Report on the 16th Session of the Plant Protection Commission for the Asia and Pacific Region
Suweon, Republic of Korea, 26 Sept. 2 Oct., 1989
by
Fong Chun-wah
-
INTRODUCTION
The Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region came into force on 2 July, 1956 and it established the Plant Protection Commission to implement the Agreement. The Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) has 24 Participating Governments in the Region. It acts as an advisory body, both to the FAO and the Governments on matters relating to the Agreement. The Commission also makes recommendations on various aspects of plant protection, particularly those requiring regional cooperation.
OPENING OF THE SESSION AND ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
2.
Twenty-seven delegates from 14 member countries of the Commission attended the Session. Participants from U.S.A., China and Japan attended the Commission Session as observers. Representatives of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), South Pacific Commission (SPC) and ASEAN PLANTI also participated in the Session. Observers from the Rural Development Administration (RDA) and other concerned agencies in Republic of Korea also participated. The List of. Participants is at appendix I.
3. Mr. H. Tsuchiya, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, welcomed the participants on behalf of the Director General of FAO. He referred to amendments I and II to the Agreement and urged the member countries to expedite ratification of the two amendments so that China could become a member of the Commission and to enable the Commission to have its own modest budget to carry out the various activities recommended by the Commission.
4.
His Excellency Dr. Chung Yun Park, Administrator of RDA, Republic of Korea addressed the Session and called for greater international cooperation in alleviating the problems due to introduction and spread of devastating pests and diseases.
as
5. The Commission elected Dr. Chae Yun Cho (Republic of Korea) Chairman of the 16th Session. Mr. A. Catley (Australia), Mr. Radhey Shyam (India) and Mr. Swang Wangboonkong (Thailand) were elected as Vice Chairmen.
6. The agenda as adopted by the Commission is set out in appendix II.