Scientific issues arising from the use of the International Plant Protection Convention definition of a quarantine pest

This paper examines some of the issues arising from the use of the IPPC definition of a quarantine pest. Using hypothetical case studies of pathogens and their hosts, the authors examine some of the potentially contentious issues that are likely to arise from the application of the definition. Proposals for resolving these issues are suggested. To further simplify the application of the IPPC definition in international plant quarantine, the authors present diagrams setting out the decision-making pathways that can be followed.