On November 10, 2016 NAEGA CEO Gary Martin, who also serves as president of the IGTC, attended a meeting of the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) ePhyto Industry Advisory Group (IAG) in Brussels, Belgium. Gary, who at the request of IPPC Secretary Jingyuan Xia participates as a member of the IAG, attended to represent IGTC interests regarding electronic documentation in the global grain trade. A copy of the agenda and related material can be found here. The day-long meeting resulted in a consensus that the Pilot phase of E-Phyto project needs to be completed as soon as possible and a complete plan of operations including budget projections and identification of funding sources was imperative.  Several new details on how IPPC and the IAG plan to proceed were discussed.  For instance, survey work will continue and both national and generic service platforms will be subject of the two part pilot now planned for 2017.

Once a complete report of this meeting and subsequent plans is available the IGTC E-Docs Working Group will convene to consider and advise.