn, EPPO Officer-in-Charge, with the support of Mr Lucchesi, EPPO Scientific Officer. The meeting was attended by 16 Panel members appointed by EPPO Member Countries.

 

The meeting focussed on the review of the draft IPPC Standards which will be discussed by the members of the IPPC Standards Committee (SC) and by the SC-7. The Panel studied the drafts to provide inputs from the EPPO region to European SC members. Draft Commodity Standards, annexes to ISPM 46 Commodity-specific standards for phytosanitary measures, for the international movement of the following crops, were discussed:

 

For first consultation:

  • Fresh apple (Malus domestica) fruit for consumption
  • Citrus fruit for consumption
  • Seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris

 

For second consultation:

  • Fresh banana (Musa spp.) fruit
  • Fresh taro (Colocasia esculenta) corms

 

The draft specification for a revision of ISPM 3 Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms, which is in the SC May agenda, was also reviewed and inputs were provided. This review had been proposed by EPPO in the framework of the open IPPC Call for topics.

 

The Panel members were updated on recent IPPC discussions, including those of the CPM Bureau. The Panel also evaluated the 20th session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-20) that was organized in Rome on 2026-03-9/13 and the regional coordination meetings organized by EPPO around this event. The Panel appreciated the outcomes and highlighted the important issues for the EPPO region which need to be followed.

 

The Panel discussed the progress of a number of strategic issues including ePhyto and the Pest Outbreak Alert and Response System (POARS). The Panel also considered the outcomes of the ongoing CPM Focus Groups on Global Phytosanitary Research Coordination and on Plant Health in the context of One Health for which the European representatives in these two groups connected remotely to assist the discussions.

 

The next meeting of the EPPO Panel on Global Phytosanitary Affairs is planned to take place in conjunction with the IPPC Regional Workshop for Europe and Central (dates in September 2026 to be confirmed) which will be held in Riga.