By B. Bouato, Editor

Dear Readers,

As you must have noticed lately, we have started lacking in the regular publication of our Phytosanitary News Bulletin (PNB). The editorial staff is fully conscious of this and would like to apologize to its readers, especially to those who reacted opportunely to this state of affairs. We want to reassure them and promise them that the situation will be improved upon as soon as things get sorted out. But while waiting, some measures are being taken to sustain our readership :

  the usual issue of the PNB (hard copy), will be published 2 times per annum, instead of 4 times ;
  however, an electronic edition which will give the monthly outline of phytosanitary activities is being developed and will be made available in our Web site or sent directly to the e-mail addresses of readers who will so desire ;
  the distribution of the biannual publication will no longer be automatic (by post or mail) as in the past, because it is quite expensive. Given that this edition will be the compilation of monthly electronic issues published throughout the six-month period, its distribution will be done on order basis or during conferences.

It is within this context that we are publishing this edition which covers the period from October 2004 to March 2005.

Current events or news on phytosanitary issues during the last 6 months was marked by international gatherings on pesticides and locust control activities.

Indeed, Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, initiated a very high level scientific international consultation to give further thought to the phenomenon of migratory locust, which is certainly not the first, for, as he underlined in his opening speech : "the earliest knowledge on locust dates back to a rock image of an Egyptian tomb of the 12th dynasty, around 2400 Before Christ…". It is for the purposes of carrying on with these reflections that he was able to bring together on a discussion table, the fine brains of the globe, such as Professors LeCocq, Coste, etc, to diagnose the issue, in order to adopt a global strategy against this enemy to mankind.

As concerns pesticides, the International Conference on chemicals organized by the international NGO `' PAN Afrique '', from 7 to 9 December, 2004 in Dakar, made it possible for some fifteen African countries to study the problems encountered in the implementation of the Rotterdam, Stockholm, Basel Conventions. This international meeting was also used as a venue for discussions and information sharing between national and international experts, actors of development (NGOs), representatives of states and officials of international institutions.

Moreover, the hurdles encountered in the process of setting up the Committee for the homologation of Pesticides in Central Africa (CPAC), are yet to be resolved. It is with this impetus that experts of CEMAC met once more, in the Gabonese capital where they discussed on common homologation criteria for pesticides in their zone, although they did not meet the quorum required for decision-making.

A general survey of the locust situation in Africa within the current context of a general period of calm will equally be presented to you in this issue of the PNB.

Benoît Bouato

Dear readers, while counting on your understanding with regard to the modifications made to your phytosanitary periodical, we look forward to meeting you very soon in the electronic monthly magazine and the next biannual edition of the PNB (Hard Copy).