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