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Policy & Compliance
www.bifa.org
Urgent action needed to identify the real pest risk, says TT Talk
Calls for intrusive inspections of import and export freight to counter the risks of invasive pests in cargo and containers risk disrupting trade more severely than either COVID-19 or the Suez blockage. Steps being considered by governments concerned about pest control – under the auspices of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) – include a potential mandatory ‘Certificate of Cleanliness’ for all containers prior to loading on board a ship. The Cargo Integrity Group (CIG) partners are firmly opposed to the proposed sweeping mandatory requirements, while recognising that strenuous action is required across all stakeholders in the intermodal supply chain to bring about seismic change to the risks from invasive pest contamination. Compliance and enforcement costs of certifying the 220 million container movements a year would clearly be substantial. It is estimated that the additional costs to the industry of such measures could be some US$20 billion a year, and this burden would fall disproportionately on exporting countries. Moreover, the infrastructure necessary – for both governments and industry – to implement certification could gridlock global trade. Urgent action needed CIG has submitted a statement pinpointing the impractical consequences of the certification proposal. The statement also expresses serious concern over the infestation issue and the group’s desire to help configure proportionate and effective solutions to reduce the risks. It is recognised that more serious risks occur among certain types of goods, from identified regions The Cargo Integrity Group recognises the vital importance of focusing on the threat of invasive pests but believes proposals for sweeping and intrusive inspections, which could severely disrupt trade, should be far more targeted
and during specific times of year. As a result, the CIG recommendations revolve around a more sensible use of scarce resources in providing proper risk assessments in identifiable trades of prime concern, where mandatory measures can then be imposed as needed. The CIG accepts there are identified risk areas and cargoes which must be addressed. However, the fact that the vast majority of trade takes place
in environments where these risks do not arise, or are insignificant, must also be considered. The five partners in the CIG recognise the vital importance of focusing on the threat of invasive pests to natural resources across the world, and of the urgency in crafting risk reduction measures that address the situation. The CIG is committed to ensuring that international trade is conducted in a safe, secure and environmentally sustainable
Further information:
IPPC best practice guide on measures to minimize pest contamination: www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca7963en
IPPC guide to reducing pest contamination: www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca7670en National security – the invasion of pests: www.ttclub.com/news-and-resources/news/tt- talk/2020/tt-talk-national-security-the-invasion-of-pests/
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September 2021
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