
Preventing the spread of plant pests and diseases
Pests and diseases threaten food security and farm profits. How can we mitigate the risk of spreading plant pests and diseases through trade? By Dane McDonald.
“Plants provide nearly 80% of our daily calorie intake,” said Jan Hendrik Venter, Director of Plant Health at DALRRD. He added that plant pests destroy up to 40% of our food supply from crops, clarifying that he uses the term pests to refer to both pests and pathogens.
Venter highlighted the role of plant pests in world hunger. The latest Global Network Against Food Crises report asserts that 282 million people in 59 countries and territories experienced acute hunger in 2023 — 24 million more than in 2022.
He shared the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Hunger Map, showing the severity of food insecurity, particularly in Africa, where many people survive on fewer than three meals a day. The situation is also dire in South Africa, although slightly better than in some other African nations.
This stark reality underscores the urgency of protecting plants from pests.
While staple foods are crucial for daily survival, Venter pointed out that fruits play a significant role in maintaining overall health. Thus, both staples and fruits are critical for alleviating global hunger.
International trade
To understand the regulation of plant health in global trade, Venter explained the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).
“The WTO establishes the rules of trade between nations, and the SPS Agreement ensures that these trades are safe,” he said.
The SPS Agreement uses a science-based regulatory approach to prevent the misuse of phytosanitary measures as trade barriers. It comprises 14 articles establishing specific rules for member countries, addressing aspects such as harmonisation, transparency, risk assessment, appropriate protection levels, adaptation to regional conditions, technical assistance, and control, inspection and approval procedures.
Equivalence is a key principle of the SPS Agreement — measures should be consistent across countries and pests. However, the agreement recognises regional conditions, as neighbouring countries often share the same pests.
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), an intergovernmental treaty signed by over 180 countries, including South Africa, aims to protect plants and countries against the spread of pests while promoting safe global trade.
It is the only global organisation setting standards for plant health, namely the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures. The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), representing member countries, adopts these standards. The CPM meets annually in Rome to review and agree on global standards, protocols, and treatments.
Standards must be practical and implementable for effective global trade. IPPC principles include affordable inspections, technical justifications, alignment with existing standards, and thorough pest risk analysis, closely aligning with WTO guidelines and supporting global legislative processes.
The IPPC, along with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) animal health standards and the Codex Alimentarius food safety standards, is recognised under the WTO’s SPS Agreement. It aligns closely with WTO standards to harmonise global plant-protection measures.
International standards improve global food security, facilitate economic trade and development, and protect sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and the environment.
South African legislation
The Agricultural Pests Act No. 36 of 1983 governs plant trade in South Africa. The Act covers the importation of plants and plant products and the national control of regulated pests.
Venter said a national control system with a surveillance network for early pest detection and action plans for prompt management is essential. Predefined protocols are crucial for a rapid response to novel threats.
Specific programmes target pest reduction at various stages. The export certification system, particularly electronic certification, is vital for maintaining the safety and quality of exported goods.
Venter reported that a new plant health bill is currently in parliament. It covers the importation of plants and plant products, the national control of regulated pests, exports, re-exports, and transit of plants and plant products, and formalising the National Plant Protection Organisation.
Although South Africa currently has an effective National Plant Protection Organisation, it has yet to be formally established in law.
For imports, Venter said it is essential to conduct thorough risk analyses and ensure a robust inspection system at ports of entry. In South Africa, this process used to fall under the Department of Agriculture, but the Import Regulatory System has been facilitated by the Department of Home Affairs through the Border Management Authority since 1 April 2023.
As with all changes, ongoing follow-up, audits, and training are required to ensure continued effectiveness.
Venter emphasised that stringent import and export controls are crucial to protecting South Africa’s agricultural sector, aligning us with international standards set by the WTO and IPPC, and ensuring safe and sustainable global trade in plant products.
So, although import and export regulations may sometimes seem like yet more hoops for deciduous-fruit growers to jump through, they are indispensable.
“We want to protect our food, for regional food security, and our ability to trade,” said Venter. “We also want to reduce poverty, and we need to grow our economy.”
Watch Venter’s presentation on the Hortgro YouTube channel.