DUSHANBE, December 23, 2015, Asia-Plus -- The issues of International Standards of Phytosanitary Measures were discussed during FAO first national workshop held in Dushanbe recently.

According to the FAO Country Office in Tajikistan, the main objective of the workshop was to present international legislation on regulation of wood packaging material in international trade, and also submission of proposal to amend the legislation Tajikistan on Phytosanitary.

The workshop was conducted for policy level staff and phytosanitary inspectors.

During the workshop participants were introduced with Guidance on managing of wood packaging material in international trade, procedures of production, control and export of wood packaging materials, and also Guidance on heat treatment. Important part discussed was regulated articles and exemptions in order to avoid barriers to international trade.

“Many goods produced in Tajikistan are exporting to other countries in wood packaging materials. According to International Standards, all wood packaging must be taken special processing to avoid insects.  We hope that information presented during the workshop will be useful in the phytosanitary risk analysis and risk management during export and import of products”, said Mr. Viorel Gutu, FAO Representative in Tajikistan.

The International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures № 15, regulating requirements on packaging materials was adopted in 2002.  Many countries around the world are using this standard.