Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
The EPPO scheme originally took the form of two separate standards: pest risk
assessment (PM 5/3 adopted in 1997) and pest risk management (PM 5/4 adopted in
2000). More recently, these have been merged into a single revised EPPO Standard
PM 5/3:
Decision support scheme for quarantine pests
, compatible with ISPM no.
11
Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks
and living modified organisms
. The scheme provides detailed instructions for the
successive stages of PRA: initiation, pest categorization, probability of introduction,
assessment of potential economic consequences and pest risk management.
Basically, it is a framework for organizing biological and other scientific and eco-
nomic information, and using it to assess risk. This leads to the identification of
management options to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. PRAs can be very
short and simple, or very long and complex. There is no fixed criterion for the quan-
tity of information needed. The evaluation does not necessarily have to be quantita-
tive and it can include qualitative considerations, as long as it is scientifically sound
(Burgiel et al. 2006). Expert judgement may be used in answering the questions.
The successive stages of the scheme are reviewed here, with particular reference
to its use for invasive alien plants. The scheme follows the sequences presented in
Appendices 1, 2 and 3.
16.5.1 Initiation
Initiation aims to identify the pests or pathway to be considered for risk analysis in
relation to the identified PRA area. The EPPO scheme is primarily concerned with
the assessment of individual pests, since this is the basis on which European coun-
tries formulate their phytosanitary regulations. So, European countries do PRAs for
pests, and thus for individual invasive alien species if appropriate.
However, ISPM no. 11 also provides for PRA of a pathway. Countries that pro-
hibit the import of most plants and plant products frequently have to consider
whether a new trade can be opened for a previously prohibited plant. The PRA then
concerns all the pests that might be carried by this new pathway. Such PRAs are not
normally done in Europe (though the EPPO Standard follows ISPM no. 11 in
allowing the possibility). For invasive alien plants, the evaluation of a pathway such
as internationally traded birdseed could be relevant for EPPO, and could be the ini-
tiation point for PRAs of new candidate plants.
In doing PRAs for individual pests, it is important to establish that their identity
is clear. The pests should as far as possible be well and accurately documented
before the PRA starts. The information generally needed is listed in EPPO Standard
PM5/1(1)
Check-list of information required for pest-risk analysis
(PRA) (EPPO
1998), though it needs revision to cover invasive alien plants. While using the
scheme, the user should specify all details that appear relevant to the replies to
individual question, indicating the source of the information (Schrader 2005).
Although the EPPO scheme specifies many possible initiation points for PRAs,
most are not relevant for invasive alien plants. From experience so far, there are
