Table 2.

Example of the assessment of the impact of the fire blight (FB) control measure on soil organisms.

Impact of FB Control Measure on Soil Organisms
Effect	Concerned?		Negligible				Low				High				Very High
Soil organisms	Y	N	Population of some exposed species temporarily lowered. Regeneration possible within days.				10% of the exposed species temporarily reduced. Regeneration possible within weeks.				20%–50% of the exposed species die. Recolonization possible within one year.				>50% of the exposed species die. Repopulation possible only after extensive soil remediation.
Probability of damage occurrence a			1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4

^a: Probability scale used: (1) occurrence of damage inconceivable (=highly unlikely); (2) occurrence of damage possible but unlikely (in exceptional cases possible); (3) occurrence of damage quite possible; (4) occurrence of damage most likely (>90% certainty).