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Plant Health

The Panel on Plant Health (PLH) provides independent scientific advice on the risk posed by plant pests which can cause harm to plants, plant products or biodiversity in the EU. The Panel reviews and assesses those risks with regard to the safety and security of the food chain.

PLH Panel Members are scientists from across Europe with expertise in:

  • Pest risk assessment – with particular regard to quantitative methods
  • Quantitative pathway analysis
  • Spatial-temporal modelling of pest dynamics, including aerobiology
  • Experimental design and statistical data processing
  • Systematic literature review
  • Plant pathology – diseases caused by phytopathogenic micro-organisms, e.g. fungi, bacteria, phytoplasmas, viruses, viroids)
  • Plant disease epidemiology and management
  • Invertebrate pests – phytophagous insects, mites and nematodes)
  • Integrated pest management and biological control
  • Weed science – including parasitic plants
  • Landscape ecology – in relation to plant health.

Networks

What are EFSA's networks?

EFSA’s networks consist of nationally appointed EU Member State organisations with expertise in the fields covered by the network. Representatives of the Commission and of other organisations (including those from outside the EU) with specific expertise may also be invited to participate in the work of EFSA Networks.

Networks are chaired by EFSA and supported by relevant EFSA units. Their aim is to facilitate scientific cooperation in the field of EFSA’s mission by:

Plant Pest Surveillance

The overall aim of the EFSA Scientific Network on plant pest surveillance is to establish and enhance cooperation between Member States (MS) and EFSA, to build a community of knowledge and expertise for preparing and designing statistically sound and risk-based surveys for quarantine pests in the EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway.

Risk assessment in plant health

Established to build mutual understanding of risk assessment principles in the plant health sector and to provide increased transparency in the current risk assessment among Member States and EFSA.

Working groups

Arthropod pest categorisations

Emergency authorization protocols

High Risk Plants - Section I

High Risk Plants - Section II

High Risk Plants - Section III

Horizon scanning Plant Health (M-2017-0012)

Multiple stressors in bees (MUST-B)

Pest survey cards review

Pest survey methods (M-2020-0114)

Plant pathogens pest categorisation

Priority pests

QPRA - Section I

QPRA - Section II

QPRA - Section III

Closed working groups

Agricultural Fungal Pathogens categorisation (M-2017-0055)

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Agrilus clarification

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Atropellis spp. risk assessment

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Bemisia

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Ceratocystis platani and Cryphonectria parasitica risk assessment

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Citrus black spot

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Citrus canker pest risk assessment

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Citrus junos

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Daktulosphaira vitifoliae pest risk assessment

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Diaporthe vaccinii risk assessment

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Didymella ligulicola pest risk assessment

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Dir 2000 29 bacteria

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Dir 2000 29 fungi

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Dir 2000 29 insects

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Dir 2000 29 methods

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Dir 2000 29 mites

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Dir 2000 29 nematodes

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Dir 2000 29 phytoplasma

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Dir 2000 29 viruses

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Ditylenchus destructor and radopholus similis risk assessment

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Eotetranychus lewisi risk assessment

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ERA Pomacea

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EU Priority pests (M-2017-0136)

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Eutetranychus orientalis pest risk assessment

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Flumioxazin and plant health

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Forest Fungal Pathogens categorisation (M-2017-0055)

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Forest Insects categorisation (M-2017-0055)

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Fungicide (Aty. 4.7)

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Grapevine flavescence dorée risk assessment

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Guidance on evaluation of risk reduction options

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Guignardia citricarpa pest risk assessment

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High Risk Plants

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High Risk Plants - Momordica

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Hot water treatment of Vitis sp. for Xylella fastidiosa

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Insecticides (art.4.7)

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Israel and South Africa citrus system approaches for FCM

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Japan black pine (Pinus thunbergii) bonsai derogation

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Manuscript assessment (M-2017-0133)

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Nepoviruses pest risk assessment

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Pantoea stewartii derogation

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Parasaissetia nigra pest risk assessment

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Pest risk assessment Dir 2000/29 Annex "A"

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Phytophthora fragariae pest risk assessment

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Pine wood nematode (PWN) host plants

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Plant Bacteria Categorisation (M-2017-0055)

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Plant nematodes categorisation (M-2017-0055)

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Plant Viruses categorisation (M-2017-0055)

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Pollen import risk assessment

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Pomacea

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Potato Cyst Nematode

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Potato Viruses Categorisation (M-2017-0055)

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PWN Samples

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Saperda tridentata pest risk assessment (M-2019-0063)

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Small hive beetle

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Soil and growing media

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Spodoptera

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Strawberry Viruses (SCV and SMYEV) pest risk assessment

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Technical meeting on citrus canker

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Tomato bacteria pest risk assessment

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Tospoviruses

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Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae

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Urgent advice on Xylella fastidiosa host plants 2016

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Urgent review of statements on Xylella fastidiosa and its control

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US oak logs with system approach for oak wilt

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Vitis response to Xylella fastidiosa CoDiRO

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Xylella categorisation (M-2017-055)

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Xylella fastidiosa urgent request

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Xylella fastidiosa urgent request 2015

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Xylella host plants database (EFSA-Q-2016-00445)

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Xylella Pest Risk Assessment (Mandate 2018-0020)

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