16^th Meeting of the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures for Potato

Vilnius, 2010-10-13/15

The Panel on Phytosanitary Measures for Potato held its 16th meeting in Vilnius on 2010-10-13/15 at the kind invitation of the Lithuanian NPPO. Thanks are due to Ms R. Zitkuviene and her colleagues for their hospitality and the excellent organization of the meeting.

The Panel revised two draft standards on national regulatory control systems:

• National regulatory control system for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (revision PM 9/2)
• National regulatory control system for Ralstonia solanacearum (revision PM 9/3)

The Panel also further elaborated the National regulatory control system for Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). 

The three draft standards were considered as ready to be sent for country consultation. Country comments will be rewied at the next panel meeting.

The Panel discussed issues on Meloidogyne chitwoodi and M. fallax. It considered that guidance may be developed for measures to be taken in case of an outbreak. The Panel agreed to invite several nematologists to join the Panel for a small workshop to discuss this issue.

Finally the Panel discussed emerging pests: it was presented the outcomes of the PRA on Epitrix species damaging potato tubers (e.g. E. tuberis, E. cucumeris, E. similaris and E. subcrinita), as well as a new bacteria recently added on the Alert List: 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum'.