NAPPO Conference Call Report Expert Group: Phytosanitary Alert System Location: Conference call Date: 22 August 2018 Chairperson Ignacio Baez (APHIS) Participants: Heather Cumming (CFIA) Amanda Kaye (USDA) Ana Lilia Montealegre (SENASICA) Steve Cote (CFIA) Stephanie Bloem (NAPPO) Alonso Suazo (NAPPO) Nedelka Marin-Martinez (NAPPO) Summary Agenda item 2: Discuss processes of emerging pest alert. Background: NAPPO PAS was approached to develop a small article for the NAPPO newsletter to explain the process PAS EG uses to post “emerging pest alerts”. A draft was presented to the expert group members. Comments were received from Mexico EG member pointing out that each country may have different ways to assess pest information that may result in an Emerging Pest Alert (EPA). This is an opportunity to discuss the processes for each country and document it for the newsletter article and PAS guidelines. Consensus: • Each country summarized their process to develop EPA. This information will be included in the newsletter article. • NAPPO PAS guidelines will be updated to include the process that each country has to consider for the pest information to post on the PAS. • Chair also proposed the group to review the PAS EPA posting guidelines to ensure that basic criteria are included to help EG determine what pest information is appropriate to post on PAS to be consistent among the three countries. While all members agreed, Canada AMC member suggested to still have some flexibility beyond the basic criteria to post EPA. • All agreed that future draft alerts will be shared to all EG members for review and feedback, before posting on PAS. Agenda item 3: Discuss processes that each country has in the development of official pest reports (OPR) Background: The Chair proposed also including the OPR process for each country in the newsletter article. While relevant for the group to understand, it is also an opportunity to explain to the general NAPPO region public how OPRs are developed. a) Discuss and document process b) Confirm that members are aware of necessity for linking PAS OPR to IPPC portal c) Confirm the current points of contact for OPRs and EPA if different from EG contact. Consensus: • Each country summarized their process to develop OPR. • All agree to include the OPR process per country in the Newsletter article. • Process details of the OPR development for each country will be included in the NAPPO PAS guidelines. • All members confirmed they are linking the OPR in PAS to the IPPC portal. • Points of contact are: OPR Point of Contact Linking in IPPC portal Canada Rajesh Ramarathnam, Rajesh Ramarathnam Heather Cumming (CFIA/ACIA) U.S.A. Ignacio Baez, Amanda Kaye Ignacio Baez, Amanda Kaye (USDA APHIS PPQ) Mexico Ana Lilia Montealegre Ana Lilia Montealegre (SAGARPA SENASICA) Agenda item 4: Dis cuss process to communicate to NAPPO country member(s) special cases of pest information Background: a) Scenario 1: New pest reports specific to NAPPO country member. U.S. EG members have found information in the literature of new pest reports in a NAPPO country. What has been the experience with the other EG members? How should this information be shared? b) Scenario 2: New pest information of potential interest to a NAPPO country member. When evaluating pest information, there are times U.S. EG members come across information that may be relevant to one NAPPO country but not necessarily relevant to the region or appropriate for PAS. The pest is not known to be in the NAPPO region. For example, a new pest reported on banana may be relevant for Mexico, but not the other NAPPO countries. Are EG members interested in sharing this type of information? How should this information be shared? It is important to make clear, that ISPM 8 provides guidance to describe the contents of a pest record and the guidance for evaluating the reliability of a pest record to determine the status of a pest in an area but independent of the these two scenarios, this does not exclude the sovereignty or prerogative of an NPPO to do or not an official pest record as a result of this type of information. Consensus: For Scenario 1: • Canada and Mexico also find this type of information. • Countries agreed that information should be sent to the NAPPO Secretariat, and the Secretariat can then forward to the appropriate points of contact. • Process to share this type of information will be included in the NAPPO PAS guidelines. For Scenario 2: • Countries agree to share this type of information. • Process to share information based on both scenarios will be 2 included in the NAPPO PAS guidelines. • NAPPO Secretariat suggested the use of the Secretariat intranet as way to share information. We were not able to discuss this idea further due to time limitations. Agenda item 5: Update on NAPPO PAS upgrade Background: In June 2017, U.S. Department of Agriculture transferred the management and ownership of the PAS to NAPPO Secretariat for full control. In late 2017, the Secretariat initiated conversation with NC State University to establish a contract to conduct the upgrades and maintenance of the system, resulting in a signed cooperative agreement in July 2018. The upgrades include: updating the website and content to make it more visually similar to the NAPPO website, and connecting the PAS system to the IPPC portal, so that when Official Pest Reports are posted in in the NAPPO Site, the reports are automatically posted in the IPPC portal. There is an opportunity for the EG to evaluate the current system and provide input to the Secretariat to update and improve the PAS. Consensus: • Agreed to review the site and provide feedback to Chair. Agenda item 6: Preparation of EG activity report for upcoming annual meeting Consensus: • Chair is preparing the annual report presentation for the upcoming annual NAPPO meeting. • Presentation will be sent to all EG members for review and feedback. • Chair will present final report at the NAPPO meeting. Next Steps Responsible Person Action Date Ignacio Baez Prepare the annual report presentation for the upcoming 19 September annual meeting, and share with EG for review. 2018 All Review the NAPPO PAS site and provide suggestions for 30 September improvement to Chair. 2018 Ignacio Baez Incorporate emerging pest alerts (EPA) and official pest 5 October 2018 reports (OPR) processes from each country in the newsletter article, and share with EG for review. Ignacio Baez Based on agenda item 4, share with EG proposed process 5 October 2018 to communicate NAPPO country member(s) special cases of pest information. Ignacio Baez Incorporate into PAS guidelines the process of each country 5 October 2018 for developing EAP and OPR, and share with EG for review. Ignacio Baez Share with EG criteria to develop EPA for the NAPPO PAS. 5 October 2018 Location: Teleconference Date: To be determined. Proposed Agenda Items 3