Outcome of the public consultation on the draft Scientific Opinion on the risk to plant health of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri and Xanthomonas citri pv. aurantifolii for the EU territory

EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Plant Health (PLH) has undertaken a public consultation on the draft Scientific Opinion on the risk to plant health of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri and Xanthomonas citri pv. aurantifolii for the EU territory. The draft Scientific Opinion was prepared by a working group of the Plant Health (PLH) Panel and it assesses the risks posed by Xanthomonas campestris (all strains pathogenic to Citrus) for the EU territory. The draft Scientific Opinion also identifies risk management opinions, including an evaluation of their effectiveness in reducing the risk to plant health posed by these harmful organisms. As part of its assessment, the PLH Panel was asked to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the present EU requirements against Xanthomonas campestris (all strains pathogenic to Citrus), listed in Annexes III, IV and V of Council Directive 2000/29/EC, as well as in Commission Decision 2004/416/EC and Commission Decision 2006/473/EC, in reducing the risk of introduction of these pests into the EU territory. The PLH Panel was also requested to provide guidance on the right denomination of this harmful organism. Following the endorsement of the draft opinion by the PLH Panel, the public consultation was launched on 31 July 2013 and closed on 12 September 2013. EFSA has committed to publish a technical report on the outcome of the public consultation on the draft Scientific Opinion. This technical report summarises the comments received through the public consultation and presents the responses of the PLH Panel to the comments.