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INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION
NEW REVISED TEXT
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 1999

Reprinted   2000, 2001
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© FAO 1999

CONTENTS
PREAMBLE	1
ARTICLE I
Purpose and responsibility	2
ARTICLE II
Use of terms	2
ARTICLE III
Relationship with other international agreements	4
ARTICLE IV
General provisions relating to the organizational
arrangements for national plant protection	5
ARTICLE V
Phytosanitary certification	6
ARTICLE VI
Regulated pests	7
ARTICLE VII
Requirements in relation to imports	8
ARTICLE VIII
International cooperation	11
ARTICLE IX
Regional plant protection organizations	12
ARTICLE X
Standards	13

ARTICLE XI
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures	13

ARTICLE XII
Secretariat	15
ARTICLE XIII
Settlement of disputes	16
ARTICLE XIV
Substitution of prior agreements	17
ARTICLE XV
Territorial application	18
ARTICLE XVI
Supplementary agreements	18
ARTICLE XVII
Ratification and adherence	19
ARTICLE XVIII
Non-contracting parties	20
ARTICLE XIX
Languages	20
ARTICLE XX
Technical assistance	21
ARTICLE XXI
Amendment	21
ARTICLE XXII
Entry into force	22
ARTICLE XXIII
Denunciation	23

Annexes
Model Phytosanitary Certificates	24

NEW REVISED TEXT
INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION
PREAMBLE
The contracting parties,
•	recognizing the necessity for international cooperation in controlling pests of plants and plant products and in preventing their international spread, and especially their introduction into endangered areas;
•	recognizing that phytosanitary measures should be technically justified, transparent and should not be applied in such a way as to constitute either a means of arbitrary or unjustified discrimination or a disguised restriction, particularly on international trade;
•	desiring to ensure close coordination of measures directed to these ends;
•	desiring to provide a framework for the development and application of harmonized phytosanitary measures and the elaboration of international standards to that effect;
•	faking into account internationally approved principles governing the protection of plant, human and animal health, and the environment; and
•	noting the agreements concluded as a result of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, including the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures;
have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I
Purpose and responsibility
1.	With the purpose of securing common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures for their control, the contracting parties undertake to adopt the legislative, technical and administrative measures specified in this Convention and in supplementary agreements pursuant to Article XVI.
2.	Each   contracting   party   shall   assume   responsibility,   without prejudice to obligations assumed under other international agreements, for the fulfilment within its territories of all  requirements under this Convention.
3.	The   division   of  responsibilities   for   the   fulfilment   of  the requirements of this Convention between member  organizations of FAO and   their   member   states   that   are   contracting   parties   shall   be   in accordance with their respective competencies.
4.	Where appropriate, the provisions of this Convention may be deemed by contracting parties to extend, in addition to plants and plant products, to storage places, packaging, conveyances, containers, soil and any   other   organism,   object   or   material   capable   of  harbouring   or spreading plant pests, particularly where international transportation is
involved.
ARTICLE II
Use of terms
1.	For the purpose of this Convention, the following terms shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them:

"Area of low pest prevalence" - an area, whether all of a country, part of a country, or all or parts of several countries, as identified by the competent authorities, in which a specific pest occurs at low levels and which is subject to effective surveillance, control or eradication
measures;
"Commission" - the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures established under Article XI;
"Endangered area" - an area where ecological factors favour the establishment of a pest whose presence in the area will result in economically important loss;
"Establishment" - perpetuation, for the foreseeable future, of a pest within an area after entry;
"Harmonized phytosanitary measures" - phytosanitary measures established by contracting parties based on international standards;
"International standards" - international standards established in accordance with Article X, paragraphs 1 and 2;
"Introduction" - the entry of a pest resulting in its establishment;
"Pest" any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products;
"Pest risk analysis" - the process of evaluating biological or other scientific and economic evidence to determine whether a pest should be regulated and the strength of any phytosanitary measures to be taken against it;
"Phytosanitary measure" - any legislation, regulation or official procedure having the purpose to prevent the introduction and/or spread of pests;
"Plant products" - unmanufactured material of plant origin (including gram) and those manufactured products that, by their nature or that of their processing, may create a risk for the introduction and spread of
"Plants"   -   living   plants   and   parts   thereof,    including   seeds   and germplasm;

"Quarantine pest" - a pest of potential economic importance to the area endangered thereby and not yet present there, or present hut not widely distributed and being officially controlled;
"Regional standards" standards established by a regional plant protection organization for the guidance of the members of that organization;
"Regulated article" - any plant, plant product, storage place, packaging, conveyance, container, soil and any other organism, object or material capable of harbouring or spreading pests, deemed to require phytosanitary measures, particularly where international transportation is involved;
"Regulated non-quarantine pest" - a non-quarantine pest whose presence in plants for planting affects the intended use of those plants with an economically unacceptable impact and which is therefore regulated within the territory of the importing contracting party;
"Regulated pest" - a quarantine pest or a regulated non-quarantine pest;
"Secretary" - Secretary of the Commission appointed pursuant to Article XII;
"Technically justified" -justified on the basis of conclusions reached by-using an appropriate pest risk analysis or. where applicable, another comparable examination and evaluation of available scientific information.
2.	The definitions set forth in this Article, being limited to the
application of this Convention, shall not be deemed to affect definitions established under domestic laws or regulations of contracting parties.
ARTICLE III
Relationship with other international agreements
Nothing in this Convention shall affect the rights and obligations of the contracting parties under relevant international agreements.

ARTICLE IV
General provisions relating to the organizational arrangements for national plant protection
1.	Each contracting party shall make provision, to the best of its
ability,  for an official national plant protection organization with the
main responsibilities set out in this Article.
2.	The   responsibilities   of an   official   national   plant   protection
organization shall include the following:
(a)	the issuance of certificates relating to the phytosanitary
regulations    of    the    importing    contracting    party    for
consignments of plants, plant products and other regulated
articles;
(b)	the surveillance of growing plants,  including both areas
under cultivation (inter alia fields, plantations, nurseries, gardens, greenhouses and laboratories) and wild flora, and of plants and plant products in storage or in transportation, particularly with the object of reporting the occurrence, outbreak and spread of pests, and of controlling those pests, including the reporting referred to under Article VIII paragraph l(a);
(c)	the inspection of consignments of plants and plant products
moving in international traffic and, where appropriate, the inspection of other regulated articles, particularly with the object of preventing the introduction and/or spread of
(d) the disinfestation or disinfection of consignments of plants, plant products and other regulated articles moving in international traffic, to meet phytosanitary requirements;
(c) the protection of endangered areas and the designation, maintenance and surveillance of pest free areas and areas of low pest prevalence;
(f)   the conduct of pest risk analyses;

(g) to ensure through appropriate procedures that the phytosanitary security of consignments after certification regarding composition, substitution and reinfestation is maintained prior to export; and
(h) training and development of staff.
3.	Each contracting party shall make provision, to the best of its
ability, for the following:
(a)	the distribution of information within the territory of the
contracting party regarding regulated pests and the means of
their prevention and control;
(b)	research and investigation in the field of plant protection;
(c)	the issuance of phytosanitary regulations; and
(d)	the performance of such other functions as may be required
for the implementation of this Convention.
4.	Each contracting party shall submit a description of its official
national    plant    protection    organization    and    of   changes    in    such
organization   to  the   Secretary.   A   contracting   party   shall   provide   a
description of its organizational  arrangements  for plant protection to
another contracting party, upon request.
ARTICLE V
Phytosanitary certification
1.	Each     contracting     party     shall     make     arrangements     for
phytosanitary certification, with the objective of ensuring that exported
plants, plant products and other regulated articles and  consignments
thereof are  in  conformity with  the  certifying  statement  to  be  made
pursuant to paragraph 2(h) of this Article.
2.	Each contracting party shall make arrangements for the issuance
of phytosanitary certificates in conformity with the following provisions:
1.	
(a)	Inspection and other related activities leading to issuance
of phytosanitary certltlcates shall he carried out only by or
under the authority of the official national plant protection
organization.    The   issuance  of phytosanitary  certificates
shall be carried out by public officers who are technically
qualified and duly authorized by the official national plant
protection organization to act on its behalf and under its
control with such knowledge and information available to
those officers that the authorities of importing contracting
parties   may   accept   the   phytosanitary   certificates   with
confidence as dependable documents.
(b)	Phytosanitary certificates,  or their electronic  equivalent
where   accepted    by    the    importing    contracting   party
concerned, shall be as worded in the models set out in the
Annex to this Convention. These certificates should be
completed    and    issued    taking    into    account    relevant
international standards.
(c)	Uncertified   alterations   or   erasures   shall   invalidate   the
certificates.
3.     Each contracting party undertakes not to require consignments of plants or plant products or other regulated articles imported into its territories to be accompanied by phytosanitary certificates inconsistent with the models set out in the Annex to this Convention. Any requirements for additional declarations shall be limited to those technically justified.
ARTICLE VI
Regulated pests
1.	Contracting   parlies   may   require   phytosanitary   measures   for
quarantine pests and regulated non-quarantine pests, provided that such measures are:

(a)	no more stringent than measures applied to the same pests,
if present within the territory of the importing contracting
party; and
(b)	limited to what is neeessary to proteet plant health and or
safeguard the intended use and can be technically justified
by the contracting party concerned.
2.	Contracting parlies shall not require phytosanitary measures for
non-regulated pests.
ARTICLE VII
Requirements in relation to imports
1.	With the aim of preventing the introduction and/or spread of
regulated   pests   into   their   territories,   contracting   parties   shall   have
<_-	i	<_    i
sovereign authority to regulate, in accordance with applicable international agreements, the entry of plants and plant products and other regulated articles and, to this end, may:
a)	prescribe and adopt phytosanitary measures concerning the
importation of plants, plant products and other regulated
articles, including, for example, inspection, prohibition on
importation, and treatment;
b)	refuse entry or detain, or require treatment, destruction or
removal   from  the  territory  of the  contracting  party,  of
plants,   plant   products   and   other   regulated   articles   or
consignments   thereof   that   do   not   comply   with    the
phytosanitary   measures   prescribed   or   adopted    under
subparagraph (a);
e) prohibit or restrict the movement of regulated pests into their territories;
d) prohibit or restrict the movement of biological control agents and other organisms of phytosanitary concern claimed to be beneficial into their territories.

In order to minimize interference with international trade, each contracting party, in exercising its authority under paragraph 1 of this Article, undertakes to act in conformity with the following:
(a)	Contracting  parties  shall   not,   under  their  phytosanitary
legislation,    take   any    of   the    measures    specified    in
paragraph 1 of this Article unless such measures are made
necessary    by    phytosanitary    considerations    and    are
technically justified.
(b)	Contracting parties shall, immediately upon their adoption,
publish     and     transmit     phytosanitary     requirements,
restrictions and prohibitions to any contracting party or
parties that they believe may be directly affected by such
measures.
(c)	Contracting parties shall, on request, make available to
any   contracting   party   the   rationale   for   phytosanitary
requirements, restrictions and prohibitions.
(d)	If a contracting party requires consignments of particular
plants or plant products to be imported only through specified points of entry, such points shall be so selected as not to unnecessarily impede international trade. The contracting party shall publish a list of such points of entry and communicate it to the Secretary, any regional plant protection organization of which the contracting party is a member, all contracting parties which the contracting party believes to be directly affected, and other contracting parties upon request. Such restrictions on points of entry shall not be made unless the plants, plant products or other regulated articles concerned are required to be accompanied by phytosanitary certificates or to be submitted to inspection or treatment.
(e)  Any inspection or other phytosanitary procedure required by the plant protection organization of a contracting party for a consignment of plants, plant products or other regulated articles offered for importation, shall take place

as    promptly   as    possible    with    due    regard    to    their perishability.
(f)	Importing contracting parlies shall, as soon as possible,
inform   the   exporting   contracting   party   concerned   or,
where   appropriate,   the   re-exporting   contracting   party
concerned, of significant instances of non-compliance with
phytosanitary   certification.   The   exporting   contracting
party or, where appropriate, the re-exporting contracting
party concerned, should investigate and, on request, report
the result of its investigation to the importing contracting
party concerned.
(g)	Contracting   parties   shall    institute   only   phytosamtary
measures that are technically justified, consistent with the
pest    risk    involved   and   represent   the    least    restrictive
measures     available,     and     result     in     the     minimum
impediment   to   the   international   movement   of people,
commodities and conveyances.
(h) Contracting parties shall, as conditions change, and as new facts become available, ensure that phytosanitary measures are promptly modified or removed if found to be unnecessary.
(i) Contracting parties shall, to the best of their ability, establish and update lists of regulated pests, using scientific names, and make such lists available to the Secretary, to regional plant protection organizations of which they are members and, on request, to other contracting parties.
(j) Contracting parties shall, to the best of their ability, conduct surveillance for pests and develop and maintain adequate information on pest status in order to support categorization of pests, and for the development of appropriate phytosanitary measures. This information shall be made available to contracting parties, on request.

3.        A contracting party may apply measures specified in this Article to pests which may not be capable of establishment in its territories but, if they gained entry, cause economic damage. Measures taken against these pests must be technically justified.
4.	Contracting parties may apply measures specified in this Article
to  consignments  in  transit  through their territories only  where  such
measures   are   technically   justified   and   necessary   to   prevent   the
introduction and/or spread of pests.
5.	Nothing   in   this   Article   shall   prevent   importing  contracting
parties from making special provision, subject to adequate safeguards,
for the importation, for the purpose of scientific research, education, or
other specific  use, of plants and plant products and other regulated
articles, and of plant pests.
6.	Nothing in this Article shall prevent any contracting party from
taking appropriate emergency action on the detection of a pest posing a
potential threat to its territories or the report of such a detection. Any
such action shall be evaluated as soon as possible to ensure that its
continuance is justified. The action taken shall be immediately reported
to contracting parties concerned, the Secretary, and any regional plant
protection organization of which the contracting party is a member.
ARTICLE VIII
International cooperation
1.	The contracting parties shall cooperate with one another to the
fullest practicable extent in achieving the aims of this Convention, and shall in particular:
(a)  cooperate in the exchange of information on plant pests, particularly the reporting of the occurrence, outbreak or spread of pests that may be of immediate or potential danger, in accordance with such procedures as may be established by the Commission;

(b)	participate,   in  so   far  as   is  practicable,   in  any  special
campaigns    for   combatting   pests   that   may   seriously
threaten crop production and need international action to
meet the emergencies; and
(c)	cooperate, to the extent practicable, in providing technical
and biological information necessary for pest risk analysis.
2.	Each contracting party shall designate a contact point for the
exchange of information connected with the implementation of this Convention.
ARTICLE IX
Regional plant protection organizations
1.	The contracting parties undertake to cooperate with one another
in establishing regional  plant protection organizations  in appropriate
areas.
2.	The regional plant protection organizations shall function as the
coordinating bodies in the areas covered, shall participate in various
activities  to  achieve   the   objectives  of this  Convention   and,   where
appropriate, shall gather and disseminate information.
3.	The regional plant protection organizations shall cooperate with
the Secretary in achieving the objectives of the Convention and, where
appropriate,   cooperate   with   the   Secretary   and   the   Commission   in
developing international standards.
4.	The Secretary will convene regular Technical Consultations of
representatives of regional plant protection organizations to:

(a)	promote the development and use of relevant international
standards for phytosanitary measures; and
(b)	encourage     inter-regional     cooperation     in     promoting
harmonized phytosanitary measures for controlling pests
and in preventing their spread and/or introduction.
(a)	
ARTICLE X
Standards
1.	The contracting parties agree to cooperate in the development of
international standards in accordance with the procedures adopted by the
Commission.
2.	International standards shall be adopted by the Commission.
3.	Regional standards should be consistent with the principles of
this Convention; such standards may be deposited with the Commission
for    consideration    as    candidates    for    international    standards    for
phytosanitary measures if more broadly applicable.
4.	Contracting parties  should take  into account,  as  appropriate,
international   standards   when   undertaking   activities   related   to   this
Convention.
ARTICLE XI
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures

1.	 Contracting   parlies   agree   to   establish   the   Commission   on Phytosamtary   Measures   within   the   framework   of   the   Food   and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
2.	The functions of the Commission shall be to promote the lull
implementation of the objectives of the Convention and, in particular, to:

(a)	review the state of plant protection in the world and the
need for action to control the international spread of pests
and their introduction into endangered areas;
(b)	establish and keep under review the necessary institutional
arrangements  and  procedures  for the  development and
adoption    of   international    standards,    and    to    adopt
international standards;
(a)	
(c)	establish   rules   and   procedures    lor   the   resolution   of
disputes in accordance with Article XIII;
(d)	establish  such  subsidiary  bodies of the Commission  as
may be necessary  for the proper implementation  of its
functions;
(c)   adopt   guidelines  regarding   the  recognition   of regional plant protection organizations;
(f)	establish   cooperation   with   other   relevant   international
organizations on matters covered by this Convention;
(g)	adopt such recommendations for the implementation of the
Convention as necessary; and
(h)   perform such other functions as may be necessary to the fulfilment of the objectives of this Convention.
3.	Membership in the Commission shall be open to all contracting
parties.
4.	Each contracting party may be represented at sessions of the
Commission  by  a  single  delegate  who  may  be  accompanied  by  an
alternate, and by experts and advisers. Alternates, experts and advisers
may take part in the proceedings of the Commission but may not vote,
except in the case of an alternate who is duly authorized to substitute for
the delegate.
5.	The   contracting   parties   shall   make   every   effort   to   reach
agreement on all matters by consensus. If all efforts to reach consensus
have been exhausted and no agreement is reached, the decision shall, as a
last resort, be taken by a two-thirds majority of the contracting parties
present and voting.
6.	A member organization of FAO that is a contracting party and
the member states of that member organization  that are contracting
parties shall exercise their membership rights and fulfil their membership
obligations in accordance, mutatis mutandis, with the Constitution and
General Rules of FAO.
3.	
7.       The Commission may adopt and amend, as required, its own Rules of Procedure, which shall not he inconsistent with this Convention or with the Constitution of FAO.
8.	The Chairperson of the Commission shall convene an annual
regular session of the Commission.
9.	Special sessions of the Commission shall he convened by the
Chairperson of the Commission at the request of at least one-third of its
members.
10.	The Commission shall elect its Chairperson and no more than
two Vice-Chairpersons, each of whom shall serve for a term of two
years.
ARTICLE XII
Secretariat
1.	The  Secretary of the Commission shall  be appointed by the
Director-General of FAO.
2.	The Secretary shall be assisted by such secretariat staff as may
be required.
3.	The Secretary shall be responsible for implementing the policies
and activities of the Commission and carrying out such other functions as
may be assigned to the Secretary by this Convention and shall report
thereon to the Commission.
4.	The Secretary shall disseminate:
(a) international standards to all contracting parties within sixty days of adoption;

(b)   to all contracting parties, lists of points of entry    under Article VII paragraph 2(d) communicated by contracting
parties;

(c)	lists   of  regulated   pests   whose   entry   is   prohibited   or
referred to in Article VII paragraph 2(i) to all contracting
parties and regional plant protection organizations;
(d)	information     received     from     contracting     parties     on
phytosanitary requirements, restrictions and prohibitions
referred to in Article VII paragraph 2(b), and descriptions
of official national plant protection organizations referred
to in Article IV paragraph 4.

5.	The Secretary shall provide translations in the official languages
of   FAO   of  documentation   for   meetings   of   the   Commission   and
international standards.
6.	The  Secretary  shall  cooperate  with  regional  plant  protection
organizations in achieving the aims of the Convention.
ARTICLE XIII
Settlement of disputes
1.	If there is any dispute regarding the interpretation or application
of this Convention, or if a contracting party considers that any action by
another contracting party is in conflict with the obligations of the latter
under Articles V and VII of this Convention, especially regarding the
basis of prohibiting or restricting the imports of plants, plant products or
other regulated articles coming from its territories, the contracting parties
concerned shall consult among themselves as soon as possible with a
view to resolving the dispute.
2.	If the dispute cannot be resolved by the means referred to in
paragraph 1, the contracting party or parties concerned may request the
Director-General of FAO to appoint a committee of experts to consider
the question in dispute, in accordance with rules and procedures that may
be established by the Commission.
1.	
3.      This Committee shall include representatives designated by each contracting party concerned. The Committee shall consider the question in dispute, taking into account all documents and other forms of evidence submitted by the contracting parties concerned. The Committee shall prepare a report on the technical aspects of the dispute for the purpose of seeking its resolution. The preparation of the report and its approval shall be according to rules and procedures established by the Commission, and it shall be transmitted by the Director-General to the contracting parties concerned. The report may also be submitted, upon its request, to the competent body of the international organization responsible for resolving trade disputes.
4.	The contracting parties agree that the recommendations of such a
committee, while not binding in character, will become the basis for
renewed consideration by the contracting parties concerned of the matter
out of which the disagreement arose.
5.	The contracting parties concerned shall share the expenses of the
experts.
6.	The provisions of this Article shall be complementary to and not
in derogation of the dispute settlement procedures provided for in other
international agreements dealing with trade matters.
ARTICLE XIV
Substitution of prior agreements
This Convention shall terminate and replace, between contracting parties, the International Convention respecting measures to be taken against the Phylloxera vastattrix of 3 November 1881, the
additional Convention signed at Berne on 15 April 1889 and the International Convention for the Protection of Plants signed at Rome on 16 April 1929.

ARTICLE XV
Territorial application
1.	Any   contracting   party   may   at   the   time   of  ratification   or
adherence or at any time thereafter communicate to the Director-General
of FAO a declaration that this Convention shall extend to all or any of
the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible,
and this Convention shall he applicable to all territories specified in the
declaration as from the thirtieth day after the receipt of the declaration by
the Director-General.
2.	Any contracting party which has communicated to the Director-
General of FAO a declaration in accordance with paragraph  1  of this
Article may at any time communicate a further declaration modifying the
scope of any   former declaration  or terminating  the application  of the
provisions of the present Convention in respect of any territory. Such
modification or termination shall take effect as from the thirtieth day
after the receipt of the declaration by the Director-General.
3.	The Director-General of FAO shall inform all contracting parties
of any declaration received under this Article.
ARTICLE XVI
Supplementary agreements
1.	The contracting parties may, for the purpose of meeting special
problems of plant protection which need particular attention or action,
enter    into    supplementary    agreements.    Such    agreements    may    be
applicable to specific regions, to specific pests, to specific plants and
plant products,  to specific  methods of international  transportation of
plants and plant products, or otherwise supplement the provisions of this
Convention.
2.	Any such supplementary agreements shall come into force for
each contracting party concerned after acceptance in accordance with the
provisions of the supplementary agreements concerned.
1.	
3.     Supplementary agreements shall promote the intent of this Convention and shall conform to the principles and provisions of this Convention, as well as to the principles of transparency, non-discrimmation and the avoidance of disguised restrictions, particularly on international trade.
ARTICLE XVII
Ratification and adherence
1.	This Convention shall be open for signature by all states until 1
May   1952   and   shall   be   ratified   at   the   earliest   possible   date.   The
instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Director-General
of FAO. who shall give notice of the date of deposit to each of the
signatory states.
2.	As soon as this Convention has come into force in accordance
with Article XXII it shall be open for adherence by non-signatory states
and member organizations of FAO. Adherence shall be effected by the
deposit of an instrument of adherence with the Director-General of FAO,
who shall notify all contracting parties.
3.	When a member organization of FAO becomes a contracting
party to this Convention, the member organization shall, in accordance
with the provisions of Article 11 paragraph 7 of the FAO Constitution, as
appropriate, notify at  the time of its adherence such modifications or
clarifications to its declaration of competence submitted under Article II
paragraph 5 of the FAO Constitution as may be necessary in light of its
acceptance of this Convention. Any contracting party to this Convention
may, at any lime, request a  member organization of FAO that is a
contracting party to this Convention to provide information as to which,
as   between   the   member   organization   and   its   member   states,   is
responsible for the implementation of any particular matter covered by
this Convention. The member organization shall provide this information
within a reasonable time.

ARTICLE XVIII
Non-contracting parties
The contracting parlies shall encourage any slate or member organization of FAO, not a parly to this Convention, to accept this Convention, and shall encourage any non-concracting party to apply phytosanitary

measures consistent with the provisions of this Convention and any international standards adopted hereunder.
ARTICLE XIX
Languages
1.	The authentic languages of this Convention shall be all official
languages of FAO.
2.	Nothing   in   this  Convention   shall   be  construed  as   requiring
contracting parties to provide and to publish documents or to provide
copies of them other than in the language(s) of the contracting party,
except as stated in paragraph 3 below.
3.	The following documents shall be in at least one of the official
languages of FAO:
(a)	information provided according to Article IV paragraph 4;
(b)	cover notes giving bibliographical data on documents
transmitted according to Article VII paragraph 2(b);
(c)	information provided according to Article VII paragraph
2(b), (d), (i) and (j);
(d)	notes giving bibliographical data and a short summary  of
relevant documents on information provided according to
Article VIII paragraph I (a):
(e)	requests  for information  from contact points as well as
replies to such requests, but not including any attached
documents;

 (f)   any document made available by contracting parties for meetings of the Commission.
ARTICLE XX
Technical assistance
The contracting parties agree to promote the provision of technical assistance to contracting parties, especially those that are developing contracting parties, either bilaterally or through the appropriate international organizations, with the objective of facilitating the implementation of this Convention.
ARTICLE XXI
Amendment
1.	Any proposal by a contracting party for the amendment of this
Convention shall be communicated to the Director-General of FAO.
2.	Any proposed amendment of this Convention received by the
Director-General of FAO from a contracting party shall be presented to a
regular or special session of the Commission for approval and, if the
amendment involves important technical changes or imposes additional
obligations  on  the contracting parties,  it shall  be considered  by an
advisory   committee   of  specialists   convened   by   FAO   prior   to   the
Commission.
3.	Notice of any proposed amendment of this Convention, other
than amendments to the Annex, shall be transmitted to the contracting
parties by the Director-General of FAO not later than the time when the
agenda of the session of the Commission at which the matter is to be
considered is dispatched.
1.	
4.	Any such proposed amendment of this Convention shall require
the approval of the Commission and shall come into force as from the
thirtieth day after acceptance by two-thirds of the contracting parties. For
the  purpose  of this  Article,   an   instrument  deposited   by  a   member
organization of FAO shall not be counted as additional to those deposited
by member states of such an organization.
5.	Amendments involving new obligations for contracting parties,
however, shall come into force in respect of each contracting party only
on acceptance by it and as from the thirtieth day after such acceptance.
The instruments of acceptance of amendments involving new obligations
shall be deposited with the Director-General of FAO, who shall inform
all contracting parlies of the receipt of acceptance and the entry into
force of amendments.
6.	Proposals     for    amendments    to     the    model     phytosanitary
certificates set out in the Annex to this Convention shall be sent to the
Secretary and  shall  be  considered   for approval  by  the  Commission.
Approved amendments to the model phytosanitary certificates set out in
the Annex to this Convention shall become effective ninety days after
their notification to the contracting parties bv the Secretary.
7.	For   a   period   of   not   more   than   twelve   months   from   an
amendment to the model phytosanitary certificates set out in the Annex
to  this  Convention  becoming  effective,  the  previous  version  of the
phytosanitary certificates shall also be legally valid for the purpose of
this Convention.
ARTICLE XXII
Entry into force
As soon as this Convention has been ratified by three signatory states it shall come into force among them. It shall come into force for each state or member organization of FAO ratifying or adhering thereafter from the date of deposit of its instrument of ratification or adherence.

ARTICLE XXIII
Denunciation
1.	Any   contracting   party   may   at   any   time   give   notice   of
denunciation   of  this   Convention   by   notification   addressed   to   the
Director-General of FAO. The Director-General shall at once inform all
contracting parties.
2.	Denunciation shall take effect one year from the date of receipt
of the notification by the Director-General of FAO.
1.	
ANNEX
Model Phytosanitary Certificate
No.__________
Plant Protection Organization of 	__________________________________
TO: Plant Protection Organization(s) of __________________________________
I. Description of Consignment
Name and address of exporter: ________________________________________
Declared name and address of consignee: _______________________________
Number and description of packages:___________________________________
Distinguishing marks:________________________________________________
Place of origin: ______________________________________________________
Declared means of conveyance: ______________________________________
Declared point of entry:______________________________________________
Name of produce and quantity declared: _________________________________
Botanical name of plants: ____________________________________________
This is to certify that the plants, plant products or other regulated articles described herein have been inspected and/or tested according to appropriate official procedures and are considered to be free from the quarantine pests specified by the importing contracting party and to conform with the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing contracting party, including those for regulated non-quarantine pests.
They are deemed to be practically free from other pests.*
II. Additional Declaration
III. Disinfestation and/or Disinfection Treatment
Date	Treatment	Chemical (active ingredient)______________
Duration and temperature_____________________________________________
Concentration_______________________________________________________
Additional information_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
       Place of issue

 (Stamp of Organization)     Name of authorized officer
Date
 (Signature)

No financial liability with respect to this certificate shall attach to	
(name   of   Plant    Protection    Organization)   or   to   any   of   its   officers   or representatives.*
* Optional clause

Model Phytosanitary Certificate for Re-Export
No.___________
Plant Protection Organization
of	(contracting party of re-export)
TO: Plant Protection Organization(s)
of	(contracting party(ies) of import)
I. Description of Consignment
Name and address of exporter:	
Declared name and address of consignee:________________________________
Number and description of packages:___________________________________
Distinguishing marks:________________________________________________
Place of origin:______________________________________________________
Declared means of conveyance: ______________________________________
Declared point of entry:_______________________________________________
Name of produce and quantity declared:__________________________________
Botanical name of plants:	_____________________________________________

This is to certify that the plants, plant products or other regulated articles
described above ______________ were imported into (contracting party of re
export) _____________from_______________(contracting party of origin) covered
by Phytosanitary Certificate No.	, *original  certified true copy  of
which is attached to this certificate; that they are packed  repacked  in original  *new  containers, that based on the original phytosanitary certificate  and additional inspection , they are considered to conform with the current phytosanitary requirements of the importing contracting party, and that during
storage in	(contracting party of re-export), the consignment
has not been subjected to the risk of infestation or infection.
* Insert tick in appropriate  boxes
II. Additional Declaration

III. Disinfestation and/or Disinfection Treatment
Date	Treatment	Chemical (active ingredient) ______________
Duration and temperature____________________________________________
Concentration _____________________________________________________
Additional information ________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Place of issue__________________________
(Stamp of Organization)     Name of authorized officer_______________________
Date_______________     _________________
(Signature)
No financial liability with respect to this certificate shall attach to	
(name   of   Plant   Protection   Organization)   or   to   any   of   its   officers   or representatives.**
** Optional clause