Plant Health

Hello, I am Elzbieta, a plant health specialist working at the European Food Safety Authority. Today I am going to talk about plant health. Without plants there could be no life on Earth. They sustain all other life forms and provide us with oxygen and food. Because they are so fundamental to our existence, plants require protection. The introduction and spread of plant pests among food crops is a serious threat that could have far-reaching economic, social and environmental consequences. These pests can be insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses and other organisms. The main way these pests are introduced to previously unaffected regions is through trade. Thousands of non-indigenous organisms arrive in Europe every year and some develop into pests. The European Union has a number of protective measures designed to prevent the introduction of potentially damaging species. Some harmful organisms are banned from the EU area. Some plants and plant products must undergo treatments or inspections to ensure that they are free of pests before they can be imported. Others have to be placed in quarantine before they are introduced into the EU. There is a system of certificates and plant passports aimed at ensuring that only authorised goods enter the EU market. Finally, if a pest still manages to enter the EU, steps are taken to eradicate it. All these safety measures are based on a scientific assessment of the risks posed by the organism in question – which is where EFSA comes in. EFSA plant health specialists assess whether a pest should be considered for inclusion in the EU list of harmful organisms, or whether other action could be required. For example, the European Commission asked EFSA to evaluate a risk analysis from the UK on the threat posed by a pest known as the oak processionary moth. Our experts concluded that the moth should be considered for inclusion in the list of harmful organisms. In another case, a non-EU country asked for a review of the control measures surrounding the export of karnal bunt, a fungus that causes a disease in wheat grain. EFSA examined the evidence and recommended that the control measures should not be relaxed. EFSA has published dozens of similar opinions on pests ranging from the pine wood nematode which can destroy coniferous forests, to the apple island snail, which can devastate wetland ecosystems and crops such as rice. It is the system of rigorous control and protection underpinned by EFSA science, which means that Europeans can continue to enjoy healthy food, forests, gardens and plants in their natural environment.