The Asia-Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) elected India as chair of the Standing Committee on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the biennium 2023-24 during the 32nd Session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) held in Bangkok. The APPPC Workshop on Systems Approach for the management of fruit flies on mango is being held in Navi Mumbai.

Asia-Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC)

• The Asia-Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) convened for the first time in 1956. 

• The Commission administers the Regional Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and the Pacific. 

• It reviews the plant protection situation at the national level in member countries, and also at the regional level. 

• Coordinating and promoting development of regional plant protection systems, assisting member countries to develop effective plant protection regimes, setting standards for phytosanitary measures, and facilitating information sharing are among its key objectives. 

Members of APPPC

A total of 25 countries are members of the APPPC.

They are: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Samoa (Western), Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vietnam.

Structure and organisation

• The Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region (formerly the Plant Protection Agreement for South-East Asia and Pacific Region) was approved by the 23rd Session of the FAO Council in November 1955 and entered into force on July 2, 1956. 

• The Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and Pacific Region is an inter-governmental treaty administered by the APPPC. 

• The Commission consists of representatives of all member countries and elects amongst them a chairperson who serves for a period of two years. 

• The Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) appoints and provides the Secretariat that coordinates, organises and follows up the work of the Commission. 

• The Commission, according to its provisions convenes at least once for every two years and opens for participation to all member countries. 

For implementation of the agreement, the Commission has established four standing committees:

i) APPPC Standard Committee

ii) APPPC Standing Committee on Plant Quarantine

iii) APPPC Standing Committee on Pesticide Management

iv) APPPC Standing Committee on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

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