FAO convenes first kick-off meeting of the Technical Committee on Plant Health Measures and Harmonization of Regulatory Frameworks in the Near East and North Africa
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, convened the first kick-off meeting of the Technical Committee on Plant Health Measures and Harmonization of Regulatory Frameworks. The meeting marks a step towards implementing the Near East and North Africa Plant Health Strategy 2025–2035.
Held online, the meeting brought together committee members from countries across the region and FAO representatives to introduce the members, review the committee’s terms of reference and working arrangements, and begin discussing its technical priorities. Members bring expertise in plant health, plant quarantine, pest risk analysis, regulatory frameworks, inspection and phytosanitary certification. This range of experience will help the committee address shared challenges through scientific, operational and regulatory perspectives.
The committee’s work builds on the momentum of the high-level meeting on the regional Plant Health Strategy, held in Bari, Italy, on 12–13 May 2025. The meeting brought together FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu, five ministers of agriculture from the region, senior representatives and technical experts from more than ten countries, as well as regional and international organizations and development partners. It underscored the importance of political commitment, technical expertise and partnerships in moving the Strategy towards implementation.
The Strategy provides a framework for cooperation among countries facing transboundary plant pests and diseases, climate change and increasing trade in plants and plant products. It focuses on three connected areas: stronger coordination and knowledge exchange; capacity development in surveillance, early warning, diagnostics, certification and regulatory harmonization; and evidence and innovation to better understand and respond to pest impacts and emerging risks.
“The Technical Panel will build its work on national priorities and needs to identify common challenges and develop practical actions that support the implementation of the Regional Action Plan and strengthen the responsiveness of regional cooperation to the needs of Member Countries said Yosra Ahmed, Agriculture Specialist (Plant Protection) at FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa
The committee is part of a broader set of technical panels covering surveillance and early warning, diagnostics, certified plant propagation material, and pesticide regulation and biological control. Coordination across these areas is essential: plant quarantine measures and pest risk analysis depend on reliable surveillance and diagnostic information, while clear regulatory frameworks support the consistent application of technical measures.
Under its terms of reference, the committee provides a forum for specialists to exchange experience, identify shared gaps and needs, explore opportunities to strengthen plant health measures and align regulatory procedures, and develop practical recommendations to support countries. Its work will take account of different national legal and institutional contexts, available capacities and relevant international standards, particularly those developed under the International Plant Protection Convention.
Clear procedures for plant quarantine, pest risk analysis, inspection, certification and information exchange can strengthen prevention and early detection and support decisions based on risk and evidence. They can also help protect agricultural production and livelihoods while facilitating safe agricultural trade.
The committee’s work aligns with FAO’s Regional Priority 4 for the Near East and North Africa, Building Resilience to Multiple Shocks. Stronger pest prevention, early detection, and preparedness can help reduce the effects of transboundary plant health risks on agricultural production and livelihoods.