The adoption of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) at the 17th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-17) is a significant step towards ensuring the protection of plant health across the globe. The newly amended standards, including ISPM 5, 18, 20, and 28, provide guidelines for the use of specific phytosanitary measures and treatments, and they can now be used in daily plant health practice.

The project’s activities support international cooperation of plant health services in the Western Balkans. This effort aims to maintain links between the Western Balkans and EU Member States and relevant international organizations, such as the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and FAO. It is important to strengthen cooperation within the region and with the EU by active participation in working parties and governing bodies. Plant pest surveillance and control is an important topic on the agendas of all these bodies, and the improvement of regional multi-country and international cooperation in pest outbreak and alert response between plant health services in the Western Balkans is crucial.

It is encouraging to see that WB6 have a legal basis in their Laws on adherence to the International Plant Protection Convention, and the EU separately adhered to the IPPC by Council Decision 2004/597/EC. Several international standards are also built into Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and implemented in the plant health official controls, defined by Regulation (EU) 2017/625. This demonstrates the importance of international cooperation and the adoption of common standards to ensure the protection of plant health and prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases.

According to standard setting procedures of the IPPC, the Secretariat did not receive any objections to the draft ISPMs that have been presented for adoption at CPM-17, by the deadline of 6 March 2023. The newly amended standards are:

• ISPM 5 – Glossary of phytosanitary terms;
• ISPM 20 – Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system; new annex ‘Use of specific import authorizations’;
• ISPM 18 – Requirements for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure;
• ISPM 28 – New annex ‘Irradiation treatment for Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi’.

Overall, the efforts to improve active involvement at the CPM-17 sessions of plant protection services of the Western Balkans are crucial for the protection of plant health and the promotion of international cooperation. The adoption of common standards and active participation in international organizations and working parties are essential steps towards achieving this goal.