PLANT PROTECTION AGREEMENT FOR THE SOUTH EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC
REGION
Rome, 27 February 1956
The Contracting Governments, desiring to prevent, through concerted action,
the introduction into and spread within the South East Asia and Pacific Region
of destructive plant diseases and pests, have concluded the following
Agreement, which is a supplementary agreement under Article III of the
International Plant Protection Convention of 1951:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
In this Agreement and in the appendices hereto, the following terms shall have
the meaning hereby assigned to them, save as otherwise provided:
a) The South East Asia and Pacific Region, hereinafter called "The Region,"
comprises the territories in South East Asia east of the western border of
Pakistan and south of the Himalayas, the southern border of China and the
northern border of the Philippines, and all those territories in the Pacific
Ocean, the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean situated wholly or partly in
the area bounded by longitudes 100 deg East and 165 deg West and latitudes 15
deg North and 20 deg South, but excluding Australia;
b) "plant" or "plants" means all species of plants or parts thereof, whether
living or dead (including stems, branches, tubers, bulbs, corms, stocks,
budwood, cuttings, layers, slips, suckers, roots, leaves. flowers, fruits,
seeds and any other parts of plants);
c) "territory" means a State or Territory within the Region defined in (a)
above;
d) "the Organization" means the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations.
e) "the Committee" means the Plant Protection Committee for the South East
Asia and Pacific Region established in pursuance of Article II of this
Agreement.
Article II
REGIONAL COMMITTEE
1. The Contracting Governments hereby establish a regional committee, to be
known as the Plant Protection Committee for the South East Asia and Pacific
Region, whose functions shall include:
a) the determination of procedures and arrangements necessary for the
implementation of this Agreement and the making of recommendations to the
Contracting Governments accordingly;
b) the review of reports submitted by the Contracting Governments of progress
in the implementation of this Agreement;
c) the consideration of problems requiring co-operation on a regional basis
and of measures for mutual assistance.
2. Each Contracting Government shall be represented on the Committee and shall
have one vote. A majority of the Contracting Governments shall constitute a
quorum. Decisions of the Committee shall be taken by a majority of the votes
cast except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
3. The Committee shall meet whenever convened by the Director-General of the
Organization after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee. The
Director-General of the Organization shall convene the committee at least once
every two years or when so requested by at least one third of the Contracting
Governments.
4. The Committee shall elect from amongst the delegates a Chairman who shall
serve for a period of two years or until the first session of the Committee
held after the expiration of the period of two years. The Chairman shall be
eligible for re-election.
5. Expenses incurred by delegates of Contracting Governments in attending
sessions of the Committee shall be determined and paid by their respective
Governments. The Director-General of the Organization shall appoint and
provide the secretariat of the Committee from the staff of the Organization
who shall serve only during sessions of the Committee. The expenses of the
secretariat of the Committee shall be determined and paid by the Organization.
6. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure .
Article III
MEASURES REGARDING THE IMPORTATION OF PLANTS FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION
For the purpose of preventing the introduction into its territory or
territories of destructive diseases and pests, and in particular those listed
in Appendix A to this Agreement, each Contracting Government shall use its
best endeavours to apply with respect to the importation of any plants,
including their packings and containers, and any packings and containers of
plant origin, from anywhere outside the Region, such measures of prohibition,
certification, inspection, disinfection, disinfestation, quarantine,
destruction or other measures as may be recommended by the Committee, taking
into consideration the provisions of Articles V and VI of the International
Plant Protection Convention.
Appendix A to this Agreement may be modified by a decision of the
Committee.
Article IV
MEASURES TO EXCLUDE SOUTH AMERICAN LEAF BLIGHT OF HEAVA FROM THE REGION
In view of the importance of the Hevea rubber industry in the Region, and
of the danger of introducing the destructive South American leaf blight
(Dothidella ulei) of the Hevea rubber tree, the Contracting Governments shall
take the measures specified in Appendix B to this Agreement. Appendix B to
this agreement may be modified by a decision of the Committee taken
unanimously.
Article V
MEASURES REGARDING MOVEMENT OF PLANTS WITHIN THE REGION
For the purpose of preventing the spread within the Region of
destructive diseases and pests, each Contracting Government shall use its best
endeavours to apply, with respect to the importation into its territory of any
plants, including packings and containers, and any packings and containers of
plant origin, from another territory within the Region, such measures or
prohibition certification, inspection, disinfection, disinfestation,
quarantine, destruction or other measures as may be recommended by the
Committee, in addition to measures already adopted by each Contracting
Government.
Article VI
GENERAL EXEMPTION
This Agreement shall not apply to the following plants and plant
products except insofar as any such plants or plant products are explicitly
made subject to specific measures of control provided in this Agreement or
recommended by the Committee:
a) any plants imported for food or for analytical, medicinal or manufacturing
purposes;
b) all seeds of annual, or biennial field crops or vegetables, and all seeds
or cut flowers of annual, biennial or perennial ornamental plants which are
essentially herbaceous in character; and
c) any processed plant products.
Article VII
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
If there be any dispute regarding the interpretation or implementation
of this Agreement, or regarding action taken by any Contracting Government
under this Agreement, and such dispute cannot be resolved by the Committee,
the Government or Governments concerned may request the Director-General of
the Organization to appoint a committee of experts to consider such dispute.
Article VIII
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS NOT PARTIES TO THE
INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION
Nothing in the International Plant Protection Convention shall affect
the rights and obligations of Contracting Governments which are not parties to
the Convention.
Article IX
AMENDMENT
1. Any proposal by a Contracting Government for the amendment of this
Agreement, except Appendices A and B, shall be communicated, through the
Committee, to the Director-General of the Organization.
2. Any proposed amendment of this Agreement received by the Director-General
of the Organization shall be presented to a session of the Council of the
Organization for approval.
3. Notice of any proposed amendment of this Agreement shall be transmitted to
the Contracting Governments by the Director-General of the Organization not
later than the time when the agenda of the session of the Council at which the
matter is to be considered is despatched.
4. Any such amendment of this Agreement approved by the Council of the
Organization, shall come into force with respect to all Contracting
Governments as from the thirtieth day after acceptance by two-thirds of the
Contracting Governments. Amendments involving new obligations for Contracting
Governments, however, shall come into force in respect of each Contracting
Government only on acceptance by it and as from the thirtieth day after such
acceptance.
5. The instruments of acceptance of amendment shall be deposited with the
Director-General of the Organization. The effective date of acceptance shall
be the date of such deposit. The Director-General of the Organization shall
inform all Contracting Governments of the receipt of acceptances and the entry
into force of amendments.
Article X
SIGNATURE AND ADHERENCE
1. The Government of any State situated in the Region, or any Government which
is responsible for the international relations of a territory or territories
in the Region, may become a party to this Agreement, by either
a) signature; or
b) signature subject to ratification followed by such ratification; or
c) adherence.
Governments may not subject their signature, ratification or adherence to any
reservation.
2. This Agreement, the text of which was approved by the Council of the
Organization on 26 November 1955, shall be open for signature until 30 June
1956 or until the date of its entry into force in conformity with the
provisions of Article XI, paragraph I, whichever date is the later. The
Director-General of the Organization shall immediately inform all signatory
Governments of the signature of this Agreement by any other Government.
Ratification shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of ratification
with the Director-General of the Organization and shall become effective as
from the date of deposit.
3. This Agreement shall be open for adherence as from I July 1965 or from the
date of its entry into force in conformity with the provisions of Article XI,
paragraph I, whichever date is the later. Adherence shall be effected by the
deposit of an instrument of adherence with the Director-General of the
Organization and shall become effective as from the date of deposit.
4. The Director-General of the Organization shall immediately inform all
signatory and adhering Governments of the deposit of an instrument of
ratification or of adherence.
Article XI
ENTRY INTO FORCE
1. This Agreement shall come into force as soon as three Governments have
become parties to it either by signature, or by signature subject to
ratification followed by such ratification.
2. The Director-General of the Organization shall notify all signatory
Governments of the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
Article XII
DENUNCIATION AND TERMINATION
1. Any Contracting Government may, at any time after the expiration of one
year from the date on which it became a party to the Agreement, or from the
date on which the Agreement entered into force, whichever is the later,
denounce this Agreement by notification addressed to the Director-General of
the Organization who shall at once inform all signatory and adhering
Governments of the denunciation.
2. The denunciation shall take effect one year from the date of receipt of the
notification by the Director-General of the Organization.
3. This Agreement shall automatically be terminated should the parties to it
become fewer than three as the result of denunciations.
APPENDIX A
DESTRUCTIVE PESTS AND DISEASES NOT YET ESTABLISHED IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA AND
PACIFIC REGION
CACAO (Theobroma cacao)
Sahlbergella singularis Hagl.
Distantiella theobroma Dist.
Marasmius perniciosus Stahel
Monilia roreri Cif.
Trachysphaera fructigena
Tabor and Bunting
Virus
Virus diseases
CITRUS (Citrus spp.)
Anastrepha spp.,es. A. Iudens
(Loew.)
Deuterophoma tracheiphila
Petri
COCONUT (Cocos nucifera)
Pachymerus nucleorum (F).
Theraptus sp.
Aphelencoides cocophilus
(Cobb.) Goodey
COFFEE (Coffea spp.)
Antestia spp.
Leucoptera caffeella (Guer.)
Planococcus henyae
(Le Pelley)
Omphalia flavida Maubl and Rangel
Trachysphaera fructigena
Tabor and Bunting
COTTON (Gossypium spp.)
Anthonomous grandis Boh.
Anthonomus spp.
Diparopsis spp.
Phymatotrichum omnivorum
(Shear) Duggar
Virus
RUBBER (Hevea brasiliensis)
Dothidella ulei P. Henn
Pellicularia filamentosa (Pat.)
Rogers
Capsid
Capsid
Witches broom
Monilia pod rot
Trachysphaera pot rot
Swollen shoot
Mexican fruit fly
Mal Secco
(A Bruchid)
(A Coreid)
Red Ring disease
A Pentatomid bug
White coffee leat miner
A mealy bug
American leaf spot
Trachsyphaera fruit rot
Mexican cotton boll worm
Boll worms
Red boll worms
Texas root rot
Leaf curl
South American leaf blight
Target leaf spot
Known Distribution
West Africa, Belgian Congo
West Africa, Belgian Congo
West Indies, South America
South America
West Africa
Trinidad
Central America
Mediterranean region
New World
East Africa, Zanzibar
West Indies
Africa
New World, Africa
East and West Africa
Mexico, U.S.A., West Indies.
Central and South America
Africa
West Indies, Mexico, Central
America, Venezuela, U.S.A.
New World
Africa
Mexico, U.S.A.
Africa
Mexico, Central America,
Trinidad, South America
Central and South America
MAIZE (Zea mays)
Diatraea spp.
Puccinia polysora Underw.
OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis)
Pachymerus lacerdae (Chevr.)
Pachymerus nucleorum ( F. )
Pimelephila ghesquierii Tams.
Fusarium oxysporum
POTATO (Solanum tuberosum)
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say
Corynebacterium sepedonicum
RICE (Oryza sativa)
Diatraea spp.
Mormidea spp., esp. M. poecila
Dall
Virus
SUGAR CANE (Saccharum spp.)
Diatraea spp., esp. D. saccharalis (F.)
Dermolepida spp. Clemora smithi (Arr.)
SWEET POTATO (Ipomaea batatas)
Virus
Stalk borers
Polysora rust
(A Bruchid)
(A Bruchid)
(A Pyralid)
Fusarium Wilt
Colorado beetle
Bacterial ring rot
Stem or stalk borers
Pentatomid bugs
Rice dwarf
Stalk borers
White cane grubs
A white cane grub
Internal Cork
Southern U.S.A., Mexico
West Indies, Central America,
South America
Africa, Mexico, U.S.A.,
Central America, West Indies
South America
Nigeria
New World
West Africa
West Africa
New World, Europe
New World, Europe
Southern U.S.A., Mexico
West Indies, Central America,
South America
Central America, South
America
Japan
Southern U.S.A., Mexico,
West Indies, Central America.
South America
Queensland
Mauritius
U.S.A.
(This list is tentative and subject to revision by the Regional Committee.)
APPENDIX B
MEASURES TO EXCLUDE SOUTH AMERICAN LEAF BLIGHT OF HEVEA FROM THE REGION
1. In this Appendix:
a) "the American tropics" means those parts of the continent of America,
including adjacent islands, which are bounded by the Tropic of Capricorn
(latitude 23 1/2 deg S) and the Tropic of Cancer (latitude 23 1/2 deg N) and
the meridians of longitude 30 deg W and 120 deg W, and includes the part of
Mexico north of the Tropic of Cancer:
b) "Competent Authority" means the officer or Government Department or other
agency, which each Contracting Government recognizes as its authority, for the
purpose of this Appendix.
2. Each Contracting Government shall prohibit by law the importation into its
territory or territories of any plant or plants of the genus Hevea from
outside the Region, unless:
a) the importation is made for scientific purposes, and
b) written permission has been granted for each consignment of plant or plants
by the Competent Authority of the importing territory or territories and the
importation is in accordance with such special conditions as may be imposed by
the Competent Authority in granting such permission, and
c) the plant or plants have been disinfected and freed of any original soil in
the country of origin in a manner acceptable to the Competent Authority of the
importing territory and are free from pests and diseases, and each consignment
of plant or plants is accompanied or covered by a certificate to the effect
that the above requirements have been fulfilled, and signed by an appropriate
authority in the country of origin; and
d) each consignment is addressed to and is received by the Competent Authority
of the importing territory.
3. Each Contracting Government shall prohibit by law the importation into its
territory or territories of any plant or plants of the genus Hevea capable of
further growth or propagation (excluding seed) from the American tropics or
from any other country in which South American leaf blight (Dothidella ulei)
is present, unless, in addition to the requirements of paragraph 2 of this
Appendix, at a place approved by the Competent Authority of the importing
territory and situated outside the Region and outside the American tropics and
any other country in which South American leaf blight (Dothidella ulei) is
present such plant or plants have been grown for an adequate period at a plant
quarantine station for Hevea and each consignment of such plant or plants is
accompanied or covered by a certificate to the effect that the above
requirements have been fulfilled, and signed by the officer-in-charge of such
quarantine station.
4. Each Contracting Government shall prohibit by law the importation into its
territory or territories of any seed of any plant of the genus Hevea from the
American tropics or from any other country in which South American leaf blight
(Dothidella ulei) is present, unless, in addition to the requirements of
paragraph 2 of this Appendix, such seed, having been examined and again
disinfected at a place approved by the Competent Authority of the importing
territory and situated outside the Region and outside the American tropics and
any other country in which South American leaf blight (Dothidella ulei) is
present, has been repacked with new packing materials in new containers, and
unless each consignment of such seed is accompanied or covered by a
certificate to the effect that the above requirements have been fulfilled, and
signed by the officer-in-charge of these operations.
5. Each Contracting Government shall prohibit by law the importation into its
territory or territories of any plant or plants of the genus Hevea not capable
of further growth or propagation (such as fresh or dried herbarium specimens),
unless in addition to the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of
paragraph 2 of this Appendix, the Competent Authority of the importing country
is satisfied that such plant or plants are required for a legitimate special
purpose and that such plant or plants have been sterilized in the country of
origin by a method satisfactory to the said Competent Authority.
6. Each Contracting Government shall prohibit by law the importation into its
territory or territories of any plant or plants, other than the genus Hevea.
capable of further growth or propagation and originating in the American
tropics or in any other country in which South American leaf blight
(Dothidella ulei) is present unless consignment of such plant or plants by the
Competent Authority of the importing territory or territories and the
importation is in accordance with such special conditions as may be imposed by
the Competent Authority in granting such permission .
7. The Competent Authority of any territory or territories into which any
plant or plants of the genus Hevea are imported for further growth or
propagation shall ensure that such plant or plants are grown under control for
such period as will ensure that such plant or plants are free from all pests
and diseases before they are released.
In Witness Whereof the undersigned, duly authorized to that effect, have
signed this Agreement on behalf of their respective Governments on the dates
appearing opposite their signatures.
Done at Rome on the twenty-seventh day of February one thousand nine
hundred and fifty-six in two copies in the English, French and Spanish
languages, which languages shall be equally authoritative. The text of this
Agreement shall be authenticated by the Chairman of the Council of the
Organization and the Director-General of the Organization. After expiry of the
period during which the Agreement is open for signature, in accordance with
Article X, paragraph 2, one copy of the Agreement shall be deposited with the
Secretary-General of the United Nations and the other in the archives of the
Organization Additional copies of this text shall be certified by the
Director-General of the Organization and furnished to all Governments parties
to the Agreement, with the indication of the date on which it has come into
force.