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)
3.1.2.1 Current EU and MS approach to IAS
The vast majority of regulated HOs (i.e. listed in Directive 2000/29/EC) are IAS in the sense that
they do not occur as yet in the EU (Annexes I.A.I and II.A.I) or they entered the EU and spread
in the EU in the past (Annexes I.A.II and II.A.II).
The defining characteristic of IAS, according to the CBD definition, is their wider environmental
impact on ecosystems 53 . Historically, this has been considered as an indirect impact for the
purposes of Directive 2000/29/EC, which has focussed on HOs causing direct injury to plants
and plant products where the direct economic impact (to commercial crops) could be clearly
established, and thus making a distinction with the concept of indirect impact (e.g. impact of
weeds on crops through competition, such as Cyperus esculentus). It is noted, however, that the
definition of HO in the Directive does not distinguish between direct and indirect impacts 54 .
In recent years, the focus of the Directive has been shifting to consideration of indirect impacts
due to major pest incursions that have had significant indirect, non-commercial or purely
environmental impacts. In practice, many regulated pests already listed in the Directive (recent
examples include Anoplophora spp., Phytophthora Ramorum) include consideration of wider
environmental impacts. To some extent, therefore, it appears that de facto the implementation of
the Directive in recent years has partially covered IAS in this definition. It is also noted that
consideration of indirect effects and wider environmental impacts are included in the formal
remit of PRAs according to the IPPC guidelines. This is further pursued in the guidelines
developed by the EFSA Panel on Plant Health 55 , although work is currently ongoing to develop
a harmonised approach for the distinction between direct and indirect impacts and the
identification of the range of impacts under each category 56 .
At the same time, it is noted that both in the European and the international policy context there
have been some significant developments in the consideration of IAS, which need to be taken
into account in the future EU plant health regime.
53 According to the CBD definition, invasive alien species (IAS) are non-native species whose introduction and/or
spread outside their natural past or present ranges poses a threat to biodiversity (ecosystems, habitats or species)
(Article 8(h) and decision VI/23 of the CBD).
54
Article 2.1(c): harmful organisms shall be considered to mean: any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or
pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products.
55
The Panel assesses potential direct and indirect consequences of entry, establishment and spread of pests on all
affected plant species as well as environmental consequences. Harmonised approach is needed in (i) distinguishing
between direct and indirect impacts of pests, (ii) identifying the range of direct and indirect impacts, (iii) defining
data requirements for their evaluation and (iv) incorporating these impacts into the overall characterization of the
risk of a plant pest. EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH), Scientific Opinion: Guidance on a harmonised framework
for pest risk assessment and the identification and evaluation of pest risk management options by EFSA. EFSA
Journal 2010; 8(2):1495, February 2010.
56
These aspects are inter-alia the subject of on-going projects funded both by EFSA and the European Commission
(PRASSIS and PRATIQUE, respectively).
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 52