Abstract This Scientific Opinion reviews existing models that assess eradication and containment strategies of the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The objective was to characterise modelling approaches, validation data and methods used to investigate possible interventions. A literature search was conducted in Web of Science and Scopus in October 2025 with no restriction on publication date. After removal of deduplication, 1560 references were recorded. The systematic literature review was conducted in three stages: Phase 1 identified studies reporting spread models; Phase 2 pre‐selected models able to represent host‐vector systems and intervention measures; and Phase 3 consisted of a structured technical appraisal informed by a set of 85 items covering biological realism, spatial and temporal structure, parameterisation, validation, management scenarios and operational applicability. These items supported qualitative appraisal and were not used for formal scoring. The review retained 125 studies after Phase 1 and 28 after Phase 2. In Phase 3, six modelling studies were identified that investigate the efficiency of actionable intervention protocols for PWN outbreaks. Ordinary differential equation models and several partial differential equation models were not considered sufficient for spatially defined measures, such as clear‐cutting and buffer zones, because they lacked the required spatial resolution or biological and operational detail. The most suitable approaches were spatially explicit grid‐based, network‐based or individual‐based models able to represent local spread, landscape heterogeneity and vector‐mediated transmission. In these modelling studies, validation efforts addressed space–time patterns of observed outbreak data from different regions. Although none of the six identified modelling studies were suitable for a comprehensive investigation of sets of intervention measures, all were considered potentially adaptable through targeted refinement and improved parameterisation. Required improvements include explicit representation of surveillance and detection, sequential application of measures in response to outbreak development, implementation delays in control measures, incomplete host removal, host dynamics, climate or landscape variability and, where relevant, human‐mediated pest dispersal. The review identifies existing models and additional capabilities required for quantitative assessment of PWN control and containment strategies.

The European Commission requests EFSA to provide scientific opinions in the field of plant health in accordance with Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002. Annex VI of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 lists plants, plant products and other objects whose introduction into the Union from certain third countries is prohibited. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by 1- to 2-year-old grafted bare root plants without leaves of Vitis spp. from the Republic of Moldova, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Moldova. All pests associated with the commodity were evaluated for their relevance for this opinion. Eight pests (one EU quarantine pest and seven Vitis spp. RNQPs) that fulfilled all the criteria were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures implemented in Moldova and described in the technical dossier were evaluated. For the selected pests, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom considering the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with grapevine fleck virus (GFkV, Maculavirus vitis ) and ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ being the pests most frequently expected on the imported plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation indicated with 95% certainty that 9900 or more units per 10,000 will be free from the above-mentioned pests.

Abstract The European Commission submitted to the EFSA Panel on Plant Health a Dossier from the United States proposing the use of a vacuum–steam–heat treatment as a stand‐alone phytosanitary measure to mitigate the risk of entry of Bretziella fagacearum, Geosmithia morbida and its vector Pityophthorus juglandis (thousand cankers disease complex) into the EU when trading oak (Quercus alba, Q. rubra) and walnut (Juglans nigra) logs with bark from the US. The proposed treatment consists of heating the sapwood to 56°C for 30 min at a depth of 5 cm from the cambium under vacuum and steam conditions. EFSA assessed the likelihood that logs of oak and walnut target species would be free from EU quarantine pests, basing its evaluation solely on the efficacy of the proposed treatment. In addition to B. fagacearum, G. morbida and P. juglandis, 14 other EU quarantine pests were identified as relevant because they are present in the US and are potentially associated with the commodities. The assessment was based on the information provided by the applicant country and on systematic literature reviews conducted by EFSA to determine the survival temperature and wood colonisation depth of the target pests. The evidence gathered was evaluated through an Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) to estimate the likelihood of pest freedom of logs after the treatment assuming that all logs were infested. The vacuum–steam–heat treatment substantially reduces the presence of target pests infesting the sapwood. The EKE indicated with 95% certainty that between 9021 and 10,000 treated Q. alba logs per 10,000 and that between 9347 and 10,000 treated Q. rubra logs per 10,000 will be free from B. fagacearum. The EKE indicated with 95% certainty that between 9862 and 10,000 treated J. nigra logs per 10,000 will be free from G. morbida and that between 9948 and 10,000 treated J. nigra logs per 10,000 will be free from P. juglandis. However, the treatment is expected to be much less effective against pests which infest wood deeper than 5 cm from the cambium such as the species Arrhenodes minutus. The EKE indicated with 95% certainty that between 1109 and 10,000 logs per 10,000 will be free from A. minutus.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by rooted plants in pots of Hamamelis mollis imported from the United Kingdom (UK). The assessment was performed considering the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria. Two EU regulated pests (Phytophthora ramorum non-EU isolates and Scirtothrips dorsalis), present in the UK and potentially associated with the commodity, were considered as relevant for this Opinion. No pests non-regulated in the EU were identified to be selected for further evaluation.

Blackleg is a major disease of winter oilseed rape (OSR) ( Brassica napus var. oleifera ), mainly caused by Plenodomus lingam and P. biglobosus . This study investigated prevalence of these pathogens and characterized race composition of P. lingam in Sweden’s main winter OSR production areas. Composite leaves and stems were sampled in November 2022–2023 and July 2023–2024 from commercial fields located in Skåne, Östergötland, and Västra Götaland counties. Disease was assessed by digital PCR (dPCR). Additional samples were obtained plot-wise from a field trial in Skåne for four winter OSR cultivars; here, disease assessment included visual scoring of symptoms and droplet dPCR. Digital PCR revealed that P. lingam , measured as gene copies g⁻¹, was most abundant in the leaves and stems from Skåne (P ≤ 0.05), whereas P. biglobosus dominated in leaves from Västra Götaland and Östergötland (P ≤ 0.05). These results demonstrate pathogen co-occurrence in winter OSR, but with clear geographic and seasonal variations. Nonetheless, there were no consistent differences in pathogen DNA quantity or symptoms in the four cultivars. Virulence of 56 P. lingam isolates was evaluated using a differential set with genetic lines carrying Rlm3 , Rlm7 , LepR1 and LepR2 resistance genes, alongside the susceptible cv. Westar. All P. lingam isolates were virulent on cv. Westar and none exhibited virulence on LepR1 or LepR2 . Compatible interactions in Rlm7 and Rlm3 were identified for 42 and 31 isolates, respectively. The virulence on Rlm7 indicates ongoing pathogen adaptation, highlighting the necessity for regular monitoring to avoid resistance breakdown.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH) to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by rooted plants in pots of Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' imported from the United Kingdom (UK). The assessment was performed considering the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests potentially associated with the commodity were evaluated against specific criteria. Two EU-regulated pests (Bemisia tabaci and Phytophthora ramorum non-EU isolates), present in the UK and potentially associated with the commodity, were considered as relevant for this Opinion. No non-regulated pests in the European Union were identified to be selected for further evaluation.

A report commenting on three quantitative pest risk assessments (qPRA) of the EFSA PLH Panel (Panel) was published in November 2025 by the Office for Risk Assessment & Research (BuRO) of the Netherlands Food and Product Safety Authority. In that report, the approaches applied by the Panel in three qPRA were narratively scrutinised against an unpublished protocol. According to the conclusions of the BuRO's report, all three qPRA approaches were methodologically valid and appropriate in substance. However, several assumptions made by the Panel in its assessments were debated and individual values of model parameters were questioned and/or replaced by BuRO calculations. This Panel statement responds to the specific comments, mathematically reviews the calculations in the BuRO's report and highlights how quantitative assessments under uncertainty may slightly differ in their output values when different risk assessors find different consensus interpretations of available background evidence. Some quantitative recalculations by BuRO required mathematical correction. Other recalculations depended on alternative ad hoc assumptions or parameter interpretations that the Panel does not consider sufficiently substantiated to replace those used in the assessments. Therefore, the conclusions of the three qPRA by the Panel remain unchanged. The Panel proposes recommendations to facilitate future commenting by external assessors on Panel outputs.

Abstract The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to evaluate the likelihood of pest freedom at entry in the EU, including both regulated and non‐regulated pests, potentially associated with unrooted cuttings of the genera Petunia and Calibrachoa produced under physical isolation in Uganda. The relevance of any pest for this opinion was based on evidence collected according to specific criteria, following the methodology used for high‐risk plants adapted for the specificity of this assessment. Twelve EU‐regulated pests [Bemisia tabaci (non‐European populations), cowpea mild mottle virus (CpMMV, Carlavirus vignae), potato leaf roll virus (PLRV, Polerovirus PLRV), potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd, Pospiviroid fusituberis), potato virus S (PVS, Carlavirus sigmasolani, non‐EU isolates), potato virus × (PVX, Potexvirus ecspotati, non‐EU isolates), Ralstonia solanacearum, Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, Scirtothrips dorsalis, tomato leaf curl Uganda virus (ToLCUV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV, Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae) and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV, Begomovirus coheni)] and one non‐regulated pest (Nipaecoccus viridis) were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures implemented in Uganda and described in the technical dossier were evaluated taking into account the factors reducing their efficacy. For these pests, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest. The degree of pest freedom varies between the pests evaluated, with the contact‐transmitted viroid and virus [potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd, P. fusituberis) and potato virus × (PVX, P. ecspotati, non‐EU isolates)] being the pests most frequently expected on Petunia and Calibrachoa spp. imported unrooted cuttings. Expert knowledge elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty, that between 9916 and 10,000 per 10,000 Petunia and Calibrachoa spp. unrooted cuttings would be free from these pests.

Abstract The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ‘High risk plants, plant products and other objects’. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by unrooted cuttings of Salix species (S. aegyptiaca, S. eriocephala, S. gmelinii, S. miyabeana, S. purpurea, S. rehderiana, S. schwerinii, S. udensis, S. viminalis) imported from the United Kingdom (UK). The assessment was performed considering the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests potentially associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria. Only two EU Regulated pests (the fungus Entoleuca mammata and the oomycete Phytophthora ramorum (non‐EU isolates)), present in the UK and potentially associated with the commodity, were considered as relevant for this Opinion. No pests non‐regulated in the EU were identified to be selected for further evaluation.

Pinewood nematode (PWN) (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) is a destructive pest of Pinus trees worldwide which depends for transmission on the cerambycid insects of the genus Monochamus. EFSA was asked to assess the potential role of young host plants for afforestation or reforestation planting as a pathway for PWN. According to legislation (EU COM/2023/415 final), these seedlings are not older than 2 years. Based on communication with SNPF (Syndicat National des Pépiniéristes Forestiers), such pine seedlings are assumed to have a collar diameter no more than 12 mm. It was evaluated that seedlings, by their physical dimensions, cannot sustain the complete developmental cycle of the vector insect Monochamus galloprovincialis. In particular, the reported empirical data on the minimum width of the head capsule of the phloem-based larval stage (L2) of 0.89-1.03 mm would not fit the 0.44-mm thick phloem of a 2-year-old pine tree, and the minimum 15-mm long pupal chamber with minimum observed inclination of 30° from the vertical of the heartwood, where L3 + L4 end feeding, would ultimately stretch beyond the 6-mm radius of the seedling and hence stick outside of the seedling. Observations of over 2000 beetle exit holes revealed that the branch diameter associated with successful insect development was larger than 20 mm, with a median of 90 mm. It was further evaluated that a vector-independent transmission between seedlings would necessitate direct contact of injured roots, which contrasts with prescribed procedures and good practice. The Panel considers the sequence of events leading to the transmission of nematodes through a seedling is highly implausible. Transmission would necessitate (i) nematode infestation of seedlings in a nursery, (ii) trade and planting of a symptom-free but nematode-infested seedling, (iii) its asymptomatic growth in the field to a tree size that allows vector development after years, (iv) the decline of this tree to attract vector egg laying while keeping nematodes in a developmental stage enabling insect vector transmission. Therefore, the Panel does not consider pine seedlings for afforestation or reforestation that are not older than 2 years and that have a root collar diameter of no more than 12 mm a pathway for PWN.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ‘High risk plants, plant products and other objects’. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by (a) rooted plants in pots and (b) bare root plants and whips of Lonicera ligustrina var . pileata, L. ligustrina var . yunnanensis and Lonicera periclymenum from the United Kingdom (UK). The assessment was performed considering the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests potentially associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria. Five EU-quarantine pests [honeysuckle yellow vein virus (HYVV, Begomovirus macrotylomae ), Bemisia tabaci, Meloidogyne fallax, Phytophthora ramorum and Scirtothrips dorsalis ], present in the UK and which could be associated with the commodity, were considered relevant for this Opinion. No pests non-regulated in the EU were identified to be selected for further evaluation.

Abstract Following the commodity risk assessment of Prunus persica and P. dulcis plants for planting from Türkiye, in which Lepidosaphes pistaciae (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), the pistachio oyster scale or yellow pistachio scale, was identified as a pest of possible concern, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation for the territory of the European Union (EU). L. pistaciae is reported as a polyphagous pest which, however, mainly affects plants of the genus Pistacia. Originating from Asia, it is widely distributed in pistachio producing countries of Central, South and West Asia. Within the EU, the pest has been reported from Cyprus and Greece. However, its precise distribution within Cyprus and Greece is unknown. It completes two generations per year and overwinters as a fully developed adult female. The eggs are hidden under the female's body and hatch around April. First‐instar nymphs, crawlers, move on host plants for a short period of time before becoming permanently settled and initiating feeding, mainly on leaves but also on branches and fruits. Young females appear in early June and mature ones in late June. Plants for planting and fruits provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. Climate suitability suggests that it could further establish in large parts of the EU. In Iran, L. pistaciae is considered a devastating pest for cultivated pistachio. L. pistaciae was detected in Greece over 30 years ago with small population densities and without any records of damage. It was also found in Cyprus in 1967 and nowadays is not considered a major pest. Its ability to cause an impact in the EU is uncertain considering the lack of evidence on impact in Cyprus and Greece. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry. While the fulfilment of the criterion on having an economic or environmental impact in the EU is associated with a key uncertainty, all the other criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a potential quarantine pest are met.

Abstract The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ‘High risk plants, plant products and other objects’. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by: grafted potted plants up to 15 years old or bundles of grafted bare root plants up to 3 years old or graftwood up to 2 years old of Prunus armeniaca, P. cerasifera, P. domestica, P. incisa or P. persica imported from the United Kingdom (UK), taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Two quarantine pests, Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia‐related strains (Pear decline Taiwan II, Crotalaria witches' broom phytoplasma, Sweet potato little leaf phytoplasma) and Scirtothrips dorsalis, two protected zone quarantine pests, Bemisia tabaci (European population) and Erwinia amylovora, and two non‐regulated pests, Eulecanium excrescens and Colletotrichum aenigma, that fulfilled all relevant criteria were selected for further evaluation. The risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical Dossier from the UK were evaluated, taking into account the possible limiting factors. For these pests, expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom, taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varied among the pests evaluated, with E. amylovora being the most frequently expected pest on the imported potted plants. The expert knowledge elicitation indicated with 95% certainty that between 9956 and 10,000 potted plants per 10,000 would be free from the above‐mentioned bacterium.

Following the commodity risk assessment of Acer palmatum plants grafted on Acer davidii from China, in which Morganella longispina (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) was identified as a pest of possible concern, the European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to conduct a pest categorisation of M. longispina for the territory of the European Union (EU). The origin of the scale insect M. longispina is uncertain, with either South America or eastern Asia suggested as the native range. The geographic distribution of the species includes many countries of the continents of Africa, North and South America, Asia and Oceania. M. longispina is polyphagous, feeding on plants assigned to 86 genera in 42 families. Important crops of the EU that may be affected by this insect are avocado, citrus, fig, peach, plum, olive and walnut. It is a viviparous insect with several generations per year in Algeria. Host availability and climate suitability indicate that the southern EU countries would support the establishment of M. longispina. The introduction of this pest would likely have an economic impact on several crops in the EU as it can cause significant damage to host plants. Uncertainty exists, however, about the magnitude of yield and quality losses due to the insect, and this is a key uncertainty. M. longispina is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry, establishment and spread of the pest into the EU. All criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a potential quarantine pest are met.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'high risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers the plant health risks posed by the following commodities: Alnus cordata and A. glutinosa as specimen trees (from 7 to 25 years old) in pots imported into the EU from the UK. A list of pests potentially associated with the commodities was compiled. The relevance of each pest was assessed based on evidence following defined criteria. Three pests were selected for further evaluation: one EU-protected zone quarantine pest (Entoleuca mammata), one EU quarantine pest (Phytophthora ramorum (non-EU isolates)) and one non-quarantine pest (Phytophthora siskiyouensis). For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures implemented in the UK and specified in the technical dossier were evaluated. For these pests, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. In the assessment of risk, the age of the plants was considered, as larger trees are more likely to be infested mainly due to longer time grown in the field. In addition, large canopies and root systems are more difficult to inspect, thereby making the detection of pests more challenging on large trees. The degree of pest freedom varies between the pests evaluated, with E. mammata being the pest most frequently expected on imported Alnus spp. specimen trees. Expert Knowledge Elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty, that between 9905 and 10,000 per 10,000 Alnus spp. specimen trees would be free from E. mammata.

Abstract The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ‘high‐risk plants, plant products and other objects’. Taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the applicant country, this Scientific Opinion covers the plant health risks posed by the following commodities: Alnus cordata, A. glutinosa and A. incana graftwood, bare‐root plants and rooted plants in pots up to 7 years old imported into the EU from the UK. A list of pests potentially associated with the commodities was compiled. The relevance of each pest was assessed based on evidence following defined criteria. Two EU‐quarantine pests (Entoleuca mammata, Phytophthora ramorum (non‐EU isolates)) and one non‐quarantine pest (Phytophthora siskiyouensis) were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures implemented in the UK and specified in the technical dossier were evaluated taking into account the factors reducing their efficacy. For these pests, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies between the pests evaluated, with E. mammata being the pest most frequently expected on imported Alnus spp. small trees. Expert knowledge elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty, that between 9927 and 10,000 per 10,000 Alnus spp. small trees (bare‐root plants or rooted plants in pots up to 7 years old) would be free from E. mammata.

Abstract The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ’High‐risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by Acer plants (A. griseum, A. platanoides, A. rubrum, A. saccharum, A. saccharinum, A. tataricum and A. tataricum subsp. ginnala, Acer × freemani) imported from Ukraine as dormant plants: (a) 1–4 years old bare root plants and (b) 1–2 years old plants in pots, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Ukraine. All pests associated with the commodity were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Two EU protected zone quarantine pests, i.e. Cryphonectria parasitica, and Entoleuca mammata and one EU‐quarantine pest, i.e. Lopholeucaspis japonica fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical dossier from Ukraine were evaluated taking into account the possible limiting factors. For the selected pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the distribution of the pest in Ukraine, risk mitigation measures acting on the pest and uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with L. japonica being the pest most frequently expected on imported plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) indicated with 95% certainty that between 9748 and 10,000 per 10,000 bare root 1–4 years old plants will be free from L. japonica.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ‘High risk plants, plant products and other objects’. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by graftwood, whips, bare root plants and potted plants of Castanea sativa imported from the United Kingdom. The assessment was performed considering the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria. Three EU regulated pests ( Cryphonectria parasitica, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, Phytophthora ramorum ), present in the UK and associated with the commodity, were considered relevant for this opinion. One pest that is not regulated in the EU ( Phytophthora kernoviae ) fulfilled all relevant criteria and was selected for further evaluation. For the selected pest, the risk mitigation measures described in the submitted technical dossier were evaluated. An expert judgement was given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varied among the commodities evaluated, with P. kernoviae being most frequently expected on the imported bare root and potted plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation indicated with 95% certainty that 9060 or more units per 10,000 will be free from P. kernoviae .

Crop pests and diseases increasingly challenge the global food system. To prepare for and detect outbreaks, surveillance plays an important role. Traditional monitoring methods are often organism-specific, making large-scale monitoring of crop pathogens and pests impractical. We here investigate the potential for using shotgun sequencing of airborne eDNA for large-scale surveillance of crop pathogens and pests. We show that it is possible to detect DNA from all types of organisms in air, and that DNA can be classified down to species level. However, the accuracy of the identification is highly dependent on the quality of reference genomes of both the pathogens or pests, and their close relatives present in the region. Finally, we find that observed degree of crop damages correlate with amount of DNA from crop pathogens and pests in air, showing the promise of this approach for surveillance of all types of crop pathogens and pests.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to deliver a risk assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from regulated EU quarantine pests, with emphasis on Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and its vectors Monochamus spp. of debarked conifer wood chips fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride as proposed by the United States (US) and as outlined in ISPM 28 - PT23 of sulfuryl fluoride (SF) fumigation treatment for nematodes and insects in debarked wood. The assessment considered the different phases in the wood chips' production, with special emphasis on the SF treatment. In addition to B. xylophilus and its vectors Monochamus spp., 22 EU quarantine pests and protected zone quarantine pests, some of which are regulated as groups of pests by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, are present in the US and are potentially associated with the commodity. For these pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the available scientific information and technical information provided by the US, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The likelihood of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with B. xylophilus being the pest most frequently expected on the commodity. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) indicated with 95% certainty that between 9491 and 10,000 m3 of debarked conifer wood chips treated with SF per 10,000 m3 will be free from B. xylophilus, and that between 9987 and 10,000 m3 of wood chips per 10,000 m3 will be free from Monochamus spp. Technical elements which are critical for a successful treatment and for minimising the presence of Union quarantine pests on the commodity are identified and described in the opinion. In particular, it is important to note that SF treatments are generally less effective in eliminating fungi than insects, the required parameters of the fumigation should be met at all points of the pile of wood chips and the time of storage of wood chips before treatment should be kept as short as possible because B. xylophilus can easily reproduce and spread throughout the pile under conducive conditions.