Context: 

The Asia Pacific Plant Protection Commission unanimously elected India as chair of the Standing Committee on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the biennium 2023-24 during the 32nd Session held in Bangkok.

Asia Pacific Plant Protection Commission:

• It is an intergovernmental organization that promotes cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance plant health and plant protection.
• It was established in 1956 as a regional body approved by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• The Commission administers the Regional Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and the Pacific.
• The Commission consists of representatives of all member countries and elects amongst them a Chairperson who serves for a period of two years. 

Key Objectives:

• Coordinating, reviewing and promoting development of regional plant protection systems.
• Assisting member countries to develop effective plant protection regimes.
• Setting standards for phytosanitary measures.
• Facilitating information sharing.

Functions: 

• It helps member countries analyze risks to their national plant resources and use science-based measures to safeguard their cultivated and wild plants. 
• The Commission helps member countries improve their capacity for pest surveillance, pest risk analysis, pest risk management through systems approaches, and implementation of regional and international standards for phytosanitary measures. 
• It helps with the management of outbreaks of invasive species to promote safe agricultural trade.

News Source: pib