38^th Meeting of the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures

Paris, 2006-03-06/08

The Panel met in Paris at the headquarters of the French NPPO. The main task of this Panel is to evaluate risks presented by specific pests and design phytosanitary measures to avoid their introduction and spread.

Specific risks presented by large plants

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to the issue of specific risks presented by large plants. It was acknowledged that imports of rooted plants for planting grown for more than 1 growing period before import could present a significant risk. It was noted that EPPO has already developed standards to address this issue but that these should be promoted, so that they can be better implemented in practice. Guidance on good production practices for nurseries (including guidance on what is a nursery) will also be developed. A future programme on non-specific risks will be presented to the Working Party.

EPPO lists of pests recommended for regulation

On a case by case basis, the Panel reviewed the present situation and conclusions from PRA and made the following recommendations to the Working Party:
Additions to the A lists: Phytophthora lateralis (A1), Homalodisca coagulata (A1).

Transfer from A1 to A2: Anoplophora chinensis. Pest Risk Management options will be presented to the Working Party for Paysandisia archon, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and Hesperophanes campestris, and if accepted these pests will be recommended for regulations.

As it is now agreed that Radopholus similis and R. citrophilus are synonyms, it was suggested to consider R. similis (not attacking citrus) as an A2 pest and R. similis (attacking citrus) as an A1.

Alert List

As usual, the Panel reviewed in detail the EPPO Alert List whose purpose is to warn countries about possible new risks, and in certain cases to propose candidates for PRA and eventually regulation. The Panel proposed to consider the following pests for addition: Diaphania indica, Cryptophlebia leucotreta, Leucinodes orbonalis, Meloidogyne minor and Spiroplasma kunkelii.

For the following pests, the Panel recommended that PRAs should be conducted in the near future: Bactrocera invadens, Diocalandra frumenti, Iris yellow spot tospovirus, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Platypus mutates, Tetranychus evansi, Eutypella parasitica, Fusarium foetens, Phytophthora kernoviae, Blueberry scorch virus, Lygus lineolaris, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Valsa ceratosperma, Discula destructiva, Phakopsora euvitis, Phytophthora ramorum, Scolytus schevyrewi, Xanthomonas arborícola pv. fragariae.

Considering that the alert had been given and that no further action was needed, it decided to delete: Acizzia jamatonica, Aleurodicus dispersus, Cactoblastis cactorum, Glycaspis brimblecombei, Pezothrips kellyanus, Phoracantha recurva, Phytomyza gymnostoma, Scyphophorus acupunctatus, Tetraleurodes perseae, Trialeurodes ricini, Claviceps africana, Coniothyrium zuluense, Almond witches’ broom phytoplasma, Brittle leaf disease of date palm, Heterodera glycines (already on the Action List).

Maintenance of EPPO Pest Lists

The Panel discussed how the different pest lists should be maintained by EPPO. It noted that the EPPO Secretariat should continue to document pests which were recommended for regulations (A1 and A2 pests). It was agreed that the Alert List should continue to be used as a tool to draw attention of countries on new potential risks, and that the new Action List was also a useful tool to focus on pests for which phytosanitary action was needed (either not yet regulated or against which particular measures should be taken). The Panel also suggested that in the short term, plants should be treated in a similar way as pests and diseases.