The aim of this sheet is to show a quick example of the application
of the Phytosanitary Decision-Support System for demonstration purposes.
Full details of this
component of the CPC are given in another training
sheet which is also available from the 
on the system toolbar.
The folders needed to store the results of the sessions must be defined by clicking on Set up user files initially. The Introduction and other text windows before each step in the PRA provide some helpful explanations.
Click on Open a session, and select By pathway. The following example looks at importing dates from Egypt to the UK.
The country and crop boxes are pick lists, so you can type in a common name or synonym and the Compendium will refer you to the right one to use. It is not essential to enter a commodity type. If you do not type a title, the system will generate something suitable from the pathway selected.
Click Proceed to search the Compendium databases for the pests that are associated with this pathway.
At the top is a list of Potential quarantine pests - they are present in the country of origin (Egypt), occur on the crop (date) and are absent from the importing country (UK). They are sorted by pest group and then pest name.
A 
shows
that a full data sheet is available which indicates that the information on
that pest has been verified by a specialist. Right-clicking on the pest name
reveals a selection of options which includes opening the data sheet
cover page or available texts for this data sheet.
The bottom list is for Pests excluded from this assessment - these pests are also present in the exporting country and occur on the crop, but are recorded as present in the importing country and are, therefore, unlikely to represent a quarantine risk.
You can resize the window, lists and columns for more convenient display.
To proceed to the next stage in the PRA, select one of the potential quarantine pests (e.g. Aonidiella orientalis) from the list and click on the Individual PRA button. This takes you to a screen which helps you decide whether the pest fulfills the criteria of a quarantine pest by providing a structure for the assessment, access to the Compendium data and a means of annotating your decisions.
Click on the New assessment button beside Likelihood of entry to reveal a checklist of factors for consideration.
Consider the question: What is the likelihood of the pest surviving transport? Click on the Rating drop-down list to show the options available. Click on the Note and enter some text to show that you can annotate your decisions.
Add a Summary rating at the bottom of the checklist as if you had considered all the options for which information is available to you. Click OK and Save to return to the previous screen.
As another example, click on the New assessment button beside Likelihood of economic damage. For more information, click on Data sheet text at the top to view the CPC information on Economic impact to help your decision. Enter a summary rating and save to return to the main Stage 2 screen.
To complete this fictitious risk assessment, select a High rating for the Conclusion of Stage 2 and Yes under the question: Does the pest require phytosanitary measures? Click OK to proceed.
The next screen asks: Do you wish to add this pest to the list of regulated pests. Click OK to select the default (i.e. category 4, indicating that the pest has been assessed using this CPC system but is not already included on the official list of regulated pests for the UK).
On returning to the Stage 1b screen, you will see that two columns in the pest list have now been updated: Management now says Yes because phytosanitary measures are needed to prevent the introduction of this quarantine pest with dates from Egypt, and the PQ status has been updated to category 4.
The system is set up so that each pest in the top list (i.e. the potential quarantine pests) can be assessed in this way to determine whether they do indeed represent a quarantine threat.
Select the Risk management button to proceed to the final stage. After the text screen, click on Review pest list - those pests at the top (in this example, only Aonidiella citrina) are the pests which have been determined in Stage 2 to be quarantine pests. The measures selected in Stage 3 should be chosen to deal appropriately with all the pest risks associated with the proposed trade of importing dates from Egypt.
You will see that 3 tabbed checklists are presented. Click on the tab Preventing/reducing crop infestation and tick Restrictions on the composition of the consignment then click on Note to show that more details can be typed here (e.g. "Leaves and stems must be removed").
At all stages of the PRA, the FAO Guidelines can be accessed for further information.
Click Close and save to return to the pest lists.
| You may quit a session when it has been completed or
leave it at any stage for editing later. All earlier sessions can be
opened from Select previous session. This is available when you enter the
decision-support system.
A user would probably want to output the results of the PRA. To
demonstrate this, select the report button from the system tool bar |
 |
There are several other features which you could explore if time allows. Further details are provided in the help file on the CD.
| Stage 1b | Modifying pest data
Double-click on a pest in either list |
This shows you the CPC data (which cannot
be changed) and provides buttons in the User modifications column for
editing the record if you wish to overrule the Compendium and cause
pests to switch lists.
It is recommended that any changes are referenced or annotated. The modifications will be given priority over CPC records in later PRA sessions too. All user modifications are indicated as such in the pest lists (by a priority sign) and in the reports. |
| Stage 1b | Add pest
Click on the appropriate button to the left of the screen |
A pest from the CPC index can be added to the PRA if the record is modified by the user so that it fulfills the criteria of a potential quarantine pest, i.e. it occurs in the exporting country, on the host, and is absent from the importing country. |
| All stages | Regulated pest list
|
The official list of quarantine pests for your country can be entered into the system. |
| All stages | IPPC website
|
You can access the IPPC website if connected to the Internet. |
| All stages | Phytosanitary resources
|
You can access quarantine-related information in the CPC Library on the CD. |
| All stages | Edit user data
|
The modifications to pest records can be viewed and edited. A feedback file of modifications can be sent to CABI for updating the CPC. |
and select a few options to output to a text file. This file
can then be used in a word-processor or printed directly.
