Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
addition to the process mentioned earlier, PRAs on specific pests are performed by
Expert Working Groups (EWG), following EPPO PM 5/3
Decision-support scheme
for quarantine pests
. Expert Working Groups have already been organized for sev-
eral plant pests (
Phytophthora lateralis
,
Iris yellow spot virus, Megaplatypus muta-
tus and Tetranychus evansi
), which are not plants. EWG will also be organized on
plants from 2008 on.
The output of a PRA takes the form of a general recommendation to coun-
tries, with measures proposed for each organism concerned, distinguishing dif-
ferent levels of risks for different parts of the EPPO region if necessary (Smith
2005). This recommendation has then to be adopted by consensus by the EPPO
Members, after appropriate consultation. Members decide individually whether
the reported risks concern them, and select appropriate measures if they do. The
EPPO Convention creates no greater obligation on members than that they
should “endeavour to implement” EPPO recommendations. However, there is a
general policy of “regional solidarity”, by which Members do take phytosani-
tary measures against A1 pests (unless the risk of establishment on their terri-
tory is very low) and do select their measures from those recommended.
The PRA documents are freely available on the EPPO website as recommended
in Decision VIII/27 of the CBD Conference of the Parties held in 2006 in Brazil
(CBD 2006). EPPO organizes periodic training sessions on PRA for staff of the
NPPOs of EPPO countries.
16.4.2
Initiation of an EPPO Work Programme on Invasive
Alien Plants
In 2002, the EPPO Council recognized that invasive alien species that have an
effect on plants are quarantine pests under the IPPC (and therefore should be evalu-
ated following ISPM no. 11), and that NPPOs should consider their responsibility
for the management of invasive alien plants (which are considered quarantine pests
under the IPPC), in cooperation with the environmental authorities. As a conse-
quence, EPPO initiated a work programme on invasive alien species (Schrader
2004) and a Panel on invasive alien species was created to help the EPPO member
countries to achieve this aim. This Panel now has experts from 18 countries of the
EPPO region.
The Panel started its work by assembling a preliminary list of approximately
500 invasive alien plants in the EPPO region from the scientific and technical lit-
erature, from web sites and from official contacts in EPPO member countries (by
questionnaire). Technical evaluation of this list led to the first achievement of the
Panel: a list of 40 terrestrial or aquatic invasive alien plants identified as posing an
important threat to plant health, environment and biodiversity in the EPPO
region.
The prioritization of these species was done by expert judgment based on the
following factors:
