ANNEX IV / P.15
In fact, the
concerned; rather few are common to many countries. intention of phytosanitary measures is to maintain differences in pest spectrums between countries. Similarly, the emphasis on the utilization of international standards, guidelines and recommendations is completely out of touch with present reality. There are practically no such internationally agreed standards. Their development will
will take a considerable time and it is not clear how they will be created. The ideas on pest risk assessment also suppose that this procedure is much more advanced than it really is and that it can be readily and validly applied to most situation. It fails to allow for the fact that the basic principles have not yet been fully elaborated and much basic information is missing and unreliable.
is an
The terminology of the draft text appears to incorporate elements of the terminologies of animal health, food safety and plant quarantine and as such its meaning has been found to be obscure in several respects. The Expert Consultation was unhappy with the definitions provided, and particularly with that of "harmonization"; this word essential element in this draft test and the definition here led to considerable confusion. It is pointed out that the word as understood commonly in the area of plant quarantine, incorporates the concept if "making equivalent so as to produce the same result".
The draft text should be submitted for examination and redrafting by an international body of phytosanitary experts who can bring the concepts, definitions and terminology in line with those commonly used in the subject-area, failing which, its implications remain obscure to those familar with the problems commonly encountered.