EPPO Council resolution on invasive alien species
At its last session in 2002-09-17/18, the Council of EPPO has adopted the following resolution on invasive alien species developed by EPPO Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations.
"The Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations recalls the conclusions of the ICPM Exploratory Open-ended Working Group on Phytosanitary Aspects of GMOs, Biosafety, and Invasive Species (FAO, Rome, 2000-06-13/16), endorsed by the 3rd Session of the ICPM in 2001-04, that:
“species that may be invasive and that directly or indirectly affect plants or plant products should be assessed, monitored and managed if necessary according to IPPC provisions and standards” (para. 13)
and that such species
“that are absent from an area (or if present, are limited in distribution and subject to official control) should be considered quarantine pests and should be subjected to measures according to IPPC provisions and standards” (para. 14).
Areas of NPPO activity which are relevant for invasive alien species affecting plants are:
- provision of legal and regulatory frameworks;
- assessment and management of risks;
- protection of areas that may be threatened;
- application of measures to prevent unintentional introduction;
- certification that risk management procedures have been applied;
- assessment and management of intentional introduction;
- exchange of relevant scientific and regulatory information;
- cooperation between countries to minimize impact
- detection, control and eradication in agricultural and wild flora (para 17).
The Working Party is accordingly developing an EPPO programme of work in this sector. For the implementation of this work programme, the Organization is looking for technical support and information from the NPPOs of EPPO Member countries.
EPPO encourages the NPPOs of EPPO member countries to be active in the areas mentioned above and to cooperate as appropriate with the authorities responsible for environmental protection."
Sources
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EPPO Secretariat, 2002-09
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