Table 13.
The Panel's conclusions on the pest categorisation criteria defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants (the number of the relevant sections of the pest categorisation is shown in brackets in the first column)
| Criterion of pest categorisation | Panel's conclusions against criteria in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding Union quarantine pest | Key uncertainties |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the pests (Section 3.1 ) | S. tridentata Olivier, (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a well‐established and recognised pest | None |
| Absence/presence of the pest in the EU territory (Section 3.2 ) | S. tridentata is not known to occur in the EU. The pest occurs in eastern North America (USA and Canada) | A few interceptions have been recorded |
| Regulatory status (Section 3.3 ) | S. tridentata is not under official control | |
| Pest potential for entry, establishment and spread in the EU territory (Section 3.4 ) |
Entry is possible (proven by interceptions). If European elms and/or maple and poplar species are hosts of S. tridentata, then establishment is possible. Spread is possible as S. tridentata is a free‐living organism and adults can fly |
High uncertainty level. No experimental data; only anecdotal evidence; inadequate information on the precise host range in the EU. |
| Potential for consequences in the EU territory (Section 3.5 ) | If S. tridentata does not feed on European species of elm, impacts would be limited to isolated species of American elm growing in Europe, assuming S. tridentata could locate them. The preference for weakened trees might generally limit the potential impact. If European elms, poplars or maples are hosts for S. tridentata, there is likely to be an impact in the EU territory | High uncertainty level. No experimental evidence (e.g. choice experiments) to anticipate behaviour when known hosts (American elms) are scarce. |
| Available measures (Section 3.6 ) | Measures for wood‐inhabiting beetles with similar biology are available | Efficacy of measures unknown against S. tridentata |
|
Conclusion on pest categorisation (Section 4 ) |
Information on geographical distribution, biology, epidemiology, impact and potential entry pathways of S. tridentata has been evaluated against the criteria for it to qualify as potential Union quarantine pest or as Union regulated non‐quarantine pest (RNQP). Since the pest is not reported in EU or plants for planting are not the principal means of spread, it does not meet the criteria assessed by EFSA to qualify as potential Union regulated non‐quarantine pest. S. tridentata satisfies the criterion regarding entry into the EU territory. Due to the scarcity of data, the Panel is unable to conclude if S. tridentata meets the post‐entry criteria of establishment, spread and potential impact | Uncertainty regarding the precise host range and behaviour in the EU cannot be reduced by any subsequent risk assessment without new experimental evidence in these regards |
| Aspects of the assessment to focus on/scenarios to address in the future if appropriate | As it is, there is little reason to believe there are hosts on the European continent except those American elms in arboreta, but a host shift cannot be excluded as a possibility. A firm conclusion on all criteria of the categorisation can be achieved through gathering conclusive experimental evidence about the precise host range and behaviour in the EU | |