KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE

development projects

Trade is hugely important to Southeast Asia, where exports of fresh produce are worth over US$6bn each year.

so what’s the problem?Much of this trade is subject to the importing countries’ pest risk management requirements. These requirements may be damaging to product quality, hampered by limited availability or capacity, or detrimental to the environment. Where measures fail, trade may be disrupted entirely.

Pests may also be introduced to Southeast Asia via imports. This is a particular risk where a pest may enter one country and then spread to neighbouring countries unimpeded. Experience shows that by the time an introduced pest has been detected, it may have already have become too widespread to eradicate.

what is this project doing?With funding from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), we are taking a look at the regional case study on oil palm planting materials and providing our project management expertise. This systems approach uses modelling and decision support tools, such as Control Point-Bayesian Network, to help quantify integrated management methods combined with two or more risk management measures. This offers more flexible, quantified pest risk management and with the addition or removal of measures as needed – sometimes without stopping trade – allows for a more proportionate response to risks. Using this approach, plans are generally developed jointly between exporting and importing countries, which creates a more symmetrical

locationsMalaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, United Kingdom, Australia

dates1st July 2011 – 30 June 2012

project teamA SivapragasamLum Keng Yeang Sue Mei Jean

beyond compliance: managing quarantine pests in Southeast Asia

relationship in trade negotiations. While the participating countries comply with the importers’ requirements, the area is ready to move to a more proactive role in designing pest risk management plans.

Although the systems approach has already been implemented in Southeast Asian trade, there are significant conceptual, technical and institutional barriers to taking full advantage of it. Besides building competence in technical issues, building confidence is key to moving “beyond compliance”. So plans imposed by trade partners are negotiated, evaluated and considered. And using modelling to clarify a proposed trade system means that the importing country does not require extensive data and can assess the efficacy and impact of each measure, thereby building confidence.

Using case studies on priority trade opportunities, the project will guide the exporting countries involved through the process of using a systems approach to pest management. Guidance on governance for stakeholder involvement, plans and others are provided by our partner, Imperial College London.

results so farThe project has produced a review that describes pest risk management for imports and exports in the region, including the design and evaluation of these measures. We have also designed a conceptual framework for decision-making within the systems approach. Demonstrations of this approach through case studies, and establishing Southeast Asia’s competencies, has been undertaken. We are also developing a coordinated framework, which can be shared regionally and presented to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

The long-term outcomes of applying the systems approach include more robust pest risk management in the region, leading to increased protection from the threat of introduced pests, more confidence in trade negotiations, and new opportunities for trade. More stakeholders will be involved in the pest risk management planning process, resulting in increased engagement in compliance with phytosanitary measures.

contactCABI, PO Box 210, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia T: +60 (0)3 8943 2921 F: +60 (0)3 8942 6490 E: cabisea@cabi.org www.cabi.org/malaysia

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A. Sivapragasam, Project Manager

partners

Queensland University of Technology

Imperial College London

National Plant Protection Organizations of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand

sponsor

Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)