Draft Plant Health Standards
Tell us what you think!
Are you a plant producer, plant health official, industry group member, or someone else with a stake in U.S. plant health or global plant trade? Are you interested in commenting on International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) documents?
This page has opportunities to comment on draft standards, documents, and specifications for plant health. When you share your thoughts, you can help us promote a safe, fair, and predictable trade system for U.S. products.
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Consultation
There are at least four consultation periods throughout the year when your comments will be reviewed. After each consultation period closes, the IPPC Secretariat compiles the comments and posts them to the IPPC website.
- Consultation on draft standards–90 days, July 1 to September 30
- Consultation on draft specifications–90 days, dates vary
- Consultation on CPM Recommendations–90 days, July 1 to September 30
- Expert consultation on diagnostic protocols–30 days, dates vary
- Notification period for diagnostic protocols–45 days, July 1 to August 15 and January 5 to February 20
- Consultation on Implementation and Capacity Development documents–90 days, July 1 to September 30
Below, learn how to submit comments and check periodically for open commenting opportunities.
Step 1
Download and review all open drafts for comment from the IPPC consultation website. To view the documents in English, open the “En” version.
Step 2
Leave tracked changes in the Word document.
- For each comment, provide alternative wording and justification for the changes you recommend. Focus your comments on these areas:
- Substantive: conceptual changes and the addition of new aspects or ideas
- Technical: scientific corrections and technical adjustments
- Editorial: clarify or simplify the text without changing the meaning
- Use the “Review” feature in Word to comment directly in the draft document.
- Please highlight the phrase of concern when commenting.
- If the comment is relevant to the entire draft, label your comment as “General” and add it at the beginning of the document.
- You can also provide comments in any other format (such as a PDF or email) by indicating the paragraph number in the corresponding draft Word document.
Step 3
When ready, attach your draft with comments and email your comments no later than August 15, 2024, to:
Stephanie Dubon
PPQ's IPPC Technical Director
stephanie.m.dubon@usda.gov
Draft standards for 2nd Consultation
International movement of fresh (Mangifera indica) fruit (Annex to ISPM 46 (Commodity-based standards for phytosanitary measures): The annex should provide guidance for national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) on options for phytosanitary measures for the import and export of fresh mango fruit. The annex would identify common and significant pests or pest groups that are known to be associated with fresh mango fruit globally and describe selected options for phytosanitary measures that may be applied to reduce pest risk.
Use of systems approaches in managing the pest risks associated with the movement of wood (Annex to ISPM 39: International movement of wood): The annex should provide guidance to NPPOs on the use of specific phytosanitary measures within systems approach to mitigate the quarantine pest risks associated with wood. Includes specific areas within the wood, or pests of specific types of wood.
Draft standards for 1st Consultation
Field inspection (including growing season inspection) (Annex to ISPM 23: Guidelines for inspection): The proposed Annex should provide general and specific requirements for field inspection (including growing-season inspection) that will apply if a national plant protection organization (NPPO) uses field inspection as a stand-alone phytosanitary measure or as one component of a systems approach.
Revision of ISPM 26: Establishment of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae): The revised ISPM 26 should provide guidance for the establishment and maintenance of pest free areas for fruit flies (Tephritidae) of economic importance, including requirements that accommodate the needs of both countries with indigenous fruit flies and countries that are historically free from fruit flies.
Design and use of systems approaches for phytosanitary certification of seeds (Annex to ISPM 38: International movement of seeds): The Annex will outline requirements for a general framework for systems approaches (SA) for seeds. It will provide guidance to NPPOs on recognizing and incorporating existing seed industry quality management systems, including audit and verification, as part of SAs for reducing the risk of pests in seeds moving internationally. Participation in a SA can serve as a voluntary alternative to consignment-by-consignment phytosanitary certifi cation of seeds.
Draft Annex to ISPM 27 Diagnostic protocols: Meloidogyne mali
Draft Annex to ISPM 28 Phytosanitary Treatments: Irradiation treatment for Planococcus lilacinus; Irradiation treatment for Paracoccus marginatus; Irradiation treatment for Pseudococcus baliteus; Combination of irradiation and modified atmosphere treatment for Trogoderma granarium.
Draft Specifications
Safe provision of food and other humanitarian aid: This standard should provide guidance for the NPPOs of donor, transit, or recipient countries on the safe movement of aid. It should address the pest risk associated with the use of emergency pathways and regulated pathways in emergency situations as well as help in mitigating the pest risk posed by aid that is moved along the supply chain by stakeholders (e.g. governments, aid agencies, exporters and importers, regional plant protection organizations (RPPOs), diasporas and the private sector). It will also guide donor, transit, and recipient NPPOs in facilitating the safe movement of aid.
Revision of the draft reorganized pest risk analysis (PRA) ISPMs: The holistic review of the reorganized PRA ISPMs should outline the core principles and requirements for PRA: determining if an organism is a pest and assessing the risk of introduction and consequences within the scope of the IPPC. The ISPM should also clearly describe the relationship between the pest risk and phytosanitary measures and their strength for managing this risk based on the principles outlined in ISPM 1 (Phytosanitary principles for the protection of plants and the application of phytosanitary measures in international trade) and ISPM 24 (Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary measures).
- For previous consultations on draft standards, select here.
- For previous consultations on draft specifications, select here.
- For previous notification periods on diagnostic protocols, select here.
North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) Consultation
NAPPO consultation varies depending on the project and on timelines agreed to by the NAPPO governance committees. For more information, contact PPQ's NAPPO Technical Director Stephanie Dubon at stephanie.m.dubon@usda.gov.
Below, learn how to submit comments and check periodically for open commenting opportunities.
Step 1
Download and review all open drafts for comment from the NAPPO website.
Step 2
Leave tracked changes in the Word document.
- For each comment, provide alternative wording and justification for the changes you recommend. Focus your comments on these areas:
- Substantive: conceptual changes and the addition of new aspects or ideas
- Technical: scientific corrections and technical adjustments
- Editorial: clarify or simplify the text without changing the meaning
- Use the “Review” feature in Word to comment directly in the draft document.
- Please highlight the phrase of concern when commenting.
- If the comment is relevant to the entire draft, label your comment as “General” and add it at the beginning of the document.
- You can also provide comments in any other format (such as a PDF or email) by indicating the paragraph number in the corresponding draft Word document.
Step 3
When ready, attach your draft with comments and email your comments to those specified in the next panel, "Draft NAPPO Standards Available for Comment."
There are no items open for comment at this time. Sign up for email or text updates, and we'll let you know when new documents are available. For previous NAPPO consultations, email stephanie.m.dubon@usda.gov.
Other Commenting Opportunities
Your input helps us make better-informed decisions about actions that may interest or impact you. See all commenting opportunities related to plant health and let us know your thoughts.