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. 2023 Jul 25;21(7):e08120. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8120

Table 7.

Selected control measures (a full list is available in EFSA PLH Panel, 2018) for pest entry/establishment/spread/impact in relation to currently unregulated hosts and pathways. Control measures are measures that have a direct effect on pest abundance

Control measure/Risk reduction option (Blue underline = Zenodo doc, Blue = WIP) RRO summary Risk element targeted (entry/establishment/spread/impact)
Require pest freedom Pest free place of production (e.g. place of production and its immediate vicinity is free from pest over an appropriate time period, e.g. since the beginning of the last complete cycle of vegetation, or past two or three cycles). Pest free production site. Entry/Spread/Impact
Growing plants in isolation Some host plants could be grown in dedicated structures such as glass or plastic greenhouses with insect‐proof screens. Entry/Spread/Impact
Managed growing conditions Used to mitigate likelihood of infestation at origin. Plants collected directly from natural habitats, have been grown, held and trained for at least two consecutive years prior to dispatch in officially registered nurseries, which are subject to an officially supervised control regime. Entry/Spread
Use of resistant and tolerant plant species/varieties Among almond cultivars, Carmel and Price have been reported in California, US, to be more seriously affected and to have higher borer populations than other varieties (van Steenwyk et al., 1986). Establishment/Impact
Biological control and behavioural manipulation

Pest control such as:

a) Biological control

Numerous organisms were documented as biological control agents including various species of birds, spiders, beetles and ants. Ichneumonid wasps were the dominant parasitoids, of which Venturia nigricoxalis (Cushman) was the most common. The pathogenic fungi Hirsutella was commonly found and had a density‐dependent relationship with American plum borer infestations. The natural enemy complex can cause significant mortality (> 25%) (Biddinger and Leslie, 2014).

b) Mating disruption

c) Mass trapping

The sexual pheromone of E. semifuneralis was identified (Biddinger and Leslie, 2014) and protocols for mating disruption and mass trapping were defined (Teixeira et al., 2010).

Establishment/Impact/Spread
Chemical treatments on crops including reproductive material Long residual insecticides (e.g. chlorpyrifos, which has been revoked in the EU) are often applied to the trunks and scaffold limbs early in the season to control the American plum borer (Biddinger and Howitt, 1992; Kain and Agnello, 1999). Entry/Establishment/Impact
Chemical treatments on consignments or during processing

Use of chemical compounds that may be applied to plants or to plant products after harvest, during process or packaging operations and storage.

The treatments addressed in this information sheet are:
  1. fumigation;
  2. spraying/dipping pesticides;
  3. surface disinfectants;
  4. process additives;
  5. protective compounds

The measure is expected to have an effect although specific info for the pest is not available.

Entry/Spread
Physical treatments on consignments or during processing

This information sheet deals with the following categories of physical treatments: irradiation/ionisation; mechanical cleaning (brushing, washing); sorting and grading and; removal of plant parts (e.g. debarking wood). This information sheet does not address: heat and cold treatment (information sheet 1.14); roguing and pruning (information sheet 1.12).

The measure is expected to have an effect although specific info for the pest is not available.

Entry/Spread
Waste management

Treatment of the waste (deep burial, composting, incineration, chipping, production of bio‐energy) in authorised facilities and official restriction on the movement of waste.

The measure is expected to have an effect although specific info for the pest is not available.

Establishment/Spread
Heat and cold treatments Controlled temperature treatments aimed to kill or inactivate pests without causing any unacceptable prejudice to the treated material itself. The measures addressed in this information sheet are: autoclaving; steam; hot water; hot air; cold treatment. Entry/Spread
Controlled atmosphere

Treatment of plants by storage in a modified atmosphere (including modified humidity, O2, CO2, temperature, pressure).

The measure is expected to have an effect although specific info for the pest is not available.

Entry/Spread (via commodity)
Post‐entry quarantine and other restrictions of movement in the importing country

This information sheet covers post‐entry quarantine (PEQ) of relevant commodities; temporal, spatial and end‐use restrictions in the importing country for import of relevant commodities; Prohibition of import of relevant commodities into the domestic country.

‘Relevant commodities’ are plants, plant parts and other materials that may carry pests, either as infection, infestation or contamination.

Establishment/Spread