SPECIAL TRUST FUND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT

UNCLAS ROME 003541 SIPDIS USDA/FAS FOR REICH, HUGHES AND CHAMBLISS USDA/APHIS FOR GREIFER USAID FOR AA/EGAT SIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER, STATE FOR IO/FO, IO/EDA BEHREND AND KOTOK; STATE ALSO FOR E, EB, OES FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ETRD AORC ABUD IPPC FAO SUBJECT: SPECIAL TRUST FUND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION: CONTRIBUTIONS SOLICITED ¶1. Summary and Recommendation: U.S. Mission received a letter dated 26 August 2004 from FAO's Assistant Director for Technical Cooperation, soliciting USG support for the newly established Special Trust Fund for the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The concept of a voluntary fund to assist developing countries in strengthening their national phytosanitary systems was endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) in April 2003. U.S. Mission notes that reinforcing the institutional and regulatory capacity of developing countries in this area would help facilitate international trade in agricultural products. We recommend that Washington agencies give active consideration to FAO's request for support. End summary and recommendation. TEXT OF FAO LETTER ¶2. Begin text: I have the honour to refer to the establishment of a multi-donor International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Special Trust Fund in support of the implementation of the IPPC. The establishment of the aforementioned Special Trust Fund responds to FAO Conference Resolution 12/97, which adopted the New Revised Text of the IPPC and established, as an interim measure until the new text comes into force, the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) and outlined work to be undertaken in the interim period. The ICPM, at its Fifth Session in April 2003, analysed the advantages and disadvantages of a multi-donor Special Trust Fund. The ICPM subsequently: -- endorsed the proposal to establish a multi-donor trust fund entitled the Special Trust Fund for the International Plant Protection Convention; -- noted that the Special Trust Fund would be subject to FAO's Financial Rules and Regulations and that it would be used according to financial guidelines agreed by the ICPM; -- adopted draft financial guidelines for the Special Trust Fund of the International Plant Protection Convention. (Note: as agreed by ICPM 6 in April 2004, the draft financial guidelines are now being reviewed for compliance with FAO rules before being finally approved.) The Special Trust Fund would involve only voluntary contributions. The objective of the Fund, as agreed by the ICPM, is to provide resources to benefit developing countries through: -- attendance at the standard setting meetings; -- participation in a training programme on information exchange through the internet; regional workshops on draft standards and implementing standards; -- development of guidance for countries to use in the evaluation of institutional and regulatory aspects of national phytosanitary systems; -- encouragement of individual members to utilize Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation and formulate national phytosanitary plans; -- any other project agreed by the ICPM. The ICPM also agreed that the Special Trust Fund should have the following three basic conditions for its operation: -- exclusive use for the direct benefit of developing countries; -- supplementary character of such funding to FAO's Programme of Work on IPPC; and -- ICPM responsibility for the selection of outputs to be funded from this source. In view of the recommendations of the ICPM and in order to support the work of the Interim Commission, it would be appreciated if you could inform me of your Government's willingness to contribute to the proposed multi-donor Special Trust Fund. End text. HALL NNNN 2004ROME03541 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED