phytosanitary

Phytosanitary refers to the set of measures and practices aimed at protecting plant health by preventing the introduction and spread of pests, diseases, and other harmful organisms affecting plants, plant products, or soil. It is most closely associated with international trade and national agricultural policy, where governments implement safeguards to minimize risk while allowing safe movement of plant material.

Internationally, phytosanitary policy is organized around the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The IPPC provides a global framework for phytosanitary measures and develops International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) that guide risk assessment, inspection, treatment, and certification. A central instrument in practice is the phytosanitary certificate, which accompanies regulated consignments to attest that they meet the importing country’s requirements and pose no unacceptable pest risk.

Core elements of phytosanitary systems include pest risk analysis, border inspections, quarantine, sanitation, and treatment. Measures may involve restrictions on certain articles, requirements for pest-free or treated material, and specified handling during transport. Treatments can include heat or cold treatments, fumigation, or other approved methods. Standards also address wood packaging and other common vectors through ISPMs such as ISPM 15. The overarching goal is to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests while enabling safe international trade and protecting agriculture, ecosystems, and biodiversity.