Lesson 5: Steps in Developing ISPMs
Topic 2: Drafting Standards
The process of drafting an ISPM involves two steps: developing a specification for the standard and drafting the body of the standard.
Objective:
- Describe the standard drafting process
Stage 2: Drafting IPPC Standards
The process of drafting a standard involves two steps: the preparation of a specification for the standard and the process of drafting the standard itself. Each approved topic is assigned a steward, who is often a member of the Standards Committee (SC). The steward’s responsibility is to guide the standard through the entire development process. Let us take a closer look at this process.
Once a topic has been adopted, it is the steward’s responsibility to draft a specification. A specification is a document similar to a scope of work and serves to guide the experts who will draft the standard.
A specification typically lays out the following:
- The reason for the standard
- The scope and purpose of the standard
- A list of specific tasks that the experts must address when drafting the standard
- A description of the type of technical expertise necessary to draft the standard
Once the specification is approved by the Standards Committee (SC), it is published on the IPP website for 60 days, providing member countries with an opportunity to comment on it.
Member comments are submitted to the steward and the SC for consideration. The specification is adjusted and finalized, published on the IPP, and the process of drafting the standard begins.
An expert drafting group is assembled, based on the technical requirements outlined in the specification. The IPPC Secretariat publishes a notice on its website requesting member countries to nominate experts from their countries who have subject matter expertise relevant to the standard being developed. Member countries nominate technical experts to participate in the process of drafting standards. Nominations are reviewed by the Secretariat, and the SC makes a decision, finalizing the selection of the expert working group. The expert working group is typically composed of five to seven members. However, more members might be required, depending on the complexity of the standard being drafted.
The expert working group typically meets once to draft the standard under the guidance of the steward. However, several meetings might be required, depending on the complexity of the standard being drafted. The expert working group prepares and submits a draft of the standard to the SC.
The draft standard submitted by the expert working group is reviewed and adjusted by the SC and then sent for member consultation.
A steward guides the development of a standard. The specification is a document that describes the content to be included within the ISPM and the tasks required of the expert drafting group. The ISPM is drafted by a group of experts chosen from member countries.
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