TNAG-2110-FCO40-3009-Hong-Kong-participation-in-international-organisations-1990 — Page 7

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REPORT ON EXPERT CONSULTATION ON PLANT QUARANTINE HARMONIZATION / P.2

HIGHLIGHT OF IMPORTANT ITEMS CONSIDERED BY THE CONSULTATION

4.

5.

Harmonization of Phytosanitary Principles

4.1

The Expert Consultation agreed that in order to prevent the introduction and spread of pests across national boundaries with minimum interference with international trade and traffic, countries shall institute regulatory or other measures only if and so far as those measures are made necessary by phytosanitary considerations.

4.2

While countries may declare that the their territory to be free of certain pests or of low risk and prevalence, the acceptance of area freedom is still a controversial concept among the member countries of the Expert Consultation.

4.3

Countries shall ensure that phytosanitary measures that they impose do not result in stricter treatment of imported products than like domestic products of the same phytosanitary status.

4.4

Measures that are not identical but otherwise can achieve the same result shall be considered to be equivalent in meeting regulatory requirements.

4.5

In the face of a new or unexpected pest risk, countries may take immediate phytosanitary measures on the basis of the preliminary pest risk assessment. Countries shall periodically review all phytosanitary measures and ensure that the reasons for them still apply.

4.6

In order to permit the understanding of phytosanitary decision and formulation of phytosanitary measures, countries need to have access to information on regulations, decision making, procedures and pest situation in other countries.

Harmonization of Plant Quarantine Procedures

5.1

The Working Group considered the definition of harmonization of plant quarantine procedures should be "the establishment and application of identical or equivalent quarantine procedures by different countries to achieve the same result".

5.2

Surveys/Surveillance are required to ascertain the (ongoing) pest status of trading countries and the resultant information is used as the basis for developing and justifying quarantine requirements.

5.3

The primary purpose of inspection is to check that produce concerned complies with phytosanitary requirements. It is vital that, in order to prevent the spread of pests, an exporting country undertakes appropriate inspection procedures, negotiated in advanced with the importing country.

5.4

Tests may be required to detect and diagnose/identify pests. Currently there are many in use with varying degrees of

P.T.0.