Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
certain consignments, detection in consignments, removal from consignments,
exclusion from consignments or prevention of natural spread. Pre-entry measures
are preferred to post-entry measures since they are considered more efficient in
preventing introduction. For some invasive plants, it will be possible to prevent the
contamination of the pathway by treatment of the crop or consignment, or by other
phytosanitary procedures, in the exporting country, under the responsibility of the
NPPO. For example, the crop can be treated with herbicides, or grown in a specified
way, or the consignment can be cleaned. Consignments can be required to originate
in a crop free from the invasive plant, or in place of production, or area free from
that plant (according to the capacity of the plant for local spread).
If entry with travellers and their luggage is a significant pathway, possible meas-
ures are inspection, publicity to enhance public awareness of pest risks, fines or
incentives. For example, EPPO recommends its members to promote public aware-
ness of pest risks due to the unintentional movement of seeds or rhizomes of
Solanum elaeagnifolium
with travellers. Contaminated machinery or means of
transport may be cleaned or disinfected.
Finally, measures applied when the commodity has entered the country may also
be envisaged, such as prevention of establishment by limiting the use of the con-
signment, or import under special licence/permit and specified restrictions.
16.6
Other Relevant EPPO Standards
Although preventive measures are considered the most effective tool to tackle the
problem of invasive alien plants, conducting PRA on many individual species is
likely to take time, and other approaches may be taken.
16.6.1
National Regulatory Control Systems
National measures such as monitoring, eradication, containment and/or control
may be implemented by countries. EPPO provides such information with Standards
in the series PM 9 “National regulatory control systems”. So far, drafts are being
prepared for
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
and
Heracleum
spp.
16.6.2 Codes of Conduct
Codes of conduct for plant producers, sellers and users may be an effective tool for
the management of invasive alien plants, if regulation is too complex and costly.
Partnerships with the nursery industry and elaboration of codes of conduct have
already been undertaken within the EPPO region (United Kingdom), and have
