2454 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

Evaluation of the Community Plant Health Regime: Final Report
DG SANCO Evaluation Framework Contract Lot 3 (Food Chain)
been introduced from Asia. In the absence of controls, the HO is likely to spread rapidly
within trade networks.
Economic benefits
Ornamental plants are widely distributed and traded in the Community. There are no chemical
treatments that can consistently eradicate the pathogen on infected plants. A large range of
host plants are thus potentially at risk. Contaminated host plants need to be destroyed.
The spread of Phytophthora ramorum would have in particular a direct impact on nurseries.
The presence of the HO would affect the quality of nursery stock and therefore cause losses in
export markets. Additional costs may arise from costs for surveillance, destruction and
replacement of destroyed plants. Furthermore, income losses may derive from cropping or
trade restrictions.
Impacts on the environment may cause additional indirect economic impacts. The appearance
of the HO impacts on the landscapes of the managed and historic gardens, and in turn may
impact on tourism, with consequences on the local economy.
Environmental benefits
The host range of host plants which occur in the natural or semi-managed environment is very
wide. There are many suitable habitats including: woodland, heathland, maquis, shrubland,
and managed gardens, parks and public greens. Environmental risks are thus major.
The presence of Phytophthora ramorum impacts the quality of plants in managed parks,
gardens and public greens. Shrubs and trees in woodlands have become locally affected with
some tree death, for example the coastal woodland environment of California where massive
tree death had a major impact on the environment. Knock-on effects resulting from loss of
tree are amongst others the disruption to the ecology of the area, loss of recreational areas in
woodland, dead trees increasing the risk of accelerated water run off, and, resultant soil
erosion and sedimentation, endangering of certain plant species, and risk from forest fires due
to dead trees.
3.11.3.6 Conclusions on benefits
In conclusion, through the measures it imposes, the CPHR has contributed both to the
avoidance of the introduction of potentially injurious HOs and to slowing down their spread.
The overall benefits of avoiding or delaying the introduction and spread of any HO in the EU
are numerous, as is summarized in the following table:
Table 3-26: Overall benefits of avoiding or delaying the introduction and spread of any
HO in the EU
Area Benefit Beneficiaries
Agriculture Avoid/reduce agricultural losses (reduction in Importers/growers/farmers
crop yields)
Competition Some comparative advantage may arise due to Producers
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