72^nd Meeting of the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures

York (GB), 2024-10-14/16

 

 

The Panel met at the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in York (GB) on 2024-10-14/16. The main task of this Panel is to evaluate risks presented by specific pests and design phytosanitary measures to avoid their introduction and spread. On 2024-10-16, a technical visit was organized at the Yorkshire Arboretum  and a joint session with the Panel on Quarantine Pests for Forestry. During the joint session, issues of interest for both groups were discussed such as assessments of the RNQP status and measures for forestry pests (Phytophthora cinnamomi on Castanea sativa, Quercus rubra, Q. ilex, Q. suber; and virus-vector nematodes), differences between risk management measures in EPPO PRAs and those in PM 8 Standards, guidelines for expert working groups and Panels when recommending risk management measures for forest pests, and an update about the development of guidance on wood chipping as a phytosanitary measure.

 

Panel on Phytosanitary Measures (2024-10-14/16)

 

 

EPPO Lists of pests recommended for regulation

Recommendations for regulation by EPPO are made either based on EPPO pest risk analyses (PRAs) prepared by Expert Working Groups (EWG), or on PRA reports based on national/EU PRAs.

 

The Panel reviewed the draft EPPO PRA for Ceratocystis ficicola (Ascomycota: Ceratocystidaceae): the Panel recommended to the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations the addition of this pest to the EPPO A1 or A2 List (dependent on country updates on eradication measures).

 

The EPPO PRA document for Thaumatotibia leucotreta will be amended to refer to the EFSA assessment of the probability of introduction of T. leucotreta into the European Union with import of cut roses (2023)  and to indicate that a higher level of protection can be achieved by regulating this additional pathway.

 

Following the recent synonymizing of the two species Oligonychus mangiferus and O. vitis with O. punicae, the Panel recommended to stop drafting a PRA report for O. mangiferus. Additional information on impact of the pest in the EPPO region will be collected.

 

Other PRA reports were reviewed, and should be further discussed at the next Panel.

 

Recent information received on the situation for Acidovorax citrulli (bacterial fruit blotch disease of cucurbits), Bactrocera dorsalis sensu lato (Diptera: Tephritidae), ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi’, Ilarvirus APLPV (American plum line pattern virus), Meloidogyne ethiopica, Phyllosticta citricarpa (citrus black spot), Ripersiella hibisci (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and Scirtothrips aurantii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was shared with the Panel. The Panel recommended that ‘Ca. P. ulmi’ and R. hibisci are moved from the EPPO A1 List to the EPPO A2 List, and that their quarantine pest status is later reevaluated. Following the request by the Working Party, the Panel started a discussion on the delisting of pests from EPPO A1 and A2 Lists and stressed the importance of communication at every stage.

 

Group photo with the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures and the Panel on Quarantine Pests for Forestry at Yorkshire Arboretum (2024-10-16)

 

 

Pest Risk Analysis

Following interceptions and new data on its potential risk, the Panel recommended that Austropuccinia psidii is added again to the EPPO Alert List. It will be considered as a priority for a full EPPO PRA at the next Panel, alongside other priorities for PRA.

 

The Panel was updated about the RNQP Project part 2, a project financed by the European Commission, to assess the potential RNQP status of the pests listed in the EU Fruit Marketing Directives, as well as some additional pests for other sectors. The methodology used was presented to the Panel and assessments of the RNQP status for Colletotrichum lindemuthianum on Phaseolus vulgaris (vegetable seed sector), as well as Tilletia caries, T. controversa and T. laevis on Triticum aestivum (cereal sector) were reviewed: these pest/host combinations were recommended for listing as RNQPs.

 

 

Risk management measures

Following the analysis of deviations between risk management measures in EPPO PRAs and those in PM 8 Standards for the forestry sector, the Panel revised some PRA documents i.e. on Oemona hirta (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) & Fusarium euwallaceae, and Megaplatypus mutatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

 

In the context of the RNQP Project Part 2, measures were drafted for pest/host combinations recommended for listing as RNQPs (see list of pests in the previous section) and measures were revised for Plasmopara halstedii on Helianthus annuus and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on Helianthus annuus and on Brassica napus (oil & fibre plant sector).

 

 

Update on other projects

An update on the Fruit Fly IPM Project (2019-2023) , a project to protect European horticulture and trade from the current and imminent threats posed by selected emerging and new frugivorous fruit flies, was presented. The project focused on Bactrocera dorsalis (oriental fruit fly), B. zonata (peach fruit fly), and Ceratitis capitata (medfly). Information about potential future distribution of B. dorsalis in Europe were presented in detail.

 

 

Information

The Panel was given a presentation on Pyricularia oryzae ‘Triticum lineage’ (wheat blast), a devastating disease affecting millions of ha of wheat in Brazil, causing high yield losses. The pest has spread to other Latin American countries, Bangladesh and Zambia. Deadly wheat blast is also reported from India. The Panel recommended to alert NPPOs about the risk.

 

The next Panel meeting is planned for 2025-04-01/03 in Paris. The composition of the EPPO Panel on Phytosanitary Measures can be found on the EPPO website .