The Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) — the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the Philippines — is currently conducting a five-day Workshop on Capacity Building on the New International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Guide to Protect Plant Health and Reduce Pest Risk Associated with E-Commerce from November 9 to 15, 2025, at Acacia Hotel, Manila, Philippines.
The event is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the APPPC, its Advisory Group, and BPI, with funding support from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness among regulators and stakeholders on the phytosanitary risks associated with e-commerce and to highlight the importance of compliance with import regulations. It also served as a platform to strengthen cooperation among National and Regional Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs and RPPOs), postal services, express carriers, and other key partners — fostering a coordinated approach to monitoring and enforcing plant health standards in the e-commerce environment.
Participating countries will be sharing their country reports focusing on the implementation of eCommerce systems or initiatives for plants, plant products, and planting materials, existing legislations and regulations governing online trade and phytosanitary measures, best practices and innovations adopted to support safe and effective eCommerce transactions, and challenges and lessons learned in implementing and regulating eCommerce in their respective countries.
The training is expected to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to effectively monitor e-commerce platforms, identify high-risk shipments, and implement surveillance practices that safeguard national borders and protect agricultural industries.
BPI Director Dr. Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban officially opened the event by extending a warm welcome to all participants and international guests attending the workshop. The attendees includes Ms. Barbara Peterson (Canadian Food Inspection Agency), who also served as a resource speaker; Ms. Min Ah Kim and Ms. Nam Han (Korea Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency); Mr. Pisey Luon (Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of the Kingdom of Cambodia); Mr. Mohammad Swokat Osman Mojumder (Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh); Ms. P. M. D. Munasinghe (Agriculture (Development) Plant Quarantine Service, Bandaranaike lnternational Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka); Ms. Diana Jamaludin (Department of Agriculture, Malaysia); Mr. Phoutsavanh Sengsouliya (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao PDR); Mr. Wanich Khampanich (Department of Agriculture, Thailand); Mr. Mesulame Ratu (Biosecurity Authority of Fiji); Ms. Aulia Nusantara (Indonesian Quarantine Authority); Mr. Manoj Pokhrel (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre, Nepal); and Plant Quarantine Officers from various regions across the Philippines. BPI also invited the Department of Trade and Industry- E-Commerce Bureau to discuss e-commerce within the National Framework. The presentation was given by Ms. Karla Tricsha Santos, Supervising Trade-Industry Development Specialist of DTI Ecommerce Bureau. Dr. Mark Jhon O. Almase, Assistant Deputy Collector for Passenger Service, Port of NAIA, Bureau of Customs, also presented on the Border Operation.
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