What the COVID19 Pandemic teaches us Key messages from the IPPC Secretariat on plant health and COVID-19

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is an inter-governmental treaty signed by 184 countries, aimed at protecting the world’s plant resources from the spread and introduction of pests, and promoting safe trade. The Convention uses International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) as its main tool to achieve its goals, making it the sole global standard setting organisation for plant health.

Prevention is always better than cure!

It is an unfortunate coincidence that during the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) in 2020, the COVID-19 global outbreak is showing the world how adopting preventive measures is essential to secure countries from the introduction and spread of devastating human diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic is proving that prevention is always better than cure, and this applies to the health of humans, animals and plants.