Egypt elected as deputy head of IPPC’s Commission on Phytosanitary Measures for 1st time

CAIRO – 3 April 2023: Egypt has been elected for the first time as deputy head of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), for two years.

This came during the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-17) session that was held in person in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Italy’s Rome from 27 to 31 March.

Egypt has been chosen for the position among 184 member states of the IPPC, Ahmed El-Attar, head of Central Administration of Plant Quarantine at the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement released by the ministry on Monday.

After the completion of the Egyptian tenure as deputy head of the CPM, Egypt will be the main candidate to preside over the commission, El-Attar added.

This unprecedented step enhances Egypt’s position in the field of phytosanitary and agricultural quarantine at the global level and gives the country a speedy access to many prominent export markets that are difficult to be reached.

Such step will also effectively contribute to resolving several obstacles facing Egyptian agricultural exports and will help the country in participating in international decision-making.

The IPPC is an intergovernmental treaty signed by more than 180 states with the aim of protecting the plant resources worldwide from the spread of pests and promoting safe trade.

The IPPC’s CPM promotes full implementation of the Convention’s objectives, including reviewing the actions taken worldwide to control the spread of pests and their introduction into endangered areas.

Also, the CPM reviews efforts of establishing the necessary institutional arrangements and procedures for the development and adoption of international standards in this regard.

The CPM provides guidance to the IPPC on activities, particularly those related to financial and operational management.