IICA has published a methodology for developing profiles of plant health risks related to plants, plant-based products and other regulated items. It is a practical guide intended for use by teams of inspectors of agricultural products.

One of the biggest challenges faced by administrators of phytosanitary protection organizations (PPOs) is ensuring that teams of inspectors are committed to a systematic vision of their work, since plant health inspection and related tasks are essential if flaws in the global trading system are to be prevented.

The authors of the methodology stress that a PPO’s relationship with its clients (people whose products it inspects) must be transparent. At border posts, for example, one inspector may authorize a product while another rejects it. Consistency in decision making is vital, therefore.

The methodology for developing profiles of plant health risks is a reference document that plant health inspectors can consult for details of authorized products. It can also be used to explain to the general public how plant health decisions are taken based on scientific principles.

Profiles are based on pest risk analyses that highlight the principal pests and their routes of entry. The methodology encourages teams to analyze what they do and stresses the importance of inspectors’ work in intercepting items at border crossings that are not part of the cargo being transported.

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