18th Meeting of the Joint EPPO/IOBC Panel on Biological Control Agents

Paris, 2025-10-14/16

 

The 18th meeting of the Joint EPPO/IOBC Panel on Biological Control Agents took place in Paris, from October 14th to 16th, 2025. The meeting was chaired by the EPPO Scientific Officer Mr Tanner and supported by the EPPO Scientific Officer Mr Martínez Pérez, 11 Panel members, two permanent observers and four observers.

 

The main tasks of the Panel are to consider all aspects of the assessment and regulation of the import and release of biological control agents (BCAs) for use in plant protection, and provide guidance and information to EPPO member countries and the biological control industry. The list of members and the Terms of Reference of the Panel are available on the EPPO website.

 

Additions to PM 6/3 BCAs safely used in the EPPO region

The Panel recommended the addition of Stenopelmus rufinasus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to PM 6/3, Appendix 1 which lists commercially or officially used BCAs. In addition, the Panel recommended the addition of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Hymenoptera: Melanosomellidae) to PM 6/3, Appendix 2 which lists the classical BCAs successfully established in the EPPO region. The dossiers will be presented to the Working Party on Phytosanitary Regulations in 2026 accompanied by an explanatory document reflecting the Panel’s discussion on these BCAs.

 

 

Development of EPPO Standards

Substantial progress was made on two Standards currently under development:

  • Draft Standard on host specificity testing of nonindigenous BCAs. The Panel provided technical input on test design, definitions, and inclusion of case studies. The drafting will continue in 2026.
  • Draft Standard on assessing the establishment potential of nonindigenous augmentative invertebrate BCAs. The drafting will continue in 2026 with the addition of guidance on heat tolerance to be developed.

 

EPPO Standard PM 6/4 Decision-support scheme for import and release of BCAs

The Panel agreed that the scheme should be simplified and revised to improve usability and clarity. A subgroup of the Panel will continue this work with the aim of completing the revision in 2027.

 

Information and awareness raising

The Panel agreed on a definition of accidental introductions of BCAs in the EPPO region. The Panel also supported the continued exploration of pre-emptive factsheets and the development of related reporting materials.

 

Mr Rempoulakis, Head of the Insect Pest Control Laboratory of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Austria, gave a presentation on Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT). Following this, the Panel discussed how they can raise awareness of SIT in the EPPO region and agreed to develop a paper for the EPPO Bulletin.

 

Platform on information exchange for BCAs

When published, the aim of the Platform will be to facilitate collaboration among EPPO member countries by sharing information on invertebrate BCAs assessed or used in the region. The test version of the Platform has now been developed.

 

 

The Panel had a technical visit to the Terrestrial Arthropods Collection of the National Natural History Museum in Paris. With over 40 million specimens, it is one of the world’s largest entomological collections. Many thanks are due to Ms Soulier-Perkins and Mr Montreuil, entomologists at the Museum.

 

The EPPO/IOBC Panel on Biological Control Agents will next meet on 2026-10-13/15 (location to be determined).