Virtual IPPC regional workshop 2021 for Africa

In collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), in a context of crisis marked by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC) is organizing this week, from September 21 to 24, 2021 in a virtual manner IPPC Regional Workshop 2021 for Africa.

It is for NPPOs and other stakeholders to increase their skills on how to analyze draft international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPM), provide comments and discuss potential related amendments.

 The Day of the 21st was marked by the interventions of Mr. MEZUI M’ELLA director of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council who recalled the importance of the event given the efforts made for the imminent launch of the continental free trade area (AFCTA) urged all actors to get involved energetically so that the work can lead to results capable of guaranteeing food security in Africa.

 Likewise, Deputy Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Africa, Abebe Haile Gabriel called for deeper collaboration between Member States, IPPC and all partners, stressing that joint efforts would allow to ensure that shared knowledge promotes the emergence of tangible results in terms of food security.

These interventions were followed by those of Ms. Luiza MUNYUA of IAPSC and Mr. David Kamangira Kamangira who on behalf of the standards committee introduced through presentations of draft standards and amendments leaving room for exchanges between participants under the moderation of M Descartes KOUMBA.

 

The Day of the 22nd was devoted to the presentation and discussions on updates relating to governance and strategy issues and on certain draft revisions of standards amendments and saw the intervention of:

• Mr. Lucien KOUAME for the IPPC secretariat,
• Mr. Ezequiel Fero for the Global Standard Committee and;
• Sir. David Kamanriga Kamangira for the African Committee for Standardization.

Each of the interventions aimed not only to take stock of its structure but also and above all to make stakeholders understand and contribute to the various proposals for updates and modifications.

The Director of AU-IAPSC while congratulating the efforts made by the participants regretted the absence of many stakeholders which, according to him, would be a limiting factor.