IPPC diagnostic protocols are under development in the framework of ISPM 27: 2006 (Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests).The protocols are developed by a main author with support from a few experts who together make up Diagnostic Protocol (DP) drafting group. An expert group, the Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols, ensures that draft texts meet the requirements set for IPPC diagnostic protocols. At later stages of development, the draft IPPC protocols are submitted to members of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM, the governing body of the IPPC) for comments, and finally submitted for adoption by the Standards Committee (SC) on behalf of CPM.

As provided in ISPM 27:2006, IPPC diagnostic protocols provide procedures and methods for the official diagnosis of regulated pests that are relevant for international trade. They contain the minimum requirements for reliable diagnosis of the specified regulated pests, and provide flexibility to ensure that methods are appropriate for use in the full range of circumstances for which a diagnostic protocol may be used (e.g. from detection of a pest in a consignment, to surveillance, to routine diagnosis). Only methods of relevance for diagnostics are given in the protocol. The methods included in diagnostic protocols are selected on the basis of their sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. Information related to these factors is provided for each of these methods.

In order to achieve high quality IPPC diagnostic protocols, we are seeking expert input on the protocols listed below.

   Background