61^st Meeting of the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures

Teleconference, 2020-03-24/26

The Panel met by videoconference on 2020-03-24/26 due to Covid-19 situation. The main task of this Panel is to evaluate risks presented by specific pests and design phytosanitary measures to avoid their introduction and spread. Only priority topics (the main recommendations for regulations and topics with an impact on EPPO’s work programme for 2020/2021) were selected for discussion during this videoconference. The remaining topics will be discussed at the next Panel meeting in October.

Screenshot of the videoconference of the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures

EPPO Lists of pests recommended for regulation

The Panel reviewed in detail PRAs prepared by the Expert Working Groups (EWGs) for PRA to agree on phytosanitary measures to be recommended for the pests concerned.

- Naupactus xanthographus and Gymnandrosoma aurantianum to the EPPO A1 List;

- Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV, Tobamovirus) to the EPPO A2 List.

Following recent progress in taxonomy, the Panel recommended that Euwallacea fornicatus and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus should respectively be renamed ‘Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato’ and Clavibacter sepedonicus in the EPPO A2 List of pests recommended for regulation.

Alert List

The Panel reviewed the EPPO Alert List (the purpose of this List is to warn countries about possible new risks, and in certain cases to propose candidates for PRA and, if relevant, recommend them for regulation). Considering that the alert had been given, the Panel recommended deletion of Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), Zaprionus indianus and Zaprionus tuberculatus (Diptera: Drosophilidae). The Panel also recommended that the EPPO Secretariat should contact the NPPO of Kazakhstan to obtain the pest risk analysis (PRA) performed on Myiopardalis pardalina (Diptera: Tephritidae). In the absence of information by the next Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations (2020-06-17/19) the proposal will be made to delete this pest from the Alert List.

Emerging pests and diseases in the process of being added to the Alert List (Chionaspis pinifoliae, Lambdina fiscellaria, Orgyia leucostigma) or suggested for addition by the Panel (e.g. Agrilus mali) were briefly discussed. The Panel also suggested to consider in more detail the emerging tomato viruses (e.g. tomato leaf curl new Dehli virus, tomato mottle mosaic virus) and at the risk they pose for the EPPO region.

Pest Risk Analysis

An internet link was provided by email to the participants so that they could select and establish the priorities for the organization of EWGs for PRA for the year to come. As in the face to face meetings, the selection was made taking into account the following elements: geographical distribution, importance of the crop(s) concerned, risk of natural spread into the region or for further spread within the region, potential pathways, economic impact, environmental impact, possibilities of control, similarities to other known cases, availability and validity of data. The highest priority for PRA identified by the Panel was Chrysobothris femorata. The second identified priority was Elasmopalpus lignosellus. The next priorities (similar rating) include Dendroctonus valens, Orgyia leucostigma and Chionaspis pinifoliae. The priorities for an EPPO PRA and the additional topics to be discussed in an EWG this year will be discussed by the Working Party.

Standards

The Panel commented on the new version of the draft PM 3 Standard on Sentinel woody plants, which was developed during an EWG taking into account the comments made last year during country consultation and discussion in the joint session of this Panel with the Panel on Quarantine Pests for Forestry. The Panel agreed that the draft Standard can be sent again for country consultation provided that the points highlighted by the Panel are addressed.