IPPC Course Preview

The text of the Convention provides an internationally accepted basis for a legal framework for its national application. The international standards on phytosanitary measures provide guidance on the basic elements of phytosanitary systems – surveillance, pest risk analysis, inspection, treatment and eradication.

The use of these tools and their direct link to the IPPC is described in the operation of national import and export systems.

The functions of Regional Plant Protection Organisations from the different regions is assisting the international implementation of the IPPC is discussed. The impact of the IPPC and its standards on, and the special needs of, developing countries is described.

The course is taught in a series of sections or " Modules". Each Module lasts one week and represents a specific topic or issue. Modules will be uploaded on Monday morning for the convenience of our international students. You will have one week to read the materials and complete the assignment, which is located at the end of the Module. Once uploaded, the Modules will remain online throughout the duration of the course so you can always go back in case you miss a week.

Here's a sample Index of the Modules in this course,. The Module Index may change with each semester.

Module One	Getting Started in a Web Course - Overview of Course John Hedley, Lead Instructor Mary Anne Verleger, Course Manager
Module Two	The IPPC John Hedley, Lead Instructor Former Coordinator of the IPPC Secretariat presently National Advisor to MAFF, NEW ZEALAND
Module Three	IPPC and Plant Protection William Roberts
Module Four	IPPC and the SPS Agreement Gretchen Stanton
Module Five	IPPC and the Environment and Invasive Alien Species Jens-George Unger
Module Six	The Legal Framework Peter Lallas
Module Seven	Pest Risk Analysis Robert Griffin
Module Eight	Surveillance, Inspection and Sampling Ian Smith
Module Nine	Non-Compliance, Treatment and Eradication
Module Ten	Import Systems Reinouw Bast-Tjeerde
Module Eleven	Export Systems Stephen Ogden
Module Twelve	Port of Entry Operations Robert Griffin
Module Thirteen	IPPC and Regional Plant Protection Systems Ian McDonell
Module Fourteen	IPPC and Developing Countries/Course Review Robert Ikin and John Hedley, Lead Instructor

Your assignments will be due the following Monday and can be submitted automatically using our course assignment drop box feature or by email, fax or regular mail. Grades are posted electronically and sent to you by email. Class participation is accomplished by means of synchronous and asynchronous Internet communication technologies such as bulletin boards and real time chat software such as the Discussion Forums.

So there you have it. It should take an average of nine hours per week to complete a module. You simply go online at the beginning of each week or whenever it is convenient for you and a new module will be waiting. Read the materials, explore the hyperlinked and other Internet-based resources, complete the assignment, upload it to the course assignment drop box and with the click of a mouse you're done for the week.

Now, let's be realistic. What if you're called out of town for a week or are otherwise unable to access or complete a module within the one week time limit? No problem. Time extensions will be granted; and, if you give us a bit of notice, the course materials can be provided to you by fax, CD or otherwise. Fourteen weeks later, you have completed the course!!

This semester we will have seven other courses online in addition to this one including a new courses on OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health), Codex Alimentarius (The Food Code), the overview course in International Food Laws & Regulations and the region-specific courses covering food regulation in the United States, European Union, Latin America and Canada. All basically follow the same format.

If you are looking for a convenient way to continue your education and are interested in or need information regarding the IPPC and its influence on global trade, this is the course for you.