Calls for DP authors

IPPC Diagnostic Protocols are developed to allow general use by competent diagnosticians in a laboratory performing pest diagnosis as part of phytosanitary measures. The methods described in DPs provide the minimum requirements for reliable diagnosis of the specified regulated pests and include information on the specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility of these methods, where available. Methods providing other levels of specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility are also included where appropriate.
DPs usually describe more than one method to take into account the capabilities of laboratories and the situations in which the methods are applied. They provide guidance, but NPPOs should determine which methods are appropriate for their circumstances. Once adopted, DPs will be reviewed regularly by the TPDP and updated to take into account advances in diagnostic methods [CPM-4 (2009)].

2022-05 - Call for DP authors

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is soliciting nominations for authors for the following IPPC Diagnostic Protocols (DPs) on the work programme of the Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP):

• Bactrocera zonata (Saunders, 1842) (2021-013)
• Dickeya spp. on potato (2021-014)
• Heterobasidion annosum (2021-015)
• Spodoptera frugiperda (2021-016)
• Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) (2021-017)
• Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (2021-025)
• Amaranthus palmeri (2019-006)
• Solanum rostratum (2019-007)
• Moniliophthora roreri (2019-005)
• Meloidogyne mali (2018-019)
• Cronartium comandrae (2018-015)
• Microcyclus ulei (2019-003)

The call was launched on 23 May 2022. The deadline to submit nominations via the online automated submission form is 24 June 2022.

Since the nominations are accepted only from the IPPC contracting parties through the IPPC Official Contact Points (OCPs) or RPPOs, the links and instructions on how to submit the nominations have been moved to the IPP restricted work area, where the IPPC OCPs and RPPOs have access.

If you would like to nominate yourself, please contact your respective IPPC OCP or RPPO to get support and more information on how to proceed with the submission process.

Required expertise

Authors should have technical and scientific expertise with the respective pest, diagnostic expertise is considered a core requirement. Additionally, the following areas of expertise are desirable:

• taxonomy and molecular diagnostics
• practical experience related to the pest (detection, identification, isolation etc.)
• quarantine DP expertise, including experience using DPs for detection and identification of regulated pests
• drafting of DPs (such as regional DPs)
• development of novel diagnostic methods

According to the IPPC standard setting procedure, the TPDP will make the selection of the authors and report to the IPPC Standards Committee (SC). Selected nominees will be contacted.

Drafting of DPs

Authors work in liaison with the member of the TPDP in charge of the respective topic to develop draft DPs as annexes to ISPM 27 (Diagnostic Protocols for Regulated Pests). Currently, there are 31 adopted DPs, these can be found on the adopted standards page.

The work associated with authoring the DP will primarily take place through e-mail discussions, although teleconferences can be organized if necessary. Authors should be able to allocate appropriate time to draft the DP. Several experts may be selected to work together on a draft DP. English is the working language of the drafting group.

For more information on what is involved in authoring DPs and the time commitment necessary, please check out our brochure Introduction for authors of DPs. It is important to know that:

• This is a long process: It takes 4-5 years from development to adoption.
• Different input at different times: Input, comments, and revisions to the draft DP are needed at several stages of the development.
• A globally harmonized protocol: DPs are not scientific publications but adopted international standards to which IPPC contracting parties have agreed.

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