Posted on Fri, 14 Nov 2025, 14:04

Deadline on Fri, 16 Jan 2026, 23:59

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is soliciting:

• Nominations for qualified experts to participate in a Working Group (WG) to develop the IPPC guide: Audit in the phytosanitary context (2021-009); and
• Submissions of existing technical material such as policy papers, white papers, case studies, and other relevant resources for WG's consideration during the development of the guide.

You may submit nominations for experts, technical material, or both.

Deadline: Nominations for experts and submissions for materials are due 16 January 2026. An extension for submitting technical materials may be granted upon request.

Description of the guide

The purpose of this Guide is to provide National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) with practical guidance and promote best practices for carrying out systems audits and focused audits in their own territory, or in the territory of another NPPO. It is intended to support the harmonized implementation of ISPM 47 (Audit in the Phytosanitary Context) and other ISPMs that reference audits.

The Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC)-approved Outline for the Audit in the phytosanitary context (2021-009) is available here.

Nominations and submissions:

Please send nomination packages, and contributed resources such as white papers, case studies and technical materials via email to the IPPC Secretariat ([email protected])  with a copy to [email protected] no later than 16 January 2026.

Please include “Audit in phytosanitary context guide” in the subject line.

Considerations for submissions

1. Contributed resources may include case studies to demonstrate real-life examples relevant to the guide, policy or white papers, or other technical materials.
2. Nominated experts for WG may include qualified individuals from:
   • National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs), other government agencies, or NPPO approved entities
   • Regional Plant Protection Organizations (RPPOs)
   • Relevant scientific or regulatory institutions
   • Relevant industry representatives

Nominations for the WG will only be considered if they are accompanied by:

1. Summary of Expertise detailing relevant experience;

2. Up-to-date CV; and

3. Statement of Commitment (signed by candidate and candidate’s supervisor/employer)

Specific practical expertise requested for WG

The WG that develops the guide will be composed of experts with relevant technical and practical expertise in the subject matter and will have a wide geographical representation, including both developing and developed countries to ensure that the material developed is globally applicable and reflects best practices from all over the world. 

The following criteria will be used for selecting working group members:

• Practical expertise and knowledge related to auditing in the phytosanitary system
• Practical expertise developing, implementing or supervising audit programmes for phytosanitary systems
• Practical expertise managing phytosanitary import or export systems
• Practical expertise carrying out investigations, and reporting nonconformities, identifying and advising on corrective actions to audit findings
• Knowledge of or expertise in working with third-party entities to implement phytosanitary activities
• Knowledge of or expertise in developing and implementing policy in the phytosanitary context

Working virtually and face-to-face to develop the guide

The guide will be developed through a hybrid mode of virtual meetings and one week-long face-to-face meeting. All nominees for the WG must attend all meetings. It is therefore critical that WG members have access to reliable internet and appropriate tools for participating in virtual meetings and document reviews.

Nominees must have a working knowledge of English as all meetings will be in English, without interpretation.

The first virtual meeting is tentatively scheduled for March, 2026. Additional virtual meetings will be organized in collaboration with the selected members.

Experts will be tasked with drafting, reviewing, and revising the chapters of the guide. Documents will be shared and reviewed electronically. The process of developing a guide, from initiation to publication, may take up to 18 months. In addition to one week-long face-to-face meeting, experts are expected to spend an average of 1-2 days per month contributing to the development of the guide. Additional information on the process may be found here: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/capacity-development/guides-and-training-materials/development-guides-and-training-materials/

Additional information

In late 2026, the secretariat will be launching a second call for nominations of experts for a separate working group for the development of the IPPC guide Authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions (2018-040). Due to the close relation between these two topics, the call for this second working group will be launched after the first draft of the guide on Audits in the phytosanitary context.

Members are encouraged to consider experts for both topics, but at this time should submit nominations only for the Audit in the Phytosanitary Context guide.

You can find the outline for the upcoming second IPPC guide on Authorization of entities to perform phytosanitary actions (2018-040) here.

Please contact the IPPC Secretariat ([email protected]) with a copy to Ms. Preet PARMAR ([email protected]) for more information.