NAPPO Annual Meeting

On October 22-25 NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin and NAEGA Volunteer Ricardo Calderon travelled to Tucson, Arizona to participate in the North American Plant Protection Organization’s annual convention (NAPPO). Among other items, the conference discussed progress on the IPPC Ephyto solution, new developments in the Trade Facilitation Agreement under the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the new practice related to how precision safeguarding can be utilized to improve the trading environment in North America.  Dealing with unnecessarily trade distortive and precautionary measures being promulgated by phytosanitary officials will also be enhanced by new guidance related to the use of Good Phytosanitary Practice Certification Programs for exporters and International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) number 5 and 11.  Both, for example, may be incorporated into our efforts to provide for much needed changes to U.S. phytosanitary certification for soybeans to China.  The information gathered at the meeting will also help inform our work to implement the USMCA.  A complete trip report and committee consideration will follow soon.