Dispute Settlement Process  for NAPPO countries Meeting Schedule NAPPO Official Documents Newsletters
Panel Documents/Reports Panel Members Pest Alerts Publications Standards/Decisions SAMs Main Menu Spanish

Strategic Plan for the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO)

What is NAPPO?

NAPPO is the phytosanitary standard setting organization recognized by the North American Free Trade Agreement.  It was created in 1976 as a regional organization of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

NAPPO’s mission is to:

Provide a forum for public and private sectors in Canada, the United States and Mexico to collaborate in the development of science-based standards intended to protect agricultural, forest and other plant resources against regulated plant pests, while facilitating trade.  Participate in related international cooperative efforts.

It is important to note the key interaction between plant protection and trade facilitation in NAPPO’s mission statement.  This reflects the need for phytosanitary standards which not only withstand scientific scrutiny, but that also reflect the reality of modern trading practices.

Why participate in NAPPO?

U  Plant pests do not respect international borders.  NAPPO provides an established forum for government, industry and non-government organizations to confront current and emerging pest problems in Canada, the United States and Mexico

U Develop common phytosanitary standards to prevent the introduction  of serious quarantine pests such as the Asian Gypsy Moth, to North America

U A forum for technical exchange on risk management measures, e.g. Sudden Oak Death; Emerald Ash Borer; UG-99 wheat stem rust.

U  NAPPO initiatives contribute to reducing pest risk and
 facilitating trade.

U A proven track record of regional and international effectiveness. Numerous NAPPO standards (risk assessment, pest free areas, areas of low pest prevalence, wood packaging, transit, fruit flies, etc.) have been the basis for international standards of the IPPC. 

U The NAPPO Phytosanitary Alert System provides early warning to the National Plant Protection Organizations of Canada, the United States and Mexico about new and emerging pest situations around the globe.

U Harmonization of phytosanitary measures (e.g. diagnostic protocols and treatments) to ensure use of the latest technology and decrease trade disputes.

U The NAPPO Dispute Settlement Mechanism supports the NAFTA-SPS process.  The DSM has been used in NAPPO with good results.

U NAPPO has access to a broad range of experts for capacity building within and external to the NAPPO region.

An independent evaluation of NAPPO conducted in 2007 concluded the following:

NAPPO’s mission and strategic goals
 

s There is public and private support – regionally and internationally;

s NAPPO is widely recognized for its leadership within the region and globally.

Performance and Effectiveness of NAPPO
 

s Numerous regional standards have been the basis for international standards of the IPPC

s These ‘success stories’ underscore the benefit, measured in terms of economic losses avoided in the thousands of millions
      of dollars.

Governance and Organizational Structure

s The organizational structure of NAPPO is judged to work quite well.

s NAPPO’s Strategic Plan should be updated taking into account the 2008 independent evaluation and monitored/updated on an
 annual basis

NAPPO funding
 

s NAPPO has a very small budget for an international organization, especially considering its major contribution to regional an
      international pest prevention efforts

s Increasing the annual contribution in an equitable fashion provides the most stable and sustainable strategy, without the threat
      of compromising the role of NAPPO

STRATEGIC GOALS

To attain its mission, NAPPO has established the following strategic goals:

s Protecting Plant Resources and the Environment

s Capacity Building

s Communicating Results

s Building partnerships

s An effective Dispute Settlement Mechanism

s Sound Management Practices

s  A Stable Funding Base

Strategic Goal No. 1:  Protecting Plant Resources and the Environment


1.   Develop and adopt NAPPO Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPMs) which respond to current and emerging
      pest and trade issues and trends, in a timely manner.

2.   Monitor the implementation of RSPMs in the three NAPPO countries.

3.   Develop and advocate implementation of harmonized phytosanitary measures to protect North America against the introduction
      and establishment of pests of quarantine significance to the three NAPPO countries, e.g. Asian Gypsy Moth.

4.   Ensure that RSPMs take into account protection of the environment.

5.   Propose RSPMs for consideration as International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) of the International Plant
      Protection Convention.

6.   Ensure ongoing input to and maintenance of the NAPPO Pest Alert System and links to the International Phytosanitary Portal.

Strategic Goal No. 2:  Capacity Building
 

1.    Organize technical workshops on current and emerging pest issues e.g. pest identification, diagnostic methodologies and phytosanitary treatments.

2.    Organize technical workshops on the implementation of regional and international phytosanitary standards. e.g. wood packaging.

3.    Attend meetings of the Standards Committee of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures to gain the required knowledge of ISPMs to facilitate the development of appropriate RSPMs.

4.    Participate in meetings with other regional plant protection organizations to identify opportunities for sharing expertise.

Strategic Goal No. 3:  Communicating Results
 

1.     Conduct regular briefings of senior officials in relevant government departments to demonstrate the impact and benefits of participating in NAPPO.

2.     Conduct regular briefings of industry associations to demonstrate the impact and benefits of participating in NAPPO activities.

3.     Prepare an executive summary of annual NAPPO results to present to government and industry decision-makers

4.     Complete assignments under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.

5.     Participate in activities  of the North American Free Trade Agreement -Sanitary and Phytosanitary (NAFTA-SPS) Committee and report on NAPPO initiatives

6.     Distribute NAPPO pamphlet at meetings and conferences, advertise NAPPO website etc.

7.     Seek assistance of communication experts to develop professional promotional materials.

Strategic Goal No. 4:  Building Partnerships
 

1.   Develop closer working relationships with other stakeholders to seek their active participation in and support for NAPPO activities, including:

  • Forestry;

  • Environment;

  • Agriculture;

  • Border Services;

  • International Trade;

  • Foreign Affairs;

  • The North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation.

  • Non-government organizations.

2.   Work closely with the IPPC and other Regional Plant Protection Organizations to exchange information on current phytosanitary issues and approaches.

3.   Collaborate with the NAPPO Industry Advisory Group to ensure the continued practical input to NAPPO activities from industry representatives.

4.   Seek broader industry participation and additional Sustaining Associate Members from industry.

5.   Build industry support for the NAPPO Strategic and Business Plans (Industry Advisory Group)

Strategic Goal No. 5:   Sound Management Practices
 

1.    Clarify roles and responsibilities of NAPPO employees and all other participants in NAPPO activities, e.g. Working Group, Panels, Industry Advisory Group, industry participants in NAPPO panels, etc.

2.     Communicate roles and responsibilities to all participants in NAPPO activities e.g. orientation package.

3.     Develop a manual of procedures to document operational aspects of the NAPPO Secretariat.

4.     Conduct regular monitoring of Panel progress and take corrective actions as and when required.

5.     Conduct an annual review of the need to discontinue or create new NAPPO Panels.

6.     Update the NAPPO Cooperative Agreement and Constitution and Bylaws on a regular basis.

Strategic Goal No. 6:   Dispute Resolution Mechanism
 

1.      Apply the NAPPO Dispute Resolution Mechanism, as appropriate and in a timely manner.

2.      Review and adjust the mechanism as appropriate

3.      Raise awareness of the mechanism

Strategic Goal No. 7:    Establish a Stable Funding Base
 

1.     Determine resource requirements for the next five years

2.     Prepare communications strategy to obtain support from government decision-makers; and increased private sector support.

3.     Amend the NAPPO Cooperative Agreement.

ENDORSEMENT

This document was approved by the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) Executive Committee
on March 17, 2009.


Approved by:
 

Greg Stubbings

Executive Committee Member

Canada

Paul R. Eggert

Executive Committee Member

United States

Javier Trujillo Arriaga

Executive Committee Member

Mexico

For   Further Information regarding NAPPO current activities contact:  NAPPO Secretariat
3rd. Floor, 1431 Merivale Road, Ottawa, ON   K1A 0Y9 - Canada
Tel: (613) 221-5145 / Fax: (613) 228-2540 or by email at:
alba.campos@nappo.org
or contact the Executive Committee member in Canada, the United States or Mexico

Back to menu Last updated: October 1, 2009