Assembly/AU/Dec.60 (IV) DECISION ON THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CAPACITY OF THE AU INTER-AFRICAN PHYTOSANITARY COUNCIL (IAPC) Assembly/AU/6 (IV) The Assembly: 1. TAKES NOTE of the Report; 2. FURTHER NOTES with grave concern the serious economic and social impacts of the 2004 desert locust invasion of the northern, western and eastern regions of Africa; 3. RECALLS the Mandate of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the Commission of the African Union; 4. REQUESTS the Commission to strengthen the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council to facilitate capacity building at Regional and Continental levels in matters of phytosanitary surveillance and inspection, early warning systems for desert locust and other migratory pests, pest risk analysis and integrated pest and crop management as well as management and eradication of obsolete pesticides; 5. URGES Member States and development partners to make increased contribution to the African Union’s Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine in Africa; 6. CALLS UPON the development partners to assist the AU Commission, through the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council, to implement this Decision; 7. REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to submit a report to the 6th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in 2006.