Objectives of Day Five

1. Objectives of Day Five To identify the main international agreements concerning the transfer of genetic materials from a health and safety perspective To discuss the purpose and general orientation of each agreement as it affects national management of and policy for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) To share practical experience of phytosanitary and biosafety measures To review national activities concerning plant genetic resources related to food and agriculture. To develop goals, priorities and strategies for a national programme on genetic resources

2. Objectives of Day Five (Continued) To list actions that should be taken after the goals, priorities and strategies are defined To identify ways of keeping up to date with laws and policies related to the management of plant genetic resources To get acquainted with web addresses and other references to keep themselves updated with laws and policies related to plant genetic resource management To plan actions for future activities related to writing convincing proposals To evaluate and provide feedback on the workshop

3. Schedule of Day Five 08:30 – 09:00 Opening of the Day’s Activities 09:00 – 10:30 Session 10. Phytosanitary and Biosafety Measures 10:45 – 13:00 Session 11. Developing Goals, Priorities and Strategies for Plant Genetic Resources for the Republic of Tanwanbia: A Hypothetical Case 14:00 – 15:30 Session 11. (Continued) 15:45 – 16:15 Session 12. Keeping up to date with Development in Law and Policy of Relevance to the Management of Plant Genetic Resources 16:15 – 16:45 Session 13. PAPA and Workshop Evaluation 16:45 – 17:00 Final Remarks and Closure Tea/Coffee Break Lunch Tea/Coffee Break

4. To identify the main international agreements concerning the transfer of genetic materials from a health and safety perspective To discuss the purpose and general orientation of each agreement as it affects national management of and policy for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) Objectives of Session 10

5. Introduction • The movement of PGRFA typically involves small quantities of living materials • Transfers are regulated by international and national law designed to prevent the introduction of disease and pests and to minimize the threat posed to native plants and animals from exotic species • There are three principal international agreements in this area that are relevant for genetic resource managers, research directors and national policy-makers: - The International Plant Protection Convention, - The World Trade Organization’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement - The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

6. Phytosanitary Measures and Why They Are Important • The distribution of plant genetic resources (PGR) brings with it risks to plant health, biological diversity, and potentially human health • The introduction of infections to collections of germplasm can be highly detrimental to the viability of plant material both in the short and long term • Alien invasive species are also of concern because of their far-reaching effect on natural ecosystems • The benefits of introducing new germplasm to a continent, country or province, therefore, must be weighed against the risks posed and the costs of managing such risk

7. Alleviation of Risks • Quarantine measures: - regulating the form and nature of incoming material, - eliminating high-risk material or subjecting it to quarantine and therapy • Policy in place since at least the 19th century, with the aim of co-ordinating phytosanitary measures to improve biosafety over wider areas • Existing legislation is largely focused on transboundary movement and quarantine procedures • In terms of plants, there are three main agreements of relevance: the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) which is, to date, the most important and the oldest international agreement, the World Trade Organization (WTO) - Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, and the Catagena Protocol on Biodiversity • Invasive species are poorly regulated but their control is a requirement of signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

8. The Aims and Main Features of National and International Regulations • IPPC provides an international framework for the harmonization of national phytosanitary measures • The WTO-SPS aims at preventing the misuse of phytosanitary regulations as a barrier to trade and works closely with the IPPC • The Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety, has a wholly different function. Its aim is very specific: to safeguard biodiversity from the potential dangers of GMOs

9. National and International Plant Protection Regulations • National phytosanitary regulations • International Plant Protection Convention • The WTO and SPS • The Biosafety Protocol

10. Conclusions • Controls on the movement of germplasm are mainly geared to preventing the spread of pests and diseases and are exerted through phytosanitary regulation at the national level • International policy attempts to harmonize these controls and ensure that they are not used as a barrier to trade • The Cartagena Protocol governs the movement of LMOs through clear identification of shipments; a system of notification and decision-making between importers and exporters; and an information clearing-house mechanism