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• Lessons
  • 1. Risk Management Theory and Background
  • 2. Identifying Risk Management Options
  • 3. Evaluating and Selecting Options
  • 4. Module Conclusion
• Topics
  • 1. What is Risk Management?
  • 2. Terminology
  • 3. Principles and Concepts for Risk Management
  • 4. Hazard Identification and Risk Management
  • 5. Lesson Summary
• Resources
  • Help
  • Documents
  • Acknowledgements

Lesson 1: Risk Management Theory and Background

Topic 3: Principles and Concepts for Risk Management

Introduction

Risk management analysis must consider key SPS Agreement and IPPC principles. It also requires a clear understanding of concepts and terms closely related to these principles. Let’s review the principles, terms and concepts covered in earlier modules and link them to risk management.

Relationships Between Key Principles, Terms and Concepts Associated With Pest Risk Management

The principles of transparency, consistency, and equivalence are extremely important in pest risk management. They are general principles that are followed in all aspects of international trade. (You should be familiar with the concepts of transparency and equivalence from Module 3, Market Access.)

Principles of Risk Management Analysis and Practice

Below are six principles at the core of both risk management analysis and risk management practice. They are obligations specific to the pest management process. You should already be familiar with these six principles. Roll your mouse over the text below if you would like to review these principles.

A seventh—rational relationship—is not described as a principle in either the IPPC or the SPS Agreement and is not spelled out in an ISPM. However, it has become a central issue in legal systems and plays an important role in risk management.

This principle addresses two questions:

Does the measure under consideration actually mitigate the risk? For instance, a fumigation or irradiation treatment that is effective against insect pests may not be appropriate for weed seeds (as pests of a commodity). If so, the measure would have no rational relationship to the risk if required as a treatment against weed seeds.

Is the strength of measure proportional to the risk? The magnitude of the risk and the strength of the measure applied to mitigate the risk are on “sliding scales.” Higher risks require stronger measures, and lower risks require weaker measures. For example, a treatment designed for internal-feeding pests (higher risk) may be too strong against external-feeding pests and/or contaminating pests (lower risk).

The following table summarizes the relationships between the key principles and concepts associated with risk management:

International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) Relevant to Pest Risk Management

There is no single framework of steps or procedures to guide pest risk management, but the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has adopted several standards. Some are specific—for instance, standards that address pest-free areas, certain pests, or particular types of phytosanitary treatments. The following table lists the ISPMs relevant to pest risk management. A copy of each ISPM is available in the Resources section of this module. You may consult these ISPMs when determining appropriate risk management options. For more detailed information, visit the IPPC website https://www.ippc.int/core-activities/standards-setting/ispms.

To continue, select Topic 4 from the Topics menu above or click here.