22nd meeting of the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures for Potato

Paris, 2016-02-16/18

 

 

The 22nd meeting of the Panel on Phytosanitary Measures for Potato took place at the EPPO headquarters on 2015-05-19/21.

The Panel carried on the development 3 draft regulatory control system Standards (in series PM9) on:

  • Epitrix species damaging potato tubers.
  • 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' and its vector Bactericera cockerelli.
  • Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida.

The Standard on Epitrix was finalized and will be sent for country consultation.

The Panel set up a working group to develop guidance on control of potato volunteers, as this is often a requirement in PM9 Standards.

A first draft of a Standard on the Management of the phytosanitary risks of soil associated with potato tubers and potato waste was reviewed. It is intended to consult the potato industry and the other relevant stakeholders on this draft.

The Panel also started the revision of PM 3/21 Post-entry quarantine for potato and continued the revision of PM 8/1 Commodity-specific phytosanitary measures for potato.

The situation of new or emerging potato pests was briefly discussed (e.g. Tecia solanivoraPotato virus H, Globodera ellingtonae, Russelliana solanicola, Scutellonema bradys).

The Panel was briefed on the EPPO project on Regulated non-Quarantine Pests and its possible involvement in it. It was also informed on the revision of the EPPO Diagnostic Protocol on Synchytrium endobioticum, and the need to revise other standards on this fungus.

Finally, Mr Giovani (Euphresco Network Coordinator, hosted at EPPO) joined the meeting to present the plan for the Euphresco Strategic Research Agenda. Panel members provided suggestions.