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Guest Editorial

Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO):
A pillar for the NENA region to face plant pests

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is the intergovernmental treaty that aims to protect the world's plants, agricultural products and natural resources from plant pests. Ratified by 185 contracting parties, the IPPC develops, adopts and promotes the application of International Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) as the main tool to safeguard global food security, facilitate safe trade and protect the environment. The IPPC had its beginnings with the agreement by twelve countries to regulatory measures for grapevines under the Phylloxera Convention of Berne in 1881. This represented the first efforts at formalizing international cooperation in plant protection and led to the recognition of the need to address other plant pests and enlist cooperation among all countries. The first text of an international convention with broader objectives was drafted at the International Conference for Plant Protection held in Rome in 1929. The 6th Session of FAO Conference adopted the Convention in 1951 that came into force in 1952. Amendments to the IPPC were proposed in 1973, adopted by FAO in 1979, came into force in 1991 and, finalized in 1997.

Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is continuously challenged by the threat of Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases (TPPD). Trade activities, the movement of people, plants, and animals accentuated by a lack of effective control measures and weak regional coordination increased the risk of the introduction and the spread of pests.

Pest outbreaks are an increasing trend and threat to the region in the last twenty years which require close attention from the countries of the region at minimum in the form of information exchange and the initiation of an effective regional monitoring and control strategy. The transboundary nature of some plant pests and diseases makes it impossible for a single country to effectively manage them. Therefore, a regional cooperation strategy among NENA countries is vital to mitigate the risk of plant pests.

The lack of a Regional Plant Protection Organization in the Near East Region has negative impact on the regional collaboration in the area of plant protection in particular in the development of a regional strategy to monitor and control the transboundary plant pests, diseases and weeds.

In response to a request made by the Near East Regional Commission on Agriculture at its 3rd Session held in Nicosia (Cyprus) from 11 to 5 September 1989, and following a recommendation made by a technical consultation held in Rome (Italy) from 14 to 16 April 1992, a conference of Plenipotentiaries on the establishment of the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO) was held in Rabat (Morocco) from 16 to 18 February 1993 and attended by 17 countries from the FAO Near East and North Africa. The NEPPO entered into force on January 2009. The first Governing Council was held in Rabat (Morocco) in October 2010 during which the NEPPO established its structure, adopt rules and procedures and was formally recognized as a Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO) under the IPPC on 23 March 2012. Indeed, there are ten RPPOs under the IPPC and Article IX of the New Revised Text of the IPPC, namely: Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC), Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), Comunidad Andina (CAN), Comite de Sanidad Vegetal del Cono Sur (COSAVE), European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC), North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OIRSA), Pacific Plant Protection Organization (PPPO) and Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO).

Currently, eleven member countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)) are under the NEPPO and two countries (Mauritania and Yemen) are ongoing. The objectives of NEPPO shall be primarily to promote international cooperation in the region in strengthening plant protection activities and capabilities with the aim of: (i) Controlling pests of plants and plant products in an appropriate manner; (ii) Preventing the introduction and spread of pests and (iii) Facilitating safe trade.

The NEPPO had an Administrative Council, an Executive Committee, and a Sub-device (working groups, experts in plant protection, etc.). The Executive Committee met twice a year and the Administrative Council once every two years.

Dr. Mohamed Habib Ben Jamaa
Executive Director of NEPPO,
Rabat, Morocco