REPORT ON EXPERT CONSULTATION ON PLANT QUARANTINE HARMONIZATION / P.5
8.2
There were a few major changes in the amendments to the IPPC approved by Resolution 14/79 at the Twentieth Session of the FAO Conference (November, 1979) that our Department should pay special attention to.
8.2.1
The word 'Government (s)' in the original text was replaced by either by 'contracting party (-ies)' or 'State(s)' throughout the Revised Text of the Convention. It suggests that Hong Kong might become an independent signatory state to IPPC if the later become operative.
8.2.2
The new Scope of the amended IPPC has included provision over the control of manufactures (plant) products in contrary to just the unmanufactured material of plant origin as stated in the current version of IPPC.
8.2. .3
The original text stated that 'The certificate (referring to phytosanitary certificate) shall bear no alternations or erasures' while the Revised Text allows certified alternations to be made.
8.2.4
The Revised Text requires prescribe restrictions or requirements concerning importation of plants, plant products and list pests, the introduction of which is prohibited or restricted. Consequently AFD should now start to derive a list of quarantine pest on a rational basis.
9. Comments
9.1
useful.
Participation in the Expert Consultation has been very It provided a good opportunity for exchanging information on plant quarantine regulations and procedures and keeping member countries up-to-date with the development of IPPC.
9.2
The theme of the Consultation was on harmonization of plant quarantine principles and procedures. Judging from the deliberations of the Expert Consultation, it is clear that a lot more input from FAO and member countries will be required before significant progress can be made. On the other hand, in order to meet the challenge of GATT's propaganda of reducing unnecessary barriers to trade, FAO had urged all IPPC signatory members to strictly adhere to the Convention. Consequently, improvement, reiteration and amendments regarding the plant quarantine work in many member countries are needed.
9.3
As far as Hong Kong is concerned, we shall have to strengthen our liaison and information exchange services with other IPPC members states. Serious and regular training should be provided to all officers involved in plant quarantine. The technical support unit (currently the Plant Protection Unit of the Plant Protection Section) should be equipped with better instrumental facilities and qualified staff resources to cope with the pest risk assessment work and formulation of quarantine work
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